The Central Queensland livestock markets got a work out this week with both Emerald and Rockhampton lining up significant numbers of store cattle. Close to 9000 head were marketed between the two centres. With a difficult season across most of central Queensland the market showed resilience and restockers happy to secure replacements when these better lines hit the market. Emerald's quality yarding had feeder steers to a top of 294c/kg liveweight and medium weights (258kg-350kg) to a top of 309c to average close on 270c. Feeder heifers sold to a top of 250c and weaner heifers to 230c.
At Gracemere the next day rates were similar for the quality line-up of store cattle with steers making a top of 306c/kg live and the heifers selling to 240c. Feeder steers sold to a top of 272c returning close on $1200 per head. The driving factor has to be the fear of missing out when we have a seasonal turn for the better and securing replacements at what I feel are reasonable prices.
Weight at works prices stabilised during May after a 4 per cent increase across most categories for April. Across the board works prices were back about 1pc in May for grain-fed, domestic and heavier product and the market appears to have eliminated some of the wild swings we have seen in recent months. The manufacturing meat market declined some 5pc on the previous month. When one considers that the dry is persisting and we have high levels of animals being processed the backbone of our consistent pricing is the strong global demand for our red meat products. This demand looks set continue albeit with strong competition from other countries into our traditional markets.
The Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday at Eagle Farm attracted a large crowd all glad to be back at racing headquarters in Queensland. The big winner for the day was former Consolidated Pastoral Company boss Ken Warriner. Ken's steed, Mr Quickie won the Queensland Derby in fine style and was a deserved win as only last month Mr Quickie was beaten in the South Australian Derby where he was runner-up. Also spotted in the owners' enclosure were Murray Murdock and Wally Merriman who have shares (along with KW) in Prompt Response. Wally serves on the board of Australian Wool Innovation and starred earlier this year in Senate Estimates hearings in Canberra. They tell me Wally's appearance on that day rated higher than Days of our Lives.
Central Queensland notables Bruce Templeton, Clermont, and Robby Martin, Biloela, made it trackside along with noted Roma Hereford breeder John Galway, Stuarts Creek Pastoral Company. Garry and Edwina Edwards, Australian Agricultural Management (AAM), were spotted with Jeffrey Wagstaff and his partner Janelle Underwood in the Champagne Garden most of the afternoon along with Andrew Chapman, Landmark, and his wife Margaret, the Queensland boss for Adama Ag.
It was a great week for Queenslanders with Ash Barty winning the French Open with grace, style and class. Maybe her male counterparts could wake up and take a lesson from Ash that rogues don't win - they only embarrass themselves and their country.
The State of Origin was another great victory for our state team. Some media have to find a negative, which was that one Queensland player made it clear before the match that he would not sing the National Anthem as he wanted a word or two changed. He had his reasons, fair enough. Headlines in the south indicated that nine players didn't participate in the anthem. That may be true, however one has to take into account that some most likely couldn't sing and the others may have forgotten the words in such an intense environment? We won and the repercussions for the other team will continue.
- Brendan Wade: 0439 663 060, brendanwade59@hotmail.com