IT was a buyers’ market at the Roma store sale on Tuesday as dwindling dry conditions and the rise of grain prices continued to impact prices for the yarding of largely destocked cattle.
About 6000 head were booked in to the sale with most weight ranges falling by more than 20c/kg.
Weaner steers under 220kg topped at 286c/kg and averaged 249c/kg, back by 25c/kg on last week.
Steers in the 220-280kg range reached 286c/kg and averaged 254c/kg, again a drop of 24c/kg.
Feeder steers in the 400-550kg range fell the least, topping at 266c/kg and averaging 247c/kg, back by only 6c/kg on last week.
This time last year, steers under 220kg were topping at 356c/kg in Roma while feeders weighing 400-550kg topped at 308c/kg.
Marissa and Michael Proud, Hollymount, Wallumbilla, were among vendors offloading younger stock in a bid to retain their breeder herd during the drought.
Their pen of steers made 248c/kg weighing 218 kg to return $541/hd while the heifers averaged 206c/kg at 268kg to return $552/hd.
The couple run a Charolais-cross breeder herd on their 223 hectares but without a bore, their water stocks are worryingly low.
“Anything that was old enough to leave mum is here,” Ms Proud said.
“This is early (selling). This is next year’s calves for sale due to drought.
“They should have been there for at least another six months.”
While the couple were under some rainfall this year, it wasn’t heavy enough to run and their grass didn’t respond.
They weren’t oblivious to the tough market conditions they would face at the Tuesday store sale either.
“We knew that but you can’t do anything about it,” Ms Proud said.
“We are trying to keep the breeders.
“We have got to limit the numbers so there is more water for the breeders.
“There is no grass either but you can feed, you can’t buy water (as easily).”
A large portion of cattle were drawn from western areas including Charleville, while animals also travelled from as far as Tennant Creek, Northern Territory.
TopX Roma agent Carl Warren said the market was softer but quality was also back.
“I think we saw our steers softer due to lack of good lines of cattle and mixed quality cattle,” he said.
“Steer could have been, in places, back 20c/kg.
“The lead heifers were firm on last week.
“There were still heifers making 2.30c/kg.”
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.
