Promise of rain reduces Blackall's first yarding for 2021

Some 1060 head were yarded, from local areas as well as a large consignment from north of Hughenden, down from the 2000 head booked at the start of the week.

Good quality lines held firm with all the usual buyers present and operating, but there were some large variances in price due to quality and content.

Cows held firm in line with the rest of the state with heavy cows averaging 289c/kg, and heavy bulls saw good competition boosted by the inclusion of a live export order selling to 318.2c/kg, while heavy grown steers made to 380c/kg.

Saleyards manager Dave Carter said some producers had sent in older cows with calves at foot as a package, considering the prices on offer.

"We're up and running well, with a couple of good transit mobs through too, but the best gauge of how things are going won't be until after Easter, when musters are in full swing," he said.

The Clarenden Cattle Co, Clarenden, Blackall sold very good quality Charbray cross steers for 478.2c at 327kg to $1564/hd, and also sold young Charbray cows and calves for $2250/hd.

Swan Hill Cattle Co, Swan Hill, Blackall sold good heavy Santa cows for 298.2c at 582kg to return $1734/hd.

Hanley Grazing Co, Hanley, Barcaldine sold very good quality red Brangus/Hereford cross steers for 502.2c at 293/kg to return $1474/hd.

AJ & JE Lawrence, Winooka, Blackall sold Brahman cows for 286.2c/kg weighing 521.7kg to return $1493/hd.

Eldwick Pastoral Co, Eldwick, Stonehenge sold full mouth Brahman bullocks for 365c at 573kg to return $2091/hd.

Ben Avery, Allandale, Blackall sold Charolais cross steers for 422.2c/kg weighing 400kg to return $1688/hd.

GJ & JM Bambling, Glenavon, Aramac sold Brahman cows for 291.2c at 540kg to return $1574/hd.

CC Glover & Son, Prospect, Tambo sold good heavy cows for 298.2c at 639kg to return $1904/hd.

Toobrack Grazing, Toobrack, Longreach sold good quality Hereford cross weaner steers for 580.2c at 205kg to return $1190/hd.

Lightweight restocker steers under 280kg saw a top price of 580.2c to average 536.2c/kg.

A small sample of restockers steers 280 to 330kg made to 502.2c, averaging 489c/kg.

Medium feeder steers sold to 442.2c with most around 427.2c, with one charity steer selling to 500.2c/kg.

Heavy feeder steers sold to442.2c to average 434c/kg.

Lightweight restocker heifer calves under 200kg made to 524.2c with most selling around 466c/kg.

Lightweight restocker heifers 200 to 280kg made to 420c to average 387c/kg.

Heifers 280 to 330kg returning to the paddock made to 380c to average 370c while those to feed averaged 345c/kg.

Feeder heifers over 330kg made to 376.2c to average 340c/kg.

Heavy grown steers to the processor sold to 380.2c while heavy heifers to kill made to an isolated 350c to average 326c/kg.

Store cows sold to 271c to average 254c/kg. Medium cows 400 to 520kg made to 292c, averaging 278c/kg.

Good heavy cows were well represented and made to 298c to average 289c/kg.

Heavy bulls were pushed on to a top of 318.2c to average 300c/kg.

Cows and calves made to $2,250/unit.

The Blackall sale set for this Thursday has been cancelled in the wake of good rain in areas cattle are drawn from, but Mr Carter said it would auger well for the first weaner sale of the year the following Thursday.

"We've got around 3000 head booked so far, and we'll put the fat cattle that couldn't make it this week at the end," he said. "I expect we'll keep going weekly until we physically run out of cattle."

He said people further out were still unloading cattle thanks to little rain so far this summer.

He thought the selling year would be different to 2021 given that numbers were reduced, with a lot hinging on the availability of grass in southern states.