Mareeba saleyard's yearling steer, heifers, bull price records tumble for a consecutive week

Overall 60,182 cattle were sold through the Mareeba saleyards for 2021, with numbers soaring past the previous year.

Looking back to the first Mareeba sale of 2021, by the final yarding the average price had increased 156.96c/kg, or $283.60 per head.

At the first sale in February the yarding averaged $1059.39/hd and finished the year at $1342.99/hd.

One of the biggest price rises was felt in the yearling steer category, which hit a record 456.2c/kg back in February and finished the year at 826.2c/kg.

Mareeba saleyards combined agents spokesman Mark Peters of Elders said this selling season had been like nothing he'd been exposed to in 30 odd years of selling.

"There's been a lot of confidence throughout the year, and the fact that these good rates have filtered all the way through as far north as Mareeba, it has certainly encouraged people to get motivated and take advantage of the market," he said.

At the final sale for 2021 held last Tuesday the restocker market soared to uncharted territory yet again for the 1726 head, up by 131.

Overall, the yarding averaged 520.83c/kg, or $1342.99 per head, with records broken across yearling heifers (705c/kg), steers (826.2c/kg), bulls (799.2c/kg), and heifers up to 300kg (628.2c/kg).

"I think if we'd held another sale next week, we would have broken a few more records," Mr Peters said.

"The simple overview of it is that there's just a very strong demand for cattle in general and this is driven by the fact that seasonal conditions are so favorable in the south.

"With the prospect of more rain, which means better pastures, I don't see there's going to be any sort of reprieve from the values that we're currently seeing into next year."

Mareeba combined agents also recognised former contractor Des Burns, who finished his 12-year tenure at the saleyards.

Mark acknowledged Des for his great support over the past decade and his contribution to the saleyards.

"Des is a hard worker and certainly a character that's got some abilities of his own in his contracting clothes, but he's also a very accomplished horse breaker," he said.

"We thank Des for all his hard yards and late nights and we wish him well on his new adventures wherever they take him."

Overall, 411 bulls averaged 375.1c/kg, selling to a top of 624.2c/kg, while 24 bobby calves averaged 757.6c/kg, selling to a top of 826.2c/kg.

Cows averaged 361.3c/kg, with 162 head selling to a top of 422.2c/kg, while 272 steers averaged 497.2c/kg, selling to a top of 814.2c/kg.

Heifers averaged 458.7c/kg, selling to a top of 628.2c/kg, while 202 yearling bulls averaged 659.2c/kg, selling to a top of 799.2c/kg.

Yearling heifers averaged 618.9c/kg, with 268 head selling to a top of 7052c/kg, while 187 yearling steers averaged 733.7c/kg, selling to a top of 826.2c/kg.

The cow and calf market remained strong with four cows and calves selling to a top of $2775.

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