Last winter’s rain in the Longreach district added an extra 60kg to a small mob of out-of-season weaner steers sold by John and Joanne Milne at Blackall last Thursday.
Their pen of 308kg Santa cross steers brought them $1104 a head, which John said was a little less than he’d expected but was still a great result.
“We generally sell about 300 young steers and some heifers off mum, and have been very pleased with prices last year and again now,” he said. “The year before that they were selling round the $500 mark, and after the live export ban we were only getting $260 a head, so we certainly can’t complain now.”
The sale pen of 22 head were all by Forest Park bulls over Brahman/Droughtmaster cows, which is a cross John’s very happy with.
“We want to retain that Brahman hardiness because we do have to withstand lots of droughts, and the Santa Gertrudis is giving us extra weight and softness that goes well at sale time.”
They packed on the kilos after enjoying winter herbage growth but with no summer rain on the property south of Longreach, John said he didn’t want to see that go to waste.
Last week’s yarding of 3249 head was fully firm to dearer, with good ACC-type Charolais cross and Angus cross feeder heifers consistently making 320c/kg, while lighter backgrounder heifers made up to 350c/kg.
Over 5000 head are booked for Blackall’s monthly weaner and store sale taking place this Thursday.