FEEDER steers peaked at 440c/kg at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (CQLX) prime and store cattle sale on Wednesday, where a Red Brahman offering of 287 European Union accredited stock was snapped up by lot feeders and restockers alike.
The quality line, from Andrew and Nancy Creed, Creed Grazing Company, Raglan, averaged 412kg and returned $1700/head.
Morgan Harris, Top X Gracemere, said Creed Grazing Company was among the new vendors at the yards offering larger runs of cattle.
"They were drawn to the sale for the good prices, and their cattle met strong demand," Mr Harris said.
"Lotfeeders bought the heavy end of the run, and producers from local grass-fattening operations bought the No. 0s in the line."
Overall, combined agents processed 3460 head of very good quality cattle, which were drawn from as far north as Charters Towers and south as Miriam Vale.
The steer price reached 700c/kg for a K Steggall pen which weighed 134kg and returned $939/head.
In the weaner steer category JE and RM Olive also had a good result, as their Brahman line reached 578c/kg, weighed 242kg and returned $1400/head.
In the female category, a highlight included Brahman heifers from Ruan Grazing, Clermont, making 464c/kg, when weighing in at 294kg to equal $1367/head.
Mr Harris said the cow market was strong and had lifted compared to last week's results.
"Cows were very strong, partly because we had an extra processor operating in the buying gallery," he said.
Milton Ag, Boyne Valley, reached 303c/kg for its 562kg Brahman cow pen, which returned $1704/head.
For cows and calves, Keldou Pty Ltd, Mt Alma, peaked the category when reaching $2500/unit for a Brahman cross offering.
LJ Dickson, Goovigen, sold Charolais cross weaner steers for 518c weighing 332kg to return $1721. B and M Lashford, Mt Larcom, sold Droughtmaster feeder steers for 418c weighing 453kg to return $1897.
Artemisia Pty Ltd, Baralaba, sold a pen of Droughtmaster steers for 600c weighing 262kg to return $1575/hd. Artemisia Pty Ltd, Baralaba, sold a pen of Droughtmaster cows for 289c weighing 631kg to return $1824/hd.
Crinan Consolidated, Gracemere, sold heavy Brangus cows for 297c weighing 723kg to return $2149/hd. DI Symonds, Nebo, sold Charbray cows for 304ckg weighing 630kg to return $1916p/h. Paraweena Cattle Co sold Euro cross heifers to 472c weighing 310kg to return $1467.
JE and RM Olive, Marlborough, sold No.9 Brahman cross heifers for 384ckg weighing 430kg to return $1650/hd. TM and TM Symonds, Nebo, sold Brahman cows and calves for $2250/unit.
Looking ahead to next week's sale, Mr Harris predicted similar strong results.
"I think the yardings will continue to hover around the same size as this week's numbers for a while," he said.
"We are starting to see the lead of No.1 weaners coming through, they are very good quality cattle with plenty of weight and condition."
Slaughter steers sold to 406c, average 366c, steers 400-500kg made 430c, average 409c, steers 300-400kg reached 518c, average 427c, steers 200-300kg made 600c, average 505c and steers under 200kg sold to 700c, average 570c.
Slaughter cows sold to 368c, average 290c, cows 400-450kg made 338c, average 276c, cows 320-400kg reached 299c, average 249c, and cows under 320kg made 290c, average 274c.
Heavy heifers sold to 426c, average 365c, heifers 300-400kg made 472c, average 398c, heifers 200-300kg reached 472c, average 434c, and heifers under 200kg made 498c, average 450c.
Cows and calves sold to $2500/unit, average $2104/unit. Bulls over 600kg made 330c, average 311c, bulls 450-600kg reached 362c, average 333c and bulls under 450kg sold to 476c, average 370c.
