THRIVING demand for finished cattle lifted the cow price 30c/kg at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (CQLX) prime and store sale on Wednesday, where the top pen hit 352c/kg.
Josh Heck, Savage Barker Backhouse/Grant Daniel Long, said the solid market trend was being driven by a short national supply of processor stock, which had a flow-on effect of lifting prices for feedlot cattle.
"The price rise for processor and feeder lines at this week's sale was significant," Mr Heck said.
"We had four of our northern processors all actively bidding, and there was strong demand coming from southern operations too."
A highlight in the cow market included a 665kg Braford offering from the Bell family, Silverleigh, Theodore, which reached 329c/kg and returned $2189/head.
Mr Heck described the yarding as great quality, which increased by 773 head to 3367 on last week's sale.
"It was one of the better yardings we have had in recent weeks, and I think the strong prices are drawing more producers to the sale," he said.
Slaughter steers sold to 432c, average 378c, steers 400-500kg made 468c, average 434c, steers 300-400kg reached 522c, average 457c, steers 200-300kg made 628c, average 561c and steers under 200kg sold to 640c, average 587c.
Slaughter cows sold to 352c, average 313c, cows 400-450kg made 340c, average 297c, cows 320-400kg reached 296c, average 254c, and cows under 320kg made 256c, average 250c.
Heavy heifers sold to 426c, average 385c, heifers 300-400kg made 462c, average 411c, heifers 200-300kg reached 516c, average 445c, and heifers under 200kg made 520c, average 449c.
Cows and calves sold to $2250/unit, average $2008/unit.
Bulls over 600kg made 352c, average 330c, bulls 450-600kg reached 352c, average 333c and bulls under 450kg sold to 534c, average 438c.
The weaner market was again solid, and the steer price peaked at 640c/kg for an Eileen Falzon, Illbilbie, Charbray cross pen which weighed 177kg and returned $1138/head.
Eileen Falzon also had a good result in the heifer market, with the female portion of the run reaching 520c/kg and weighing 164kg to equal $853/head.
Malvern Developments, Yeppoon, made 618c/kg for its 214kg Brangus offering, which returned $1322/head.
B and W Kerr, Calliope, sold a run of Grey Brahman No.1 steers for 600c/kg, which averaged 256kg and made a return of $1538/head.
For heavier lines, J Schwartz, Kensleigh, Duaringa, made a return of $2206/head for their 592kg Brangus bullock pen, which reached 374c/kg.
The Bauman family, Dingo, was another highlight in the cow market, with their 646kg Charbray cross line reaching 322c/kg and returning $2082/head.
P and M Breieffies, Sarina, sold EU Simmental cross weaner steers topping at 626c/kg weighing 296kg returning $1857/hd. Woogleigh Grazing Co, Ravenshoe, sold Braford cross steers for 558c/kg weighing 236kg to return $1318/hd.
Bularra Nominees, Ubobo, sold Brahman cross steers for 586c/kg weighing 281kg to return$1646/hd. FJ and VG Cocks, Duaringa, sold Brahman steers for 522c/kg weighing 228kg to return $1190/hd. M and R Hunt, Ridgelands, sold Droughtmaster heifers for 502c/kg weighing 222kg returning $1115/hd.
