NT cattle christen redeveloped WQLX saleyards at Longreach

Auctions ceased in 2013 due to ongoing drought, and in 2017 AAM signed a 30-year lease with the Longreach Regional Council to take over operation and management of the facility, undertaking a $3.3m redevelopment that incorporates a full-deck weighing system and a new ring selling system that combines in-person and online buying.

Friday's special store sale at the Western Queensland Livestock Exchange site was a joint venture between Nutrien Livestock, based in Longreach, and northern Australian group Westcoast Northern Livestock.

Seven vendors trucked down large lines of predominantly young cattle from the Northern Territory, along with 36 head of weaner buffaloes, with Outback Ringers star Willy Cook supplying the majority of the yarding.

Including calves, he sent down close to 2000 head from Borroloola, saying it had been a wonderful opportunity to test the market at Longreach and deliver cattle to where the feed was.

"I'm very thankful we did - they were very good prices," he said.

Nutrien auctioneer Terry Ryan said it had been a very solid market for the type of cattle, bought largely by backgrounders and feedlotters, with Queensland and interstate buyers operating.

"It was a new concept selling commercial cattle through the ring like that but it's an outstanding yard design and the cattle moved quickly through," he said.

The cattle had all been pre-weighed and were sold either on a dollar per head or cents per kilogram basis.

Andrew Holt, Nutrien Roma said the cents per kilogram system gave processors as well as restockers the opportunity to buy, while it was decided that some cattle suited the dollars per head through the ring system better.

Representing Westcoast, Jack Maloney said everything sold to their expectations and beyond.

"We weren't sure about the younger heifers but they sold really well, to a top of $1380, and there were none under $1000," he said.

Longreach agent Richard Simpson, buying on behalf of Tambo-based backgrounder Chris Skelton, said people were pretty keen on the day, thanks to the first solid season many had seen in 10 years, and with more light rain falling in parts of the west.

"People are keen to restock and it was a great opportunity to buy store stock delivered to your doorstep," he said. "It's good to see the facility here, now we've just got to build up the staff numbers and make the numbers on the screen larger for the older generation."

Despite the reading issue, he said the screen displaying the weights, dentition and prices had been welcome.

"It keeps you up to speed, you can keep up with what's going on," he said.

Seventy-three lots were sold through the ring and the remaining 149 lots were sold in the pens outside.

Mr Skelton finished the day with 1500 head for his country at Winton, Tambo and Roma, saying the sale had found a niche market in western Queensland.

"I deal in Brahman steers and the body condition was right - they suited my operation," he said. "I'll background them to feeder weight."

He complimented AAM and the Longreach Regional Council on their initiative, saying the yards had worked well and to his mind, the cattle presented better in the ring than they did in the pen.

AAM's executive director, northern assets Tim Gallagher said the sale had been a big moment for the company.

He thanked the Longreach council for supporting their vision, and Nutrien and Westcoast for their support in kicking sales off.

Stocklive manager Libby Hufton said 27 buyers had logged into the sale online, from NSW, Queensland, NT, WA and Victorian locations, and they bidded on 20pc of the sale through the ring.

The sale had 314 viewers.

As well as having multiple cameras set up to allow online buyers to make a more informed decision, Ms Hufton said one of the best things about the complex was the feeding facility onsite, which meant cattle could be spelled and fed after they'd been sold, until transport was available.

"It means they're less tired for buyers," she said.

Noel Hassall and Gianna Douglas, Beswick, Katherine sold 36 mixed sex weaner buffaloes at the sale, as well as cattle, saying they'd sold a few to Queensland before for campdrafters.

"They're next year's turn-off," he said. "They come from our lease, and we educated them a bit first."

They'd normally be exported to Indonesia at 250-400kg, but the ones at Longreach averaged 230kg.

They started off at $500/hd for young steers and up to $850 for weaner heifers.

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