Jericho's Maurie and Judy O'Dell have been selling cattle at Blackall's yards for 18 or 20 years and say Thursday prices for their weaners are the highest they've ever received.
They sold 87 Charolais steers straight off their mother, averaging 230kg in weight, for 450c/kg, and 71 of their sisters, averaging 235kg for 428c/kg.
Some 46 older heifers, the tail of last year's offspring, were also consigned to the monthly Blackall weaner sale, as well as 18 cows and calves.
They received $2250 for the cow and calf units.
"That's not to be laughed at is it," Mr O'Dell said, explaining that surplus cattle were being sold as part of a family succession plan.
"We sold 63 older cows about six weeks ago - they made $1700 a head," he said. "Our steers usually make good money too, the Charolais are pretty good cattle if I do say so."
A total of 3550 head were sold at Blackall on Thursday, where overall quality was described as very good, with a number of large vendor-bred lines on offer.
That included 160 Brangus heifers from Ben and Jaye Hall at Bibil, Muttaburra, that had been agisted at Sumnervale, south of Blackall, weighing an average 235kg and selling for 422c/kg.
According to the MLA report, there was high demand for most categories and prices improved on all classes by 10c to 20c/kg.
A large panel of buyers was present and operating with most demand from south east Queensland alongside northern and central west NSW.
Light weight restocker steers made to a top of 450c to average 407c, up 7c/kg.
Restocker steers, 280 to 330kg sold to 426.2c averaging 380c/kg.
Medium weight feeder steers, 330 to 400kg made to a top of 396.2c with most selling around 376c, up 8c/kg.
Heavy feeder steers over 400kg sold to around 403.2c lifting the average to 381c, up 9c/kg.
Good quality light weight restocker heifers made to 428.2c averaging 400c, up 20c, however buyers were selective and secondary lines sold around 260c/kg.
Heifers, 280 to 330kg were selling to a top of 424c to average 358c, up 6c/kg.
Heifers to feed over 330kg made to 387.2c to average 360c/kg.
A total of 58 cows and calves were sold, selling to a top of $2250 while most averaged $1800/head.
HIGHLIGHTS
Rotherfield Trust, Rotherfield, Ilfracombe sold Droughtmaster steers for 400.2c at 325kg to return $1302/hd.
Toobrack Grazing Co, Toobrack, Longreach sold Hereford cross steers for 388.2c at 332kg to return $1291/hd.
RJ and TK Ham, Mac Downs, Barcaldine sold crossbred weaner steers for 420c/kg at 215kg to return $903/hd.
CJ and LC Hannay, Overton, Aramac sold Santa/ Droughtmaster cross steers for 414.2c at 248kg to return $1027/hd.
FC, SM and SL Counsell, Lyndon, Barcaldine sold Droughtmaster cross steers for 430.2c at 199kg to return $856/hd also selling weaner heifers for 422.2c at 176kg to return $745/hd.
J and L Wells, Bristol, Barcaldine sold a very good draft of Charolais/ Angus cross heifers for 410.2c at 269kg to return $1104.
Benalla Stud Grazing, Monavale, Hughenden sold good quality Simbrah weaner heifers for 376.2c at 253kg to return $954/hd.
Fortuna Pastoral Co, Fortuna, Aramac sold a run of red Brahman and Santa cross steers. The Santa cross steers sold to a top of 444.2c/kg weighing 191.6kg to return $851.12, and the red Brahman steers in the run sold to a top of 416.2/kg weighing 207.2kg to return $862.46.
Chandler Grazing, Hillalong, Barcaldine sold Charolais cross steers reaching 432.2c/kg weighing 237.2kg to return $1025.27.
BKDJ Pty Ltd, Luthrie, Longreach sold a run of Santa cross steers and heifers. The steers sold to a top of 436.2c/kg weighing 248.6kg to return $1084.27 while the heifers sold to 400.2c/kg weighing 218.6c/kg to return $847.72.
Bloomfield Pastoral Co, Bloomfield, Blackall sold a top-quality run of Droughtmaster weaners, the steers sold to a top of 392.2c/kg weighing 294.8kg to return $1156.21 with the heifers selling to a top of 380.2c/kg weighing 274.5kg to return $1043.82.
MHG and JJ O'Dell, Colorado, Jericho sold a terrific draft of weaners and cows and calves. The steer portion sold to a top 450c/kg weighing 254.7kg to return $1146.25 with the heifers selling to a top of 424.2c/kg weighing 253.8kg to return $1076.82. Charolais/Charbray cows and calves also went under the hammer selling for 2250/unit.
FJ and JG Manwaring, Ballygar, Aramac sold a run of Santa cross weaners with the steers selling to a top of 442.2c/kg weighing 198.3kg to return $877.03, and the heifers sold to a top of 427.2c/kg weighing 192.4kg to return $821.83
Neverfail Cattle Co, Neverfail, Blackall sold a run of Santa and Santa cross feeder heifers to a top of 387.2c/kg weighing 419kg to return $1622.37.
B and J Hall Family Trust, Bibil, Muttaburra sold a draft of Brangus heifers off agistment at Sumnervale, Blackall. These heifers sold to 418.2c/kg weighing 260.2kg to return $1088.19.
Ben Avery, Allandale, Blackall sold Charolais steers for 396.2c/kg weighing 466.2kg to return $1847.05/hd.
SG Hoch, Kerand, Alpha sold Droughtmaster steers for 406.2c/kg weighing 257.2kg to return $1044.84/hd and heifers for 398.2c/kg weighing 236.3kg to return $940.75/hd.
The Braeside Miller Trust, Braeside, Barcaldine sold Santa Gertrudis steers for 406.2c/kg weighing 306kg to return $1242.97/hd and heifers for 380.2c/kg weighing 307.5kg to return $1169.12/hd
Mildura Grazing Trust, Mildura, Barcaldine sold Santa Gertrudis steers for 400.2c/kg weighing 215kg to return $860.43/hd.
KJ and JL McKinlay, Richmond Hills, Barcaldine sold red Angus steers for 442.2c/kg weighing 242.5kg to return $1072.34/hd.
Rayner Family Trust, Fernhurst, Longreach sold Brangus steers for 406.2c/kg weighing 302.7kg to return $1229.68/hd.
Glenaras Pastal Company, Glenaras, Ilfracombe sold Angus steers for 438.2c/kg weighing 231.9kg to return $1016.38/hd.
Peter McCalman, Nadjayamba, Winton sold Charolais steers for 420.2c/kg weighing 202.7kg to return $851.86/hd.
Maclom McCalman, Nadjayamba, Winton sold Droughtmaster heifers for 408.2c/kg weighing 199.6kg to return $814.83/hd.
AB, HR and RN Hirsch, Caranna, Charleville sold Angus cross heifers for 380c/kg averaging 301.6kg returning $1146/head. They also sold Droughtmaster cross steers for 380.2c/kg averaging 295.6kg returning $1123.70/head.
Ronlow Park Partnership, Ronlow Park, Pentland, sold Charolais cross steers for 400.2c/kg weighing 178kg to return $717.
Russell Orr, Sumana, Aramac, sold Droughtmaster cross steers topping at 404.2c/kg and average 382/kg weighing 214kg to return $817.
JJ Scully trading as Ryan Bros, Carlow , Blackall, sold a quality line of Santa heifers topping at 380.2c/kg weighing 282kg to return $1073.