Numbers increased by 200 head with a total yarding of just over 1200 penned at Emerald on Thursday. As dry conditions set in, the prime and store stock offered are starting to show signs of a deteriorating season and with that, out of specification cattle are struggling to maintain their values.
In the prime section, bullocks over 550kg sold to 278c/kg to average 268c, heavy heifers over 400kg reached 253c to average 218c, heavy cows over 520kg topped at 227c to average 219c, cows 450-520kg made as much as 225c to average 209c, while heavy bulls over 600kg peaked at 230c.
Genuine feeder cattle were had to come by, consequently there were too few steers 400-500kg to quote, 350-400kg steers sold to 250c to average 241c, 280-350kg steers topped at 270c to average 240c, 200-280kg weaner steers reached 271c to average 257c, while light steers under 200kg topped at 279c. 350-400kg trade feeder heifers sold to 234c to average 220c, 280-350kg heifers peaked at 224c to average 208c, weaner heifers 200-280kg made as much as 230c to average 208c.
Highlights: The Esmond family, Lucknow, Capella offered 682kg Santa cross bullocks to 278c and $1899, while the Barlow family, Amaroo, Comet had their 540kg Brangus heifers to 238c and $1286.
The Graham family, Withersfield, Willows offered their 248kg Brangus cross steers to 269c and $667, while Lawrence and Pat Hack, Rocklea, Alpha had 447kg Euro cross heifers to 211c and $945.
The Whitehead family, Satellite, Springsure offered Droughtmaster/Charolais Cross weaners, the steers topped at 270c for 315kg and $852, while their heifer mates reached 228c for 246kg and $561.