Following a prolonged dry period, a Nebo grazier has took advantage of the current cattle market in Central Queensland and offloaded 334 head at the Emerald prime and store sale on Thursday.
As thunderstorms across the Central Highlands and Western Queensland brought relief to drought affected graziers, forecasted rainfall gave feeder buyers plenty of optimism on the day.
Combined agents saw more than 1900 penned, with competition very solid right throughout the day for both store and prime categories.
Darren Gillham, Lake Elphinstone, Nebo offloaded an impressive draft of Charbray cross Brahman steers and heifers, with the lead pen from the 93 Charbray cross Brahman feeder steers No 0's selling for 498c/kg for 423c/kg average or $2109 per head.
While his Brahman cross Charbray weaner heifers also sold well, with the top pen weighing 348kg and selling to 528c/kg returning $1839 per head.
Lake Elphinstone run a fattening and commercial operation across 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) west of Nebo and Mr Gillham said dry conditions and market trends drove him to the sale yards.
"It keeps getting dryer and dryer back at our property and we've decided the time was right to sell and de-stock some of our paddocks, in order to regenerate the grass hopefully through the wet season," Mr Gillham said.
"I thought we'd put them in the sale because the markets are pretty strong at the moment and I'm happy with the sale result.
"We're mainly in the commercial market and we usually sell trade steers and heifers, but occasionally offload weaners just to make a little bit more room."
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In the prime section, bullocks over 550kgs sold to 417c/kg to average 406c/kg, heavy steers 500-550kgs reached 442c/kg to feedlot operators, to average 415c/kg.
Heavy cows over 520kgs topped at 376c/kg to average 368c/kg, whilst cows 450-520kgs made as much as 365c/kg to average 344c/kg and heavy bulls over 600kgs sold to 327c/kg.
In the store section, heavy feeder steers 400-500kgs sold to 498c/kg to average 456c/kg, 350-400kg steers made to 510c/kg to average 474c/kg, 280-350kg steers topped at 621c/kg to average 522c/kg, while weaner steers 200-280kgs reached 621c/kg to average 573c/kg.
A draft of very light condition steers from Northern Queensland filled the light steer numbers, with the top pen selling to 666c/kg to average 625c/kg.
Trade feeder heifers made to 460c/kg to average 432c/kg, 280-350kg heifers sold to 536c/kg to average 456c/kg, weaner heifers 200-280kgs topped at 554c/kg to average 507, while again the North QLD light condition heifers under 200kgs sold to 594c/kg to average 547c/kg. No Cows & Calves to quote this week.
Sale highlights
Richard and Robyn Daniels, Plainfields, Gindie sold Droughtmaster bullocks for 400c/kg weighing 835kg or $3342 per head. Charles and Wendy Curran, Bluegrass Plains, Capella sold Euro X cows for 371c/kg weighing 592kg or $2199.
Col and Lorna Baker, Feez Creek, Capella sold Droughtmaster cows for 370c/kg weighing 566kg or $2096. Richard and Wendy Barlow, Crystal Creek, Capella sold Santa cows for 376c/kg weighing 610kg or $2294.
Craig and Carla McCamley, Selma Emerald sold Brah X no. 0 heifers for 433c/kg weighing 392c/kg or $1701. S J and D M Baynton, Moranbah sold Angus weaner heifers for 536c/kg weighing 270kg or $1447.
Bill and Vicky Pownall, Moranbah sold Brah X weaner steers for 621c/kg weighing 294kg or $1825. Brad and Bryony Comiskey, Barrinja, Yamala had their 608kg Brangus cows to 377c/kg and $2296, while Stan and Pat Knight, Iona, Emerald sold 615kg Angus cross cows to 374c/kgs and $2301.
The Sullivan family, had their 479kg Droughtmaster steers to 476c/kg and $2282, while Geoff and Phillipa Hurrey, Crillee Clermont sold 340kg Limo cross heifers to 528c/kg and $1795.
Inverleigh Pastoral, Normanton offered a run of lightweight weaners, the steers selling to 658c/kg for 148kgs and $977, while their heifer mates reached 564c/kg for 174kgs and $984.
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