Mareeba combined agents penned 556 head for this week’s prime and store sale. Numbers decreased by 211 head on the previous week. Cattle were drawn from Croydon, Cape York, Cooktown, Lakeland Downs, Atherton Tablelands, Coen, Chillagoe, Ravenshoe, Mt Garnet and Mareeba areas.
Export processors competed on all local trade steers which saw values stay strong and more consistent up to 255c. Heifers didn’t reach last week’s top of 216c back 9c. Cows improved by 21c, with competition from export processors keeping values up.
Slaughter ox were mixed in quality and condition and values in 185c-210c range. Cows showed the best gains with some improving by 19c on last week, with most selling in the 185-216c range. Bulls didn’t hit last week’s high of 242c but values remain firm with most selling in 185-220c range. Some heavy bulls reached 242c but most sold in the 170-227c range. Store steers and heifers struggled to get to the top of last week, with steers back 16c and heifers back 18c while males rose 4c.
Local trade heifers ranged from 173c to 207c and local trade cows made from 161c to 217c. Ox suitable for slaughter sold from 185c to 255c, cows suitable for slaughter made from 154c to 219c, while bulls suitable for slaughter ranged from 167.2c to 229c.
Store steers topped at 238.2c, store heifers sold to 176.2c, younger store bulls reached 234c, bulls to live export made 242c and cows and calves sold to $600/unit.
