Mareeba combined agents penned a total of 307 head for this week’s prime and store sale on February 27. Cattle were drawn from Ravenshoe, Chillagoe, Lakeland Downs, Musgrave, Mossman Julatten, Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands and Mt Garnet areas.
Numbers increased by 46 head. The market was presented with some good quality local trade steers, where values improved by 18c/kg. Local trade heifers also improved 11c/kg and local trade cows improved by 12c. Competition was stronger for slaughter ox, cows and bulls which were stronger by 14c/kg for the best on offer.
The sale was attended by one major export processor, one southern trader, three local wholesalers, and a small group of growers and fatteners. We could see values remain or improve slightly as supply tightens to the southern processors due to some very welcome falls of rain over a wide area of the supply district. Good quality store cattle were very limited in number.