Recent rain and more anticipated wet weather had all categories of the market recording significant increases at Emerald on Thursday, October 12 with 1200 cattle yarded.
Lightweight steers and heifers had the biggest gains of the day and without many plain cattle on offer, the market looked even better on paper.
Some outstanding drafts of prime cattle today saw bullocks over 550kg topped at 267c to average 259c, heavy steers 500–550kg are unable to be quoted due to a lack in numbers, heavy heifers over 400kg were also too few to quote.
Heavy cows over 520kg topped at 217c and averaged 214c, 450-520kg cows made to 216c to average 210c, while heavy bulls over 600kg reached 249c to average 231c.
In the store section, heavy feeder steers 400–500kg topped at 292c and averaged 273c, trade feeder steers 350-400kg reached 296c and averaged 289c, while steers 280-350kg topped at 374c and averaged 313 cents.
Backgrounder steers 280-350kg made to 374c and averaged 313c, weaner steers 200-280kg sold to 379c and averaged 357c, while light steers under 200kg reached 383c and averaged 360c.
Feeder heifers 350–400kg reached 263c and averaged 258c, backgrounder heifers 280-350kg topped at 285c to average 258c, while weaner heifers 200-280kg reached 308c to average 281c.
A single pen of mixed age, medium frame Brangus cows with baby calves at foot made $1060 per unit.
Highlights
Steve Mclucas and Susan Burns, Roper Valley, of Middlemount consigned a commendable line of Santa/Droughtmaster cross bullocks that topped the bullock category reaching 263c and weighed 644kg to return $1696.
The Cox Family, Mt Surprise, Alpha sold Simmental/Brangus cross feeder steers topping at 296 cents to weigh 380kg or $1126, topping the 350–400kg steer category.
Dan and Larissa Black, Langley, Middlemount consigned Euro cross weaner steers that reached 371c weighing 269kg or $999.
The Barlow Family consigned Brangus steers topping the 200-280kg steer category receiving a price of 379 cents weighing 236kg and returning $898.
Ben and Hayley Hutton, Waratah, Clermont sold Droughtmaster steers to 369c weighing 192kg or $710, while Gabe Hoch, Kerand Station, Alpha offered Droughtmaster steers making to 365 cents and weighed 182kg returning $667.
The Flohr Family, Wotonga Station, Nebo consigned a large run of Droughtmaster cross cows with the lead of them making to 214c to weigh 628kg and returning $1345, topping the cows over 520kg category.
Callum Barlow, Amaroo, Comet sold Euro Cross Heifers to 284 cents and weighed 305kg or $866.
