Cattle numbers remained steady on last week, with 1183 head listed, down 165 head. Clearance improved significantly to 70 per cent, with only one lot travelling interstate to Boggabri, NSW. This week also saw 100 head travel from the north-west slopes and plains into Queensland. This included 10 Angus station mated heifers at Tamworth, and 90 purebred Wagyu F4 heifers from Gunnedah.
This week saw a single line of Angus/Droughtmaster weaned steers return 311c. Offered by MC & MS Haig, Cunnamulla, these steers are 5-10 months old and weigh 160kg, while yearling steers averaged 295c, selling to a top of 312c. The top price was returned by a line of 61 Angus steers, a/c JR & VM Brawne, Teelba. These steers are 12-15 months and weigh 285kg. Nedyah Cattle Company, Biloela, offered 58 Santa Gertrudis feeder steers which returned 301c. Weighing 333kg, these steers are 13-17 months old. The vendor also offered 25 Santa backgrounder steers weighing 255kg, which returned 272c, and 64 Santa heifers weighing 285kg which sold for 255c.
Weaned heifers weighing up to 250kg averaged 265c, selling to a top of 280c. Chandler Pastoral Holdings, Barcaldine, had three lines each consisting of 106 Santa Gertrudis heifers which all returned the top price. These heifers are 7-14 months and weigh 232kg. From Cunnamulla, 83 Angus/Droughtmaster cross heifers, 157kg, a/c MC & MS Haig returned 220c.
Cows and calves were in short supply this week, with only 176 head listed. S.T Welsh, Wandoan, offered 66 Santa Gertrudis/Hereford cross cows and calves which returned the top price of $1070. Weighing 397kg, these cows are 4-7 years old and have been joined to Santa bulls. The 55 calves at foot (CAF) are 1-16 weeks, sired by Rosevale Santa bulls and weigh 87kg. The vendor also offered a line of 32 Santa cows and calves which sold for $1000. These cows are 3-4 years and weigh 434kg and are also joined to Santa bulls. The 8 CAF are sired by Rosevale Santa bulls, 1-20 weeks old and weigh 94kg.
Sheep numbers almost doubled on last week, increasing 2836 head to total 6299 listed. Clearance also remained steady at 90pc. This week also saw 350 Border Leicester/Merino wether lambs from Willow Tree, NSW travel into Queensland.
Merino ewes were in short supply this week. Weewondilla Grazing, Longreach offered 630 Merino ewes which returned the top price of $100. Weighing 38kg, these ewes are 26-31 months and not station mated with a 2” skin. A line of 480 Merino ewes offered by Kooroon Pastoral, St George sold for $96. These ewes are 13-27 months and weigh 42kg with a 2.5” skin. Offered by the same vendor, a line of 360 Merino wether hoggets and lambs returned $84.50. Weighing 41kg, these wethers are 13-15 months old with a 2.5” skin.
JD Lindores, St George, offered 1940 Merino wethers which split into three runs, all returning $107. These wethers weigh 50kg, are 25-27 months old and have a 2” skin and will all travel to Walgett, NSW.
JSK & KA Elmes, Augathella offered 2259 Dorper lambs, Aug/Sept ’18 drop in this week’s National Lamb Sale. A line of 759 Dorper ewe lambs weighing 21kg returned $85. The offering of 620 wether lambs, which weigh 23kg sold for $64, while the other line of 880 wether lambs which weigh 30kg, returned the top price of $103.