After late summer rain across parts of Queensland, the weather has turned dry for many cattle producers with the impact is providing mixed results for our state’s early stud bull and female sales.
As many stud breeders prepare their bull sale offering it is the weather dictating the number of bulls they will catalogue this year.
Divisional livestock and stud stock coordinator for Landmark, Colby Ede, Toowoomba, said stud stock breeders should offer bulls to suit the prevailing seasonal conditions.
A poorer rainfall across parts of Queensland and NSW has halted many beef producers herd rebuilding efforts with many younger heifers pushed into feedlots due to lack of pasture.
- Colby Ede, Stud Stock Coordinator, Landmark
Mr Ede said the stud breeders should be mindful there have been many breeders taken out of the system over the past couple of years.
“A poorer rainfall across parts of Queensland and NSW has halted many beef producers herd rebuilding efforts with many younger heifers pushed into feedlots due to lack of pasture,” he said.
“There is a need however for commercial producers to continue to source a better quality sire to increase beef production.”
A positive is there have been some good seasons in the Maranoa region, north to Taroom and Wandoan, the Arcadia Valley, plus near Emerald.
In recent bull sales, the Belmont Red Sale at Jandowae last week managed to achieve 96 per cent clearance and a $20,000 top price with solid commercial cattle producer interest. Meanwhile, a Simmental bull sale at Texas near the Queensland and New South Wales had a slightly lower bull sale average price than last year and a clearance of 88 per cent.
Read more: Belmont Red bulls sell to $20,000
The Merawah Poll Hereford sale managed to sell all their bulls on offer at their sale last week and recorded at top price of $20,000 plus a sale average of $9000.
In central Queensland stud sales, NCC and Ooline Brahman Female Sale at Duaringa, held last week, had a 99 per cent clearance. Buyers from across two states and overseas saw grey heifers hit $28,000, while their red counterparts made to $24,000 ending a $6182 bottom line average for the vendors. ALC Brahmans at Nebo recorded a strong 100 per cent sale clearance.
Read more: NCC and Ooline females top $28,000
Meanwhile, a Poll Hereford stud sale at Clifton struggled to sell bulls with only a 54 per cent clearance and an average bull sale price of $5400.