With Christmas looming, temperatures rising, and no rain on the horizon, yarding numbers have picked up again at Roma.
A total of 6680 head were consigned on Tuesday, drawn from a wide supply area including Mount Isa, with buyers competing selectively over a lesser quality yarding.
Ian Duff, Duffields, Injune, offloaded 64 Limousin-cross heifers, weighing an average of 323kg, for 270c/kg to make $949/head.
Mr Duff said while he would normally take cattle through to feeder weight, a lack of grass meant he couldn't get them there.
"There's probably another 120 heifers and steers will be going late this year or early next year if it doesn't rain," Mr Duff said.
"The last good rain was April when we had some storm rain; it fell pretty heavy and we got two dams full out of it, but it wasn't beneficial to grass.
"We got a bit of relief, I offloaded some bullocks after that rain which we got really good money for, and it's just been downhill since then."
Normally running 300 cows, the Duffs have reduced their breeding herd to 240 head, with older cows currently on grain in preparation for an offload in the leadup to Christmas.
Landmark Roma agent Rod Turner said Tuesday's market and the quality of the yarding would likely continue in the weeks until the final sale on December 17.
"Domestic and heavy feeder cattle were firm on last week. The lighter cattle, from say 180 to 250kg, were definitely easier by 10c/kg on the previous week, the main reason being you've got to have grass for those sort of cattle, and there's not many people with grass left," Mr Turner said.
"The heifer job was firm, in fact it was very solid on last week. The top was 270c/kg last week, and 280c/kg this week.
"The cow job was just a strong, but we didn't have as good quality cows. It was definitely a poorer quality yarding of cattle."
Mr Turner said many graziers would continue to empty out until it rained.
"All of the feedlots are still looking for cattle and the blokes that are backgrounding are still pretty strong in the market, but the lighter cattle are going to get harder to sell."
Weaner steers under 220kg topped at 278c/kg and averaged 244c/kg, with steers weighing 220 to 280kg reaching 286c/kg to average 261c/kg.
Steers in the 280 to 350kg range reached 305c/kg and averaged 273c/kg, and steers 350 to 400kg sold to 310c/kg and averaged 289c/kg.
Feeder steers weighing 400 to 550kg hit 306c/kg and averaged 282c/kg.
Heifers under 220kg topped at 248c/kg and averaged 193c/kg, while heifers in the 220 to 280kg range topped at 260c/kg and averaged 225c/kg.
Heifers weighing 280 to 350kg made to 270c/kg, averaging 234c/kg. Heifers in the 350-450kg range topped at 280c/kg, averaging 250c/kg.
Cows and calves made $1,030/unit.
