Queensland cattle numbers totalled 840 head this week, down 343 head. Clearance continued to improve to 85 per cent with 386 head travelling interstate. This week also saw strong purchasing from Queensland buyers with 1057 head purchased out of NSW. In particular a Queensland buyer managed to purchase 445 head out of the northern tablelands and the north west slopes and plains of NSW.
One line of weaned heifers were offered this week and managed to sell for 270c or $655. RE & ED Smith offered 156 Santa Gertrudis weaned heifers from Hughenden. These heifers are 243kg, 6 – 14 months and will travel 1780km to Condobolin, NSW.
Weaned steers weighing up to 350kg sold from 299c to 307c and averaged 303c. The top line was 90 Hereford/Red Brangus cross feeder steers weighing 354kg and are 11 – 15 months from Tambo, which will travel to Dalby.
Jedburgh Pastoral Company, Muckadilla, offered 174 head across four different lots in the eastern states sale and sold 152 head, with one lot passing in. Two lots of Hereford PTIC mixed age cows sold for $750. These two lines are 381kg and 377kg and have been joined to Angus, Hereford and Droughtmaster bulls. A third line of Hereford cross cows and calves were offered by the same vendor and sold for $870. The cows are 353kg and are mixed age and the calves at foot are 2 – 8 weeks, 68kgs and are sired by Hereford, Angus and Droughtmaster bulls. All three lots will travel to Inverell, NSW.
Another line of cows and calves was offered S & G Dempsey, Tara, who offered 48 Poll Hereford cross cows and calves. The cows are 491kg, rising 4 years old and the calves at foot are 6 – 9 months, 175kg and are sired by Rayleigh Poll Hereford and Texas Angus bulls. These cows and calves sold for $1350 and will travel to Warialda, NSW.
Sheep numbers increased this week by 2165 head to total 8464 head. Clearance dipped significantly to 48pc with the biggest falls in crossbred lambs which achieved a 35pc clearance.
Merino ewes were in short supply this week with one line offered. Gaza Grazing Co, Isisford, offered 450 station mated ewes which sold for $129.50. These ewes are 47kg, mixed age, Roslea and Mt Ascot bloodlines and will make the 1448km to Yeoval, NSW.
One line of Merino wether lambs were offered by Picarilli Pastoral Co, Thargomindah, which sold for $50. These lambs are 20kg, Jul/Sep ’18 drop and will travel to Quilpie.
From Talwood, MF & FM Murphy offered two lines of crossbred lambs. The first line consisted of 520 White Suffolk/Merino mixed sex lambs which sold for $129.50. These lambs are 37kg, Aug/Sep ’18 drop and will travel to Narromine, NSW.
A second line offered by the same vendor was 700 Australian White/Dorper ewe lambs which sold for $110.50. These ewe lambs are 35kg, Aug/Sep ’18 drop and will travel to Trangie, NSW.