Fierce market trends and above average rainfall this season have continued to favour graziers offloading cattle at the Mareeba prime and store sale.
Mareeba combined agents penned a total of 1513 head at Tuesday's prime and special store cattle sale. Numbers were up by 98 head on the previous week, with local processors, buyers, and southern traders present on the day.
Competition was solid across all categories, with the promise of rain forecasts leading to new saleyard records being broken.
Also making headlines
First record to tumble was the meat works ox, hitting a new saleyard record of 426.2c/kg, while yearling bull price soared to uncharted territory, hitting 640.2c/kg. Yearling heifers reached new heights, selling to 562.2c/kg, while strong demand for yearling steers saw the price hit 652.2c/kg.
This week's yard averaged 392.99c/kg, averaging $1263.46 per head.
Graziers opt to sell
Far North Queensland graziers have experienced a higher than average wet season this year, and some producers were taking advantage of current market trends before the end of the year.
DJ Pastoral manager Ben Nolan, Bulldarby, Daintree River, offloaded 13 Droughtmaster steers, on behalf of owners David and Jean Barry, for 476.2c/kg at 493.5 kilograms to return $2349/hd. Mr Nolan said it has been a great season at their fattening block at the Daintree and the current market convinced them to sell.
"I bought these Droughtmaster steers from the Mareeba saleyards in June last year, back when they were just store steers. Looking back now, I think we paid $900 per head for them, so we've nearly tripled our return," Mr Nolan said.
"We've brought them back to our fattening operation at the Daintree where we run a mixed breed herd of 400 head on 223 hectares. We experienced a great wet season this year, and our pastures reflect that, and the cattle back home are in great condition at the moment."
Queensland Rural livestock agent Jacko Shepard, Mareeba, said recent rain down south brought plenty of optimism to the buying gallery.
"I knew there'd be an increase in interests, considering all the rain that they're getting down south. I was hoping for a bit of an increase but I'd never imagined the increase to be that much," Mr Shepard said.
"Today's sale has progressed very well, but by just the handful that have been sold, it gives us a fairly good indication that there's going to be a fairly good increase in the bull money as well. Graziers are taking the extra effort now to go out and clean their herds up, because they're getting a good rate for whatever they're selling."
Sale highlights
Overall, 611 bulls averaged 318.8c/kg, selling to a top of 538.2c/kg, while 157 cows averaged 337c/kg, selling to a top of 398.2c/kg.
Agents sold 281 steers to average 452.5c/kg, selling to a top of 638.2c/kg, while 71 heifers averaged 377.9c/kg, and sold to a top of 432.2c/kg.
Ninety two yearling bulls sold to average 522.0c/kg, selling to a top of 640.2c/kg, while 131 yearling heifers averaged 477.6c/kg, selling to a top of 562.2c/kg.
Yearling steers averaged 599.8c/kg of the 67 offered, selling to a top of 652.2c/kg.
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