A LINE of camels made history at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange prime and store sale last Wednesday and served as a dramatic curtain raiser to another strong auction where restocker demand for all categories continued.
The hump-day sale made for an unusual sight at the yards given camels have not gone under the hammer at Gracemere for at least 20 years.
Morgan Harris, TopX Rockhampton, said it was the first time camels had sold through the regular sale.
"All 17 were bought by a Southern Queensland camel dairy," Mr Harris said.
"Their dairy operation, in the Scenic Rim, has tourists and a cafe so it's a very good home for them."
The vendor, Cliff and Kathy White, Home Hill Station, Glenroy, had been using the camels for weed control on their property.
"They were very well-handled, walked off the truck and drafted up nicely for us," Mr Harris said.
After the excitement of the camel auction, more than 3100 head of cattle drawn from Charters Towers, St Lawrence, Dingo, Calliope, Theodore, and the local area were processed.
The quality was mixed, with most demand being driven by restockers chasing lightweight weaner heifers and steers.
Mr Harris was confident the strong market trends would roll on, given favourable forecasts across the region.
"With the predictions we may be heading into a La Nina, I see the demand and prices holding strong," he said.
"I think people are buying now as there is a worry, if it does rain, cattle will continue to get dearer.
"For our local producers, they are in a good position as we still have a fair amount of feed and, even though it has dried off, there is still a good body off grass."
Slaughter steers sold to 368.2c, average 322.6c, steers 400-500kg made 378c, average 365c, steers 300-400kg reached 422c, average 371c, steers 200-300kg made 450c, average 412c and steers under 200kg sold to 444c, average 413c.
Slaughter cows sold to 320c, average 271c, cows 400-450kg made 320c, average 273c, cows 320-400kg reached 312c, average 265c, and cows under 320kg made 282c, average 210c.
Heavy heifers sold to 384c, average 323c, heifers 300-400kg made 416c, average 361c, heifers 200-300kg reached 420c, average 364c, and heifers under 200kg made 422c, average 380c.
Cows and calves sold to $2150/unit, average $1704/unit.
Bulls over 600kg made 312c, average 291c, bulls 450-600kg reached 342c, average 304c and bulls under 450kg sold to 404c, average 339c.
T and J Besch, Bajool, sold Brangus cross steers for 450c, weighing 216kg, to return $974/hd. Moorvale Pastoral, Nebo, sold Brangus steers for 430c, weighing 248kg, to return $1067/hd. P Lynch, St Lawrence, sold Brahman feeder steers for 366c, weighing 424kg, returning $1555/hd. EM and RF Bella, Nebo, sold Brangus weaner steers for 422c, weighing 315kg, returning $1333/hd.
G and A Mc Fadzen, Sarina Range, sold Droughtmaster weaner steers topping at 434c, weighing 243kg, to return $1017/hd. Hillcrest Pastoral Co, Middlemount, sold a run of 67 Brahman cross steers at 378c, topping at 475kg, to return $1796/hd. L and C Stewart, Comet, sold Brangus cows for 307c, weighing 484kg, returning $1486/hd.
Wirringan Pty Ltd, Biloela, sold a run of EU Brangus heifers to top at 394c, weighing 320kg, to return $1264/hd. S and A Peters, Bajool, sold Droughtmaster weaner heifers for 394c, weighing 264kg, to return $1040/hd. A Moffitt, Sandringham, sold Brangus weaners for 405c weighing 222kg, returning $898/hd.
