Cattle numbers remained steady with 1185 listed, a rise of 153 head. Clearance rates improved this week to sit at 63 per cent. Stock movements interstate also picked up this week, with stock travelling to NSW and SA.
Weaned steers weighing up to 320kg averaged 246c and sold to a top of 257c. Weston Grazing, Richmond, sold 168 weaned Santa Gertrudis/Droughtmaster cross steers which returned the top price. These steers are 6-10 months and weigh 212kg. The vendor also offered 121 Brahman cross steers which returned 235c or $510. Weighing 217kg, these steers are 6-10 months. From Toobeah, Strathmore Farming Co offered a line of 46 weaned Angus/Santa cross steers which returned 248c or $795. These steers are 10-12 months and weigh 319kg. From Goondiwindi a line of 64 Poll Hereford weaned steers returned 244c or $650. Weighing 266kg, these steers are 10-12 months old and are travelling 477km to Scone, NSW.
Ramsay Park Grazing Company, Goondiwindi, offered a line of 36 unweaned Angus steers which returned 295c or $680. These steers are 8-10 months and weigh 230kg. DE & KA Rolfe, Morven, offered a line of 49 Angus cross feeder steers which achieved 246c or $975 and were secured by a northern NSW lotfeeder. Weighing 396kg, these steers are 15-18 months and are bred from Lawsons Angus bulls.
L & K McMaster, Bungunya, offered two lines of Droughtmaster stud weaner bulls. A line of 10 bulls, 9-12 months old and weighing 381kg returned $830, while another 10 bulls, 9-13 months weighing 390kg sold for $820. The vendors operate the stud Elkay2 Droughtmaster, which is based on Glenlands and Clonlara bloodlines.
Angus cows and calves sold for an average of $966 this week. Canning Downs, Warwick offered two lines of first calving heifers with calves at foot, which both returned the top price of $1000. One line consisted of 11 NSM Angus heifers, 20-25 months old and weighing 414kg. These heifers had 11 calves sired by Wagyu bulls at foot, 5-6 weeks old and averaging 48kg. Also offered was a line of 11 NSM Angus heifers and 12 calves. These heifers weigh 430kg and are also 20-25 months, with 12 Wagyu cross calves at foot. The calves are also 5-6 weeks old and weigh 42kg. From Goondiwindi, a line of 91 Angus cows and calves returned $900. These cows weigh 466kg and are 3-9 years old and have been station mated back to Angus bulls. The 91 calves at foot are sired by Angus bulls, 2-12 weeks old and weigh 114kg. These cows and calves are making the long journey of 1569km to Naracoorte, SA.
Sheep numbers jumped to 4918 head on offer this week, an increase of 1270 head. Clearance rates also improved to reach 82pc. The interest from NSW buyers flowed through to the sheep market, with most lots purchased moving across the border.
Merino wethers were in short supply this week, with two lines offered by Barrett & Co, Longreach. A line of 430 export wethers, four years old and weighing 64kg returned $112.50, while a smaller line consisting of 195 wethers, three years old sold for $93. Both lines were recently shorn in June and are headed 1,40km to Dubbo, NSW.
From Cunnamulla, Palmer Estates offered a line of 180 wether hoggets and lambs which returned $90. Weighing 35kg, these wethers were shorn in December and are 12-13 months old. The vendor also offered a line of 220 ewe hoggets and lambs which sold for $116. These girls are 12-13 months, weigh 32kg and were also shorn in December, and are crossing the border to Narrabri, NSW.
From Aramac, Pinnacle Grazing offered a line of 800 White Dorper ewes which returned $70. Weighing 26kg, these ewe lambs are 4-6 months and are travelling over 1000km to Inverell, NSW. From Bollon, a line of 440 Merino/Dohne cross ewes sold for $100. These ewes are rising two-year-old and weigh 46kg. These ewes are set to make the 1500km journey to Serviceton, VIC. From Monto, PS and LP Wippell offered 113 station mated White Dorper ewes and 10 lambs which sold for $100. These ewes are 1-6 years old, based on Bellevue bloodlines and weigh 50kg. They are also joined back to White Dorper rams. The 10 lambs at foot are 3-6 weeks and are sired by White Dorper rams.
Lambs were also in short supply this week, with two lines of Merino lambs offered by PF & K Thomas at Ilfracombe. A line of 830 Merino wether lambs returned $60. These lambs are unweaned, Apr-May ’18 drop and weigh 24kg. These lambs are also making a 2000km journey to Kapunda, SA, while the 830 Merino ewe lambs offered returned $90. These lambs are the same drop, also unweaned and weigh 25kg.