Cattle numbers fell on last week with 1465 head offered, dropping by 675 head in the off week for weaners and yearlings fortnightly feature sale, which is to commence weekly sales from now on.
Heifer prices increased by 18c/kg on last week while weaner steer prices were 30c weaker. A limited offering of PTIC females continue to be hard-pressed for bidder activity and a small offering of joined females and cow and calf units attracted plenty of attention at auction.
Weaner heifers weighing up to 300kg averaged 245c and sold to 272c. A line of 159 weaned Red Angus heifers, a/c Warroo Station Pty Ltd, Inglewood, achieved the top price, aged 3-8 months, weighing 147kg. The brothers of these heifers, split into two lines of 121 head, weighed 171kg and returned 286c. From Prairie, the Bode family offered 126 Droughtmaster Cross heifers weighing 220kg, returned 217c or $480/head. The brothers of these heifers weighed 233kg and returned 262c.
Weaner steer prices averaged 277c and sold to a top of 286c for the Warroo Station’s lines of 121 Red Angus steers. Kyntee Pastoral Co, Goondoowindi, sold 55 weaned Angus and Angus cross steers weighing 278kg, returning 273c.
Lots of joined females and cow and calf units sold well this week. WM & KL Burton, Barcaldine, offered two lots, 85 station mated Brahman Cross cows, which brought $685/head and a line of 90 Droughtmaster cross station mated cows that also sold for $685/head. From Eumamurrin, GFD Lee offered two lines of cow and calf units. A line of 83 Angus cow and calf units sold for $1210 and a second line of 26 Angus cross cow and calf units sold for $1350.
Sheep and lamb numbers this week dropped to 4700 head, down 1200 on last week. Success at auction and in post-sale negotiations achieved 100 per cent clearance.
From Dirranbandi, D.S. Banks offered 411 Merino ewes aged 3.7 to 4.7 years, weighing 66kg which returned $139. These ewes were SIL to Merino rams. JA & MM Kerr, Quilpie, offered a line of 720 mixed age station mated Merino ewes weighing 49kg, returned $50 that will travel down to Murray Bridge, SA. The largest line offered this week was 730 SM Merino ewes from Truss Grazing Co, Quilpie. Off shears and weighing 45kg, these ewes are aged 6 to 7 years and returned $71.50.
A line of 620 Sept/Oct ’17 drop woolgrower wethers were offered by Moble Pastoral Co, Quilpie. Off shears and weighing 27kg, they returned $63. Similarly, MF & MM Murphy, Thallon, offered two lines of 550 Aug to Sept ’17 drop Merino wethers, weighing 36kg off shears, which both returned $79.
A line of 540 Dorper ewes offered by Jobs Gate Partnership, Cunnamulla, were purchased out of Cranbourne, VIC for $112. These ewes are aged 1-4 years, weigh 58kg and have been continuously joined to Dorper rams. A line of 600 station mated Dorper ewes and 55 lambs, weighing 53kg, from Sam Matchett, Millmerran, were sold for $122.50.
