Dan Sullivan, Sullivan’s Livestock Gympie reported Gympie and the surrounding Wide Bay areas have had good early rainfall over the October and early December period where most areas received very useful falls starting off one of the earliest seasons for many years. Due to the previous month of hot weather and winds, it was surprising how the country had dried out recently. The rainfall over the last five days has been most welcome, with most of the Wide Bay area receiving 50 – 100mm of rain.
Dan said cattle had responded well, piling the condition on with calves throughout the area really starting to get cracking; there will be a lot of good quality weaners come April and May
Useful rainfall over the last two to four weeks throughout the Wide Bay area saw a smaller yarding of 1053 cattle, where young cattle and breeder quality heifers met strong competition.
Quality Limo cross feeder steers from Ian and Sharon Brown, Thinoomba sold to a top of 290c/kg for $1289.
Droughtmaster and Charbray steers from Gilchrist & Jamieson, Tiaro sold for 279c/$1400 and 275c/$1393. Charbray steers from Steve Bury, Mundubberra made 309c for $1185. Quality Droughtmaster weaner steers from M & C Haase, Tiaro made 415c for $934 and $845. Droughtmaster steers from Donald, Wendy and Jody Brown, Beaver Rock made 379c for $895 and $861.
Droughtmaster steers from Kel Small, Gunalda made 347c/$860. Overall, better quality weaner steers sold from 330c to 415c.
Heifers met strong competition for both restockers and feedlotters. Droughtmaster heifers from Rob Smith made 297c for $1210. Angus cross heifers from Angus Mclean, Kilkivan made 295c for $1074.
Charbray heifers from Stanhope Pty Ltd, Mooloo made 289c for $965 and 291c/$788. Brahman heifers from McBean & Sorley, Kilkivan made 279c/$842. Droughtmaster heifers from the Brown family, Beaver Rock sold for 315c, 307c, 305c and 301c.
Droughtmaster heifers from Dan O’Rourke made 313c for $710.
Good conditioned vealer heifers to slaughter sold from 260c to 278c.
Cows and calves were limited in supply and sold from $1250 to $1700.
Meatworks cattle sold well. Heavy bulls sold to a top of 265c. Young bullocks sold to 276c generally around 267c. Heavy cows topped at 229c, generally selling from 206c to 223c.
