Mareeba combined agents penned a total of 493 head at this week's prime and store cattle sale, an increase of 343 head on the previous week.
The buying panel was made up of three major export processors, one local processor and a small gallery of store buyers, southern traders and re-stockers.
Store cattle are still selling well with the best of the younger steers reaching 430.2c. Store heifers remained in strong demand selling to a top of 408.2c. These high rates are predominately for softer type cattle.
The sale average was 307.2c averaging $930.90/head across all categories.
The yarding consisted of 132 bulls averaging 306.8c selling to a top of 420.2c, 151 cows averaging 236.6c selling to a top of 308.2c, one calf averaging 350c selling to a top of 350c, 36 heifers averaging 273c selling to a top of 346.2c, 67 steers averaging 333.4c selling to a top of 380.2c, 30 yearling heifers averaging 390.9c selling to a top of 408.2c, 72 yearling steers averaging 404.3c selling to a top of 430.2c and four cows and calves at $470.