Despite localised rainfall, numbers increased by almost 150 to see 1650 penned at Emerald on Thursday.
As if this market couldn't get any dearer, just add water and that's exactly what happened.
Prime cattle tended to remain firm to slightly dearer, while trade weight feeder cattle and quality lightweight stores saw gains as much as 60c/kg from last week's sale.
In the prime section heavy bullocks over 550kg sold to 468c to average 461c, heavy steers 500-550kg topped at 476c to average 465c, heavy heifers over 400kg reached 476c to average 468c, heavy cows over 520kg pushed to 419c to average 403c, cows 450-520kg made as much as 412c to average 398c, while heavy bulls over 600kg sold to 385c.
In the store section, heavy feeder steers 400-500kg topped at 584c to average 528c, trade feeder steers 350-400kg sold to 602c to average 531c, 280-350kg steers reached 763c to average 608c, weaner steers 200-280kg made as much as 764c to average 725c, while light steers under 200kg sold to 848c.
Trade feeder heifers 350-400kg were too few to reliably quote, 280-350kg heifers sold to 6387c to average 587c, weaner heifers 200-280kg made as much as 694c to average 622c, while under 200kg heifers topped at 680c. Three small pens of cows and calves were offered, the best a pen of Santa cross aged cows with branded calves at foot, selling for $3000/unit.
The Esmond family, Lucknow, Emerald, sold Droughtmaster cross steers to 474c to weigh 530kg or $2513. Russell and Anita Smith, Metro, Springsure, consigned Brahman steers reaching 480c to weigh 387kg or $1859. David and Lynette Keene, Northdown, Gindie, sold Brahman steers making 490c to weigh 365kg or $1791.
Tierra Cattle Co, Bygana, Clermont, sold a draft of young Droughtmaster females with the best to 480c and weighed 437kg or $2094, while their weaner steer portion made to 732c to weigh 269kg or $1971. The Pedler family, Crystano, Capella, sold Droughtmaster steers to 734c to weigh 200kg and returned $1475. The Prince family, Melaleuca, Capella, sold Droughtmaster heifers making to 596c to weigh 232kg to return $1387.
