Cattle numbers from Queensland fell by 600 head to see 1043 cattle offered on AuctionsPlus last week. Light heifers under 200kg sold from 149 to 226c/kg to average 190c, down 49c on the previous week. Heifers 200-280kg sold from 165c to 265c to average 226c, down 54c. From Goondiwindi, 233kg Shorthorn heifers sold to a buyer at Wagga, NSW for 165c/$385. Heifers weighing 280-330kg sold from 224c to 307c to average 259c, down 30c.
Light steers under 200kg averaged 222c, down 8c on last week. A top price of 263c went to a line of weaned steers from Tenterfield, NSW. The steers are 10-11 months old, weigh 182kg and are making the journey to Dreeite, VIC. Steers weighing 200-280kg averaged 279c, down 32c on last week, with prices ranging from 238c to 323c. A line of yearling steers from Cecil Plains was the top priced Qld lot. These Hereford Angus cross steers weighed in at 260kg, are aged 13-14 months and sold to a buyer in Stanthorpe for 260c.
SHEEP
Sheep numbers from Queensland fell online by 3000 head to see 4848 sheep and lambs offered. Merino ewe lambs sold from $131 to $237, averaging $166, up $21 on the previous week, while Merino ewe hoggets averaged $183 down $6, with prices ranging between $120 to $236. Two lines of unjoined two-year-old ewes from Cunnamulla sold to buyers in NSW for $147.
Proven Merino breeders held firm averaging $151, selling from $101 to $225. Three-year-old ewes 51kg scanned in-lamb to Poll Merino rams from Barcaldine sold for $130 to a buyer in Longreach. 24,000 Merino wether lambs were offered last week, averaging $115, $7 down, selling from $60.5 to $152.
The Queensland sales were highlighted by Apr/May '19' drop Merino wether lambs weighing 50kg from Tambo sold to a buyer in SA. Grown Merino wethers and hoggets sold from $91 to $116, averaging $109 up $28.
Processors were active again last week primarily on light lambs and mutton, competing against feedlots, backgrounders and breeders. From northern NSW, two lines of aged Merino ewes to dress 19kg, less than a month off shears, sold between 513c and 531c/kg CWT. Further south in the Riverina, two lines of January shorn composite ewes weighing 34 and 36kg CWT made 505c to 547c kg CWT, including skin value.
