I caught up with Rod Turner, Landmark senior auctioneer at Roma just after the start of this week’s Roma store sale of just under 5000 cattle.
He said the few cattle that had been sold at that stage were at similar rates to last week’s sale.
Rod told me that a number of producers are now starting to offload lines of cattle that would normally be held over to next year to sell as feeders.
As the dry continues, cattlemen are reducing breeder numbers in a fairly substantial way. Roma has yarded over 1000 cows per week over the past six weeks.
Numbers are expected to remain around the 4-5000 head mark at Roma in the coming weeks with the market expected to remain around the present rates. A good general rain will be the only factor that will change this ongoing trend.
Roma Saleyards manager Paul Klar told me that Roma Saleyards throughput for the month of July was 32,364 head for a value of $31,246,740.16 compared to the corresponding month in 2016 of 32,538 head for a value of $34,970,849.
Paul said that the bull selling season started last week and will continue through to October. He advised that Cr Peter Flynn has been elected to the board of the Australian Livestock Markets Association. Congratulations to Peter and great to see Roma has representation on a national saleyard body.
Sinclair Munro co-principal of Booroomooka Angus Stud told me that a massive offering of 242 black Angus bulls are to be sold at this year’s Annual Booroomooka Angus Sale which is to be held on Friday August 18 at Keera, Bingara, northern NSW.
“The sale gives buyers a quality choice of 242 bulls that have been rigorously selected for fertility, structural soundness, good type and quiet temperament,” he said.
Sinclair explained that the Booroomooka cow herd is unique, developed since 1926 on hilly native grass country.
The cows are resilient, adapted to cope with lower quality native grasses and seasonal fluctuations.
Booroomooka cattle are renowned for resilience, high fertility, outstanding doing ability, good weight gain with high carcase quality. Fertility is a key profit driver – 70 of the sale bulls are in the top 10 per cent of the breed for fertility.
Hugh Munro told me that buyers would have a quality choice of predictable bulls from their proven breeding program.
“Our strong commitment to increase marbling and growth has helped increase the demand for Booroomooka Angus sired progeny,” he said.
Selling agent Luke Scicluna from Davidson Cameron & Co says he, Tom Tanner and Daniel McCulloch will be the auctioneers for the day. The sale will be interfaced with AuctionsPlus.