A consignment of two decks of weaners from spinifex country 96km north of Muttaburra gave Bill and Robyn Spence a yard record for steers when they sold at Blackall last week.
The Angus-cross steers from Elis averaged 197kg and sold for 510.2 cents per kilogram or $1005 a head. Their sisters were a little lighter at 150kg and brought 426.2c/kg, or $640/head.
Selling agent Jack Burgess, GDL Blackall, said they were a good light article in strong store condition.
"They'd been handled, all the hard work was done," he said, adding that they'd been sold to a restocker from the Roma district.
Mr Spence, who has sold Desert Uplands property Elis to the Fysh family but who is caretaking the property and leasing some of it, said that was the best price he'd had in 50 years in the industry.
"We're just following our normal program, weaning them off mum and selling them," he said. "It's all timing isn't it - you've got to get a win sometimes."
With 16mm of rain falling on the weekend and bearing in mind the saying "you only need a fresh north wind for spinifex to turn green", Mr Spence said their cows should now have room and feed for next year's calves.
Numbers at the sale lifted by 480 to 1480 head of mixed quality cattle, drawn from Blackall, Barcaldine, Aramac, Tambo, Longreach, Muttaburra, Hughenden and one large consignment of heifers from Katherine, NT.
The better end of the cattle in both prime and store sections receiving strong competition, including a large consignment of vendor bred store cows that attracted good restocker competition.
Sunbury Pastoral Co, Lumley, Isisford sold prime Charolais cross cows to a top of 264.2 weighing 597.5kg to return $1578.60. They also sold store weaners to a top of 464.2, weighing 268.6kg to return $1246.71. The heifers in the draft sold to 350.2, weighing 299.1kg to return $1047.32.
Mickhan Pastoral Pty Ltd, Torryburn, Richmond sold a run of Brahman cross steers to a top of 379.2 weighing 360kg to return $1365.12. They also sold Brahman cross heifers to 350.2 weighing 294.6 to return $1031.74.
Bull Creek Pty Ltd, Bull Creek, Mckinlay sold a Santa Gertrudis bull for 269.2c/kg weighing 890kg returning $2395.88 They also sold Santa Gertrudis-cross cows for 282.2c/kg averaging 488.8kg returning $1379.46/head.
DKM Pastoral Pty Ltd, Athol, Blackall sold Brahman-cross steers for 336.2c/kg averaging 656.3kg returning $22066.31/head.
EW and EM Moller, Edwinstowe, Jericho sold Santa Gertrudis heifers for 370c/kg averaging 358.9kg returning $1327.80,
The Birchley family, Gartmore, Tambo sold Braford steers for 330.2c/kg weighing 542kg returning $1791/hd. Their Braford-cross cows sold for 308.2c/kg weighing 442kg returning $1361/hd
Moonbong Partnership, Ravensbourne, Blackall sold Santa Gertrudis steers for 348.2 weighing 661.7kg to return $2303.92/hd.
They also sold Santa Gertrudis bulls for 290.2c/kg weighing 485kg to return $1407.47 and Santa Gertrudis cows for 278.2c/kg weighing 605kg to return $1683.11/kg.
Wololla Partnership, Wololla, Jericho sold Brahman-cross steers for 332.2c/kg weighing 531kg to return $1763/hd.
Keogh Wirth & Pedley, Boonamerrie, Longreach sold Shorthorn-cross steers for 298.2c/kg weighing 525kg to return $1565/hd. Their cows sold for 262.2c/kg weighing 459kg to return $1202/hd.
DI and EM Jones, The Grove, Winton sold Droughtmaster steers for 462.2c/kg weighing 276kg to return $1276/hd. They also sold Charolais-cross heifers for 410.2c/kg weighing 185kg to return $760/hd.
WP & KM Watkin, Barcoorah, Aramac sold Brahman-cross steers for 402.2c/kg weighing 271kg to return $1090/hd.
DF and DM Jones, Glenlyon, Richmond sold Brahman-cross steers for 380.2c/kg weighing 458.6kg to return $1743.49/hd.
AJ and RM Coyne, Cavendish, Alpha sold Charolais-cross heifers for 325c/kg weighing 495kg to return $1608.75/hd.
David Gleeson, Poverty Park, Blackall sold Droughtmaster-cross steers for 374.2c/kg weighing 412.5kg to return $1543.58.
P and DA Pidgeon, Glenroy, Longreach sold Droughtmaster steers for 396.2c/kg weighing 314.4kg to return $1245.55/hd, and Droughtmaster heifers for a top of 322.2c/kg weighing 462.5kg to return $1490.18/hd.
HH and B Rogers, Sutton Downs, Hughenden sold Brangus-cross steers at 420.2c/kg weighing 262.2kg to return $1101.71/hd.
JJ Scully, trading as Ryan Bros, Carlow, Blackall sold quality Santa heifers to average 352.2c/kg to weigh 432kg to return $1523.
B and K Hayman, Tiree, Blackall sold Santa cows to 272.2c/kg to weigh 603kg to return $1642.
Steve Bailey, Highlands, Tambo sold Charolais-cross heifers for 330.2c/kg to weigh 505kg to return $1667/hd.