Barcaldine growers sell into strongest eastern seaboard market of the week

Receiving only 55mm of rain since Christmas, the family was forced to offload 185 early weaned Hereford, Charolais and Droughtmaster steers and heifers.

“We’d normally sell at the end of June – there’s simply no food for them,” Bill said.

“We spent $10,000 on clover hay from South Australia in the last fortnight after we took them off mum.

“Today’s price isn’t as good as the 411 cents per kilogram we received when we sold here at Blackall two years ago, but it’s a better price than nothing.”

The 102 steers averaged 300c/kg, weighing 173kg and bringing $520 each, while the 83 heifers averaged 237c/kg and brought a total of $388 each at an average weight of 163kg.

Most went to restockers in Blackall and Longreach areas.

Ray White Livestock Blackall agent, Andrew Turner, said a combination of good local interest and buyers from eastern inland areas had helped strengthen the market at Blackall.

“The fat market followed other centres and strengthened, but the feeder market was tough,” he said.

“Feedlots are very full and while grain prices have improved, carcase prices haven’t increased to match.

“It’s making it challenging for lotfeeders.”

Andrew said the usual turnoff of cattle from the north and west, as well as drought pressure in the central west, were keeping sales at Blackall busy.

Blackall Combined Agents yarded 3750 head at Thursday’s sale, with cattle drawn from Aramac, Barcaldine, Muttaburra, Winton, Tambo, Jericho, Alpha, Hughenden, Cloncurry and Blackall. 

Sale Highlights:

Thistlebank Grazing Co,  Thistlebank, Aramac, sold EU Simmental cross steers for 286.2c/kg weighing 254kg to return $728/hd. 

RD Hay Pastoral Trust, Myross, Jericho sold Santa Gertrudis steers for 296.2c/kg weighing 223kg to return $660/hd. 

J & F Harlow, Blackall sold Angus steers weighing 253kg for 276.2c/kg to return $699/hd. 

Uardry Pty Ltd, Knapdale, Winton sold Charolais cross steers for 278.2c/kg weighing 262kg returning $729/hd. 

Ashley Smith, Strathroy, Hughenden sold Angus cross steers for 286.2c/kg weighing 267kg to return $766/hd. 

WR & RE Spence, Elis Holding, Muttaburra sold Angus cross steers for 286.2c/kg weighing 199kg returning $570/hd. 

SG Hoch, Kerand, Alpha sold 33 Hereford Droughtmaster cross steers, topping at 240c/kg and weighing 317kgs. 

Mildura Grazing Trust, Mildura, Barcaldine sold Santa Gertrudis steers for 276.2c/kg weighing 276kg to return $764/hd. 

MHG & JJ O'Dell, Colorado, Jericho sold Charolais steers, 250 in the run, to average 289c/kg weighing 210kg. Their heifers averaged 246 cents.

Latrobe Graziers, Norwood, Blackall sold Charolais cross feeder steers to 246c/kg weighing 412kg to return $1017/head. 

Bloomfield Pastoral Co, Bloomfield, Blackall sold Droughtmaster steers weighing 337kg to 255c/kg and returning $860/head. 

Maranda Pastoral Co, Maranda, Barcaldine sold Charolais cross weaner steers weighing 287kg to 271c/kg and returning $778/ head.

Chandler Grazing, Hillalong, Barcaldine sold Droughtmaster cross steers weighing 200kg, to 300c/kg to return $600/head.

Ballater Past Co, Ballater, Hughenden sold Droughtmaster cross heifers for 232.2c/kg weighing 266kg to return $617/hd. 

J & F Harlow, Blackall sold Angus heifers for 230c/kg weighing 241kg to return $554/hd. 

Lorne Grazing, Lorne, Blackall sold Charolais cross heifers for 234.2c/kg weighing 189.4kg to return $443/hd.

Ewen Plains Grazing sold fat cows at 193c/kg weighing 588kgs. 

The Enniskillen Past Co Pty Ltd, Boongoondoo, Jericho sold Santa Gertrudis cows for 146.2c/kg weighing 511kg to return $748/hd.

Mount Cornish Grazing Co, Mount Cornish, Muttaburra sold a Santa Gertrudis bull for 198.2c/kg weighing 960kg to return $1902/hd.

Blackall’s next sale will be a store and fat sale on June 14.