THERE was no time to indulge in chocolate on Easter Sunday for Angus and Donna Deane as they loaded three road trains of cattle from their property at Corfield, near Winton bound for the Roma Store Sale.
All eyes were on the strong line of Droughtmaster genetics at the sale on Tuesday as prices for feeder steer remained firm.
The Deane’s 490 steers sold for 346c/kg to average 341kg and return $1185/hd. The steers topped at 360c/kg.
Droughtmasters were also represented by Dart Pastoral Co, Thirlstone, Roma with their 165 steers selling for 340c/kg to average 332kg to return $1133/hd.
The Deane family de-registered their Droughtmaster stud, Malboona, but have retained their purebred herd and use bulls of both their own and Glenlands genetics.
Mr Deane said they sold steers direct to feedlots but would also offload some cattle to saleyards each year, Roma their preference.
“We grow them out to bigger than the ones here and sell them at 450kg into a feedlot,” he said.
“We have just got to save the grass we have got for the breeders.”
While many producers around the Roma Saleyards were gifted with rain from ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie, Mr Deane said they were among the desperate producers who missed out.
“It’s getting dry (and) not a cloud from Debbie,” he said.
“We haven’t had any rain for months – we have had very little since Christmas.”
Selling agents reported feeder steer prices remained firm and similar to last week while the market for weaner cattle was slightly softer.
Elders Roma reported Santa cows and calves sold for $1800.
Sale highlights included light weight steers about 128kg from Gingie Pastoral Co, Oak Park, Charleville selling for 462c/kg.
As they were classed as calves they do not appear on the market report.
Selling agent AJ Riley said quality across the yards was down on last week with some markets slightly cheaper.
“The weaner steers about 200kg were averaging 380c/kg to $4,” he said.
There is no store sale on Tuesday due to ANZAC Day but TopX Roma agent Carl Warren said they were expecting quite a few numbers next sale.
“The feed is good (around Roma) especially anyone that received that earlier rain,” he said.
“Those on the lighter rain and those who had no previous rain, (feed is) starting to thin and once we get a frost it might lighten off a bit.”