2100 head yarded at Emerald

The bulk of the offering was drawn from North and North Western areas, competition was particularly strong for slaughter cattle with wet weather money in evidence, store steers sold to a generally firm market, but a very lacklustre heifer market saw values decline further, the only exception were the heavy heifers that gained around 12 cents.

A couple of bullocks over 550kg sold to 165c/kg, steers 500-550kg topped at 157c for the few available.

Steers 400-500kg were firm to reach 161c and average 135c, those in the 320-400kg range made to 168c to average 143c, a cent or so better, 220-320kg steers made as much as 194c and averaged 142c, while steers under 220kg reached 189c.

Slaughter cows sold particularly well, the best of the heavy cows reached 146c, to average 132c, 8c stronger, while 400-520kg cows topped at 142c for a 122c average, 12c more than the previous sale.

Overall it was a lacklustre heifer market, the only exception were slaughter types over 400kg selling to 157c to average 141c, a gain of 12c, 300-400kg heifers lost a further 10c to top at 142c and average 115c, those in the 220-300kg range peaked at 148c to average 125c, 15c less than the previous sale, while heifers under 220kg gained a few cents on the back of a much better quality line-up to reach 154c and average 126c. The best of the few lots of cows and calves on offer made $620 per unit.

Mark and Donna Kemp, Yungaba, Capella, sold a sale topping consignment of mixed sex Charbray-cross weaners, the 262kg tops of the steer portion making 194c and $510 per head, while the best of the heifers reached 154c to sell to $359p/h.

Beard Livestock, Bloodwood, Yamala, had 282kg Brahman-cross steers sell to 175c and $494p/h, as well as 640kg Brahman-cross cows which topped at 146c and $935p/h.

The Barlow family, Amaroo, Comet, sold 341kg Brangus steers for 168c and $573p/h, while their 510kg Brangus cows sold strongly for 142c and $725p/h.

Merv Zahl, Avonmore, Alpha, sold E.U accredited 261kg Santa steers for 185c and $484p/h, while John and Robin McCosker, Codenwarra, Emerald, sold 593kg Wagyu cows to 120c and $713p/h. Trevor and Alison Hamblin, Doris Park, Emerald, had Droughtmaster-cross cows, weigh 595kg to return 140c and $835p/h, while Nathan and Danielle Butcher, Moondah, Prarie, sold Charbray-cross cows and calves for $620 per unit.