A larger yarding of 2100 cattle came under competition in Emerald on February 8 with an overall lift in the market after very welcomed rain was received over the weekend.
Some large runs of weaner cattle from the north made up a fair portion of the yarding with local weaners also in demand.
In the prime section, bullocks over 550kg topped at 251c to average 247c, heavy steers 500–550kg reached 277c to average 263c, heavy heifers over 400kg topped at 256c and averaged 245c, heavy cows over 520kg topped at 212c and averaged 208c, 450-520kg cows made to 208c to average 203c, while heavy bulls over 600kg reached 252c to average 231c.
In the store section, heavy feeder steers 400–500kg made to 284c to average 268c, while trade feeder steers 350–400kg topped at 278c and averaged 267c. Backgrounder steers 280-350kg made to 336c and averaged 296c, weaner steers 200-280kg sold to 336c and averaged 307c due to mixed quality, while light steers under 200kg topped at 366c to average 304c.
Feeder heifers 350–400kg reached 257c and averaged 241c, backgrounder heifers 280-350kg topped at 267c to average 255c, while weaner heifers 200-280kg reached 296c to average 264c. 4 lots of cows and calves were on offer today with the lead pen being made up of large frame good condition cows with green to 4 month old calves at foot reaching $1240 per unit.
Sale Highlights: The Prince family, Janibee, Capella consigned Droughtmaster steers topping at 277c to weigh 520kg and returning $1441, while Mike and Vicky Donovan, Coolibah, Capella sold Brahman cross cows reaching 206c weighing 637kg or $1314. The Iker family, Vandyke, Springsure offered Euro cross heifers at 263c weighing 322kg to return $848, Richard and Jenny Woolcock, Oakey Creek, Springsure consigned Droughtmaster cross cows topping at 207c to weigh 549kg or $1137.