Numbers eased slightly to just over 2200 at Emerald Sale on Thursday and with the exception of a draft of store heifers from Richmond, it was local yarding.
As the seasonal dry continues, light weight store cattle became cheaper, prime stock eased 5-9 cents, while the quality end of the feeder cattle were every bit as strong to even dearer than last week’s rates.
In the prime section, bullocks over 550kg sold to 297c to average 284c, heavy steers 500-550kgs reached 302c to average 289c, heavy heifers over 400kg topped at 273c to average 264c, heavy cows over 520kg made as much as 228c to average 223c, 450-520kg cows peaked at 227c to average 211c while heavy bulls over 600kg sold to 272c.
In the store section, heavy feeder steers 400-500kg sold to 307c to average 294c trade feeder steers 350-400kg topped at 305c to average 288c, steers 280-350kg made as much as 281c to average 273c, weaner steers peaked at 283c to average 255c, while light steers under 200kg sold to 269c.
Trade feeder heifers 350-400kg topped at 260c to average 243c, 280-350kg heifers sold to 257c to average 242c, weaner heifers 200-280kg made as much as 253c to average 228c, while light heifers under 200kg topped at 220c. A few small pens of cows and calves were on offe. A pen of Charbray cross cows with 3-5month-old calves at foot sold for $900/unit.
Highlights: Jayd and Janice Stumer, Dalareen, Capella sold Droughtmaster steers to 305c to weigh 437kg or $1335. Charlie and Margaret Prince, Janibee, Capella sold Droughtmaster steers to 307c to weigh 452kg or $1388. The Sloan family, Stanley Park, Sapphire sold Droughtmaster cross steers to 281c to weigh 343kg and $965. The Daniels family, Stonybrook, Fernlees sold Santa heifers weighing 481kg make to 273c to return $1314.
Stew and Di Jeppesen, Olivevale, Comet sold Charolais cross cows to 226c to weigh 551kg or $1246. Trevor and Alison Hamblin, Doris Park, Emerald sold Droughtmaster heifers to 250c to weigh 298kg or $746. Peter Black and Leanne Comiskey, Langley, Middlemount sold Santa cross heifers to 246c to weigh 321kg or $790. The Stevenson family, Moonoomoo, Pentland sold Simmental cross heifers to 220c to weigh 238kg or $524.