DEMAND for high quality weaner cattle saw plunging market trends forgotten in Roma today when a Teelba couple sold their Santa cross Angus weaner steers for a top of $874/hd.
Jeremy and Brenda McMillan, Doonba, Teelba, pushed the market for steers in the 220-280kg weight range up by more than 20c/kg when their 218 steers averaged 355c/kg at 225kg to return $802/hd.
Their 202 heifers averaged 273c/kg at 220kg to return $602/hd.
Last week steers under 220kg only topped at 338c/kg and averaged 287c/kg while those in the 220-280kg range topped at 332c/kg and averaged 294c/kg.
Unlike many in attendance at the store sale, selling large lines of weaner cattle into Roma was a first for the couple.
Their two blocks consisting of 6070 hectares are better suited to backgrounding and the McMillans are usually known for trading steers and heifers.
But for the past two years, seasonal and price fluctuations have seen them sell weaners off of their trade heifers rather than targeting the cow or breeder market.
Speaking to the Queensland Country Life, Mr McMillan said the weaners were turned off singularly again this year due to feed and market restraints.
“We sold the brothers and sisters to these on AuctionsPlus last year and they topped at $1280/hd and averaged $1100/hd,” he said.
“The home block is terrific, the southern block is horrible.
“It had a strip of rain through it last year and had seven inches (177mm) of rain more than everyone else and this year it’s had zero.”
They had planned to sell some of their young cattle at last week’s store sale but decided to hold off and muster both paddocks to offer a larger line.
It proved worthwhile with one buyer snapping up five pens of steers at once.
“Another two months, if it hasn’t rained we will send the other 400 in,” Mr McMillan said.
The McMillans were among a number of local graziers who donned green during the Tuesday store sale to show their support for the agriculture industry under threat by Labor’s new vegetation management laws.
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
