Cattle numbers decreased last week by 1033 to total 2073 head. Queensland buyers continue to look interstate to NSW, purchasing 337 head, predominantly from the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes and Plains.
Purchases from interstate were dominated by weaned steers, with a highlight seeing a line of 88 Angus steers, 9-11 months and weighing 296kg from Moree return 328c, purchased by a buyer at Gatton.
Averaging 310c, weaned steers sold from 300c to 327c. The top price was returned by a line of 60 Shorthorn vealer steers a/c I and J McColl, Goondiwindi. These steers are 7-9 months, weigh 255kg and found a home across the border at Woomargama, NSW. From Goondiwindi a line of 15 Angus weaned steers sold for 308c. Weighing 149kg, these steers are 5-7 months and will travel to Coonamble, NSW.
Other highlights saw 68 Droughtmaster cross feeder steers from Goondiwindi return 285c. These steers are 16-18 months, weigh 371kg and will travel to Inverell, NSW.
The offering of weaned heifers saw a 100 per cent clearance selling from 223c to 244c, averaging 233c. The top price went to a line of 65 Santa Gertrudis cross heifers a/c Maromba Grazing, Biloela. These heifers are 5-8 months, weigh 259kg and will remain locally.
From Bowenville, a line of 32 Angus cross heifers sold for 231c. Aged 4-6 months and weighing 190kg these heifers will travel to Trangie, NSW.
PTIC cows sold from $900 to $950, averaging $910. Gunningham Cattle Co, Goondiwindi, offered up five lines of PTIC Angus and Angus/Brahman cross cows returning 100pc clearance. Top price was achieved by Gunningham Cattle Co's line of 78 Angus/Brahman cross cows. These cows are rising 4 years, weigh 422kg and are PTIC to Angus bulls.
Cows and calves sold from $1130 to $1380, averaging $1255. The top price was returned by a line of 160 Droughtmaster cross cows and calves, offered by Mt Rourke Pastoral Co, Kynuna. These cows are Rondel Droughtmaster blood, range in age from 3 - 13 years and weigh 464kg. The calves at foot are 1-32 weeks and are sired by Droughtmaster bulls.
Sheep
This week saw a massive jump in sheep numbers to total 9908 head, an increase of 7803 head. The offering saw 100pc clearance returned, with 41pc of the listings finding buyers in NSW. Queensland buyers also looked interstate, purchasing 1835 head from the North West Slopes and Plains region of NSW.
Merino wethers averaged $102 selling from $84.50 to $117.50. From Dirranbandi two lines of 750 store wether lambs a/c Sunvalli Ag Pty Ltd returned the top price and $117. These wethers are Wilgunya and Bungulla bloodlines, Oct/Nov 18 drop and weigh 26kg with a 2" skin. Both lines will travel locally to Longreach.
From Goondiwindi, a line of 500 Merino SIL ewes sold for $187. These ewes are Rosedale blood, 12-14 months, weigh 48kg are joined to White Suffolk rams and will travel across the border to Bourke.
PA and MJ Southern, Weengallon, offered two lines of White Dorper ewes selling for $153 and $183. The larger line of the two being 360 ewes returned the top price. These ewes Amarula and Castlebar White Dorper blood, 1.5 years, weigh 48kg, have a 1 1/2" skin and will travel interstate to Hay, NSW.
