DENNIS Conachan, Clydevale, Clermont, went home happy after a small buying spree at Central Queensland Livestock Exchange, Gracemere, on June 28.
Mr Conachan said he was "more than happy" to pay what eventuated as one of the best prices of the sale to secure a high grade pen of 16 Droughtmaster feeder steers for 282c/kg.
He bought the stock from Ross Flohr, Wotonga Grazing, Nebo, which averaged $1482/head for its consignment.
Mr Conachan said he could not overlook the quality of the Wotonga steers, which were part of a yarding of 2352 head comprising 1081 steers, 818 heifers, 389 cows, 23 bulls and 41 cow and calf lots.
"They were just what I was looking for," Mr Conachan said.
"I suspect they have come off better country than mine but I will do my best with them. I expect to keep for them for six months or so and then hope to sell for somewhere around the 300 cents mark."
He hopes to target the live export market with this batch of steers.
A spokesman for the June 28 sale said the overall quality of the offering was mixed but prices held held firm on on the good rates achieved a week earlier.
"Slight increases were seen in all heifers categories, lifting by an average of 10 cents," the spokesman said.
In other sale highlights, Charlevue Cattle Co, Dingo, sold Prime Brangus cows for 210c/kg for an average return of $1046/head, and the Moretti Family, Wowan, sold Charbray cows to 190c/kg, weighing 638kg for an average return of $1213/hd. The Morettis also parted with Charbray feeder steers for as much as 288c/kg weighing 474kg to return $1366/hd.
Spelta Grazing, Nebo, sold Droughtmaster Euro x No 8 heifers up to 256c/kg and earned an average return of $1094/hd. As well Hamco Pastoral, Ridgelands, sold EU Droughtmaster heifers for 256c/kg, weighing 383kg to return $980/hd.
Overall steers (slaughter) sold from 178-282c/kg, those in the 400-500kg went for as much as 288c/kg, 300-400kg fetched between 182-288c/kg, 200-300kg averaged 235c/kg and under 200kg sold from 120-278c/kg.
Cows (slaughter) averaged 167c/kg, those weighing 400-450kg sold from 80-180, 320-400kg were sold for an average 132c/kg and cows weighing up to 320kg were sold to a high of 130c/kg.
Bulls over 600kg averaged 260c/kg, 450kg-600kg averaged 250c/kg and up to 450kg averaged 199c/kg.