Mareeba Combined Agents penned a total of 1233 head for this week’s special prime and store sale. Numbers increased by 720 head. Cattle were drawn from across the usual supply area, including the Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Ravenshoe, Croydon, Cape York, Cooktown, Lakeland & Mt Carbine.
The much larger yarding saw store buyers come from Charters Towers, southern and central Queensland. Two major export slaughter processors operated along with local wholesale processors and a larger than normal gallery of local traders and fatteners.
Local trade heifers were back 5c, local trade cows gained 21c on the previous week. Ox suitable for slaughter sold to rates 20c dearer, cows suitable for slaughter were up 20c on last week’s values. Heavy bulls for slaughter gained 35c. The best of the store steers broke through the 300c/kg barrier for the first time in many months. A very good pen of Droughtmaster heifers hit the 260c mark which has not happened for a good while. A shortening of supply and more competition provided a very good result this week.
Local trade heifers ranged from 211.2c to 221c and local trade cows made from 207.2c to 227c. Ox suitable for slaughter sold from 180c to 270c, cows suitable for slaughter made from 185c to 234c, while bulls suitable for slaughter ranged from 150c to 250c.
Store steers topped at 305.2c, store heifers sold to 261.2c, younger store bulls reached 276.2c and cows and calves sold to $810/unit.