Mareeba Combined Agents penned 580 head for Tuesday’s prime and store sale. Numbers reduced slightly by 58 head. The sale was attended by two major meat processors, two local meat wholesalers, one live export buyer and a small group of local buyers.
Values improved by 4-6c on local trade steers and ox suitable for slaughter, with strong competition provided from both the export slaughter buyer and live export market to Vietnam.
Local trade heifers didn’t reach the top of last week at 250c/kg, back 7c. Local trade cows also missed the high rate of 251c of the previous week, back 25c. Cows suitable for the export slaughter market gained some ground on last week’s best of 229c, up 12c. Bulls suitable for slaughter market lost considerable ground, back 40c mainly due to quality and condition. The presence of a live export slaughter buyer took the best of the heavy bulls out to 277c.
A reasonably good offering of good quality steers saw values improve by 4c. Good store heifers also showed gains of up to 16c. Young store males remained firm in value. The sale average was 220c/kg at $788.94. The last sale for the year will be December 11.
Local trade steers sold from 304c to 310c, local trade heifers ranged from 231c to 243c and local trade cows made from 203c to 226c. Ox suitable for slaughter sold from 210c to 308c, cows suitable for slaughter made from 180c to 241c, while bulls suitable for slaughter ranged from 160c to 200c.
Store steers topped at 292.2c, store heifers sold to 277.2c, younger store bulls reached 265c, and live export steers made 308c.