The hectic northern stud cattle sale calendar which usually sees out the year in exciting fashion will be a muted affair this year.
The ongoing harsh climatic conditions and economic hardship that most northern beef producers are currently facing has led to the cancellation, postponement or relocation of most of the high profile annual sales in the north.
For the second straight year, the ongoing lack of rain across the state has led to the North Queensland Droughtmaster Bull Sale being postponed from mid-October this year to early 2016 according to Elders Rockhampton sales support officer Megan Bradshaw.
The Charters Towers Brangus Sale which was to be held on November 2 has been cancelled for similar reasons with the sale to resume when selling conditions are more favourable sale coordinator Troy Trevor, Queensland Rural, said.
Elders Territory Livestock Sales Manager and Tropical Northern Brahman Sale coordinator Mark Peters said the annual sale which was to be held on November 20 at Mareeba won’t be going ahead this year.
“The general consensus from the sales committee members and selling agents was that the current conditions have made it far too difficult to put on a sale,” Mr Peters said.
“It’s simply to dry, it was a difficult enough selling situation at the sale in 2014, and another year of drought has only worsened prospects,” he said.
“Hopefully if seasonal conditions improve we’ll recommence the sale during the same time of year in 2016.”
The Charters Towers Santa Gertrudis Sale earmarked for December 4, will now be held at Clermont on the same day with sale coordinator Colby Ede, Landmark Stud Stock Toowoomba, citing the current conditions in the north as the reason for the shift.
The situation has left northern cattle vendors and prospective buyers with three major stud sales to inspect before the year is through.
Australian Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA) general manager John Croaker said he’s very impressed with the quality he’s seen in the 127 bulls that will be on offer at the Gold City Brahman Sale which will still be held on November 6.
And Ken McCaffrey, McCaffreys Australian Livestock Marketing, has confirmed that both the MAGS Droughtmaster Sale and the Wilangi Invitation Brahman Sale are “definitely going ahead” on November 9 and November 26-27 respectively.
“Both MAGS and Wilangi have been long-time fixtures on the northern sale schedule with vendors and buyers always supporting the sale’s well throughout the years,” Mr McCaffrey said.
“I’ve completed the MAGS inspection and seen the Wilangi bulls, and I’m very excited about the sale prospects of both of these outstanding yardings,” he said.
“Many of the vendors involved in both sales had fantastic results at Beef 2015, and they’ve included several of these highly lauded bulls and their progeny in the sale drafts.”