Numbers increased by almost 200 to yard 1390 cattle penned at Emerald on Thursday. Light steers were the only category of cattle that struggled to uphold last week’s rates, but mainly due to the quality of offer. That being said, all other descriptions either maintained or improved in value by as much as 24c.
In the prime section, bullocks over 550kg reached 265c to average 249c, heavy heifers over 400kg topped at 234c to average 223c, heavy cows over 520kg sold to 217c to average 198c, cows 450-520kg made as much as 208c to average 190c, while bulls over 600kg peaked at 240c.
Feeder steers 400-500kg, although few in numbers, sold to 256c to average 243c, steers 350-400kg reached 256c to average 231c, 280-350kg steers made as much as 266c to average 249c, weaner steers 200-280kg peaked at 263c, while light steers under 200kg topped at 245c.
Feeder heifers 350-400kg sold to 240c to average 208c, 280-350kg heifers reached 241c to average 201c, 200-280kg heifers topped at 215c, while light heifers under 200kg sold to 195c. Four lots of cows and calves offered saw a pen of Droughtmaster cows, 3-8 years in forward store condition, with calves slightly better than babies selling for $1040.
Sale Highlights:
Lyn Sypher, Westpark, Emerald sold Droughtmaster steers to 251c to weigh 404kg or $1015. Ben and Hayley Hutton, Warratah, Clermont consigned Droughtmaster cross steers to 236c to weigh 213kg or $503. Geoff and Phillipa Hurrey, Crillee, Clermont sold Euro cross steers to 266c to weigh 283kg and $755. Lawrence and Pat Hack, Rocklea, Alpha sold Euro cross heifers making to 241c to weigh 322kg and returned $778.
Stew and Raywin Donovan, Old Gordon, Capella, sold Charbray heifers weighing 400kg that made to 236c to return $944. The Spencer family, Mayfield, Willows, sold Brahman cross cows to 193c to weigh 640kg or $1236. Andrew and Sam Bulger, Serento, Willows, sold cows to 198c to weigh 535kg or $1060, while their cows and calves made to $990 per unit.
Bill and Debbie Kerle, Roscommon, Gindie, sold Santa cross cows to 207c to weigh 598kg or $1239. Vern and Susan Smith, Waymandon, Emerald, sold Charolais steers for 263c to weigh 725kg or $1910. Rob and Julie Crozier, Rydan, Rubyvale, sold Santa cross steers for 250c to weigh 447kg or $1117.