With Australia Day holiday on Friday, Emerald agents moved the regular Thursday sale to Tuesday, January 23, to offer 1050 cattle.
Quality was not to the usual standard, but the better lines did shine in their own weight categories, but the general trend was slightly easier than the previous sale with the exception of heavy cows lines that lifted by up to 6c.
No bullocks to quote this week, heavy steers 500-550kg reached 274c/kg to average 272c, heavy heifers over 400kg sold to 257c to average 234c, heavy cows over 520kg made as much as 212c to average 209c, cows 450-520kg topped at 209c to average 205c, while heavy bulls over 600kg sold to 230c.
In the store section, heavy feeder steers 400-500kg sold to 277c to average 267c, steers 350-400kg made to 300c to average 260c, 280-350kg steers topped at 350c to average 307c, 200-280kg weaner steers reached 369c to average 316, while light steers under 200kg made as much as 367c.
Feeder heifers 350-400kg topped at 253c to average 249c, 280-350kg heifers sold to 263c for the average of 254c, 200-280kg heifers reached 264c to average 254c while light heifers under 200kg made as much as 311c.
The Kleier family, Luxor, Dysart offered 376kg Droughtmaster cross heifers to make 251c and $945, while Lloyd Stranks, Sunnyvale, Willows had 480kg Brahman cows sell to 208c and $1000.
January 18 sale
In comparison there were 1400 yarded at Emerald on January 18 with quality quite mixed. Prime cattle tended to ease in rate with bullocks over 550kg selling to 266c/kg to average 258c, 4c easier, heavy steers 500-550kg made to 277c to average 269c, a cent or two better, while heavy heifers over 400kg reached 259c to average 247c, 3c cheaper.