Beef's big exodus

Toowoomba recorded the largest yarding since 2007 with a combined yarding of 3654 head sold on Monday while Roma also recorded a larger than average yarding.

Prices remained firm in most markets with Toowoomba reporting improved interest in heavy feeder steers, topping at 189c/kg.

Embattled producers who were holding out for rain now look to the impending onset of winter with little hope for solid oat crops with little or no moisture on the ground.

From Toowoomba to the north where commercial producer Barry Eggerling, Wynn Downs, Longreach, spent time on Monday at a Droughtmaster stud sale at Gracemere. Mr Eggerling, and wife Julie, were intending to buy back into the market after selling the core nucleus of their 1000 head breeding herd.

According to Mr Eggerling, the family sold 600 head in 2006, and retained 250 breeders, but after decent falls around Christmas and with grass to spare, they decided the sale would be a good opportunity to buy quality stud females at commercial prices.

"The market was probably up more than we anticipated, and we paid about $300 a unit more than we thought we would have to pay," Mr Eggerling said.

In all, he finished with 26 cows and calves aged from three to eight years, selecting on visual appraisal for an average of $1423.

"The cows have a mixture of heifer and bull calves at foot, and we will look to grow out the bull calves and sell as herd bulls to offset these purchases," he said.

South to Roma where Anthony and Janelle Haye, Moonya, Wandoan, offloaded 45 Braford steers at the store sale on Tuesday.

Agents have reported a struggling market due to a lack of restocker demand.

Averaging 369kg, the Hayes' steers sold as part of the Australian Braford Society and Watkins and Co Braford and Braford Infused Show and Sale, and were champion pen of steers, returning 176c/$650/head.

Mr Haye was pleased with the price "considering the season" but said the long-term market outlook was a concern.

"We have simply got to get more for our cattle because we are getting less now than we were 20 years ago," he said.

"The price we receive at the saleyards compared to the price of beef in a butcher shop shows something isn't right."

Mr Haye isn't sure what the solution is but he would like to see more done to boost the domestic market.

"If we could expand the domestic market I think it would help in the long run because it would mean shorter fed cattle and more grass fed cattle when the seasons permit," he said.

As many as 6900 head were yarded at the weekly store sale with Brad Neven, Watkins and Co, Roma, adding it was tough going for the auctioneers.

"We haven't seen any real recovery in the market because the rain in the west has fallen in a supply area and not in a buyers area," he said.

"The growers and backgrounders east of Roma and around that Taroom and Wandoan area are starting to slip further into the grip of drought and that's having a big impact on the market."

East to Beaudesert where buyers had the pick of the bunch on Saturday with nearly 750 head yarded.

Bartholomew and Co auctioneer Garth Weatherall said current conditions were continuing to make producers nervous with big numbers of cattle coming to hand at both Moreton and Beaudesert sales.

"When you get into March and you haven't had any good rainfall to speak of, you're going to wonder where the season's heading," Mr Weatherall said.

"People are nervous and wanting to sell cattle and we've found the bigger steers strong on last sale but producers who are normally selling finished steers are now getting rid of their feeders - they don't know where to turn and they're making tough calls."

Mr Weatherall said it had been some time since he had seen weaner and vealer cattle sell to such low prices.

With current drought declarations showing an unprecedented area of Queensland's pastoral and agricultural land under stress, destocking, supplementing and preparation continues alongside our producers' hope for rain.