EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 30TH JANUARY 2025

Emerald agents presented just shy of 2,600 head for the second sale of 2025, with quality & presentation mixed in near all classes. The processing sector was well represented & most wanted a share in an easing market, albeit prices for the better presented lots held up potentially better than expected. The feedlot sector remained subdued & prices eased for all classes to feed in line with other selling centers throughout the state. The better-bred weaner steers & heifers held up quite well, however secondary cattle from weaners through to store cows struggled to find any great level of competition & in most cases prices eased for the plainer types as the sale progressed.

Bullocks over 550kg a reasonable sample sold to 349c to a/v 338c back 11c, Cows over 550kg peaked at 288c to a/v 278c back 14c, medium cows made to 282c to a/v 260c those 400/450kg a/v 238c with a top of 270c, heifers over 400kg with interest from feed & processing competition got to a high of 331c to a/v 300c back 31c with contributing factors, bulls over 600kg bucked the trend lifting 6c to top out at 294c to a/v 272c.

Feeder steers 400/500kg numbers were close to firm the top of 379c was back 14c the a/v eased 7c at 350c, steers 350/400kg numbers dropped significantly with a high of 374c to a/v 320c, steers 280/350kg numbers also dropped considerably to reach a top of 448c on occasion for some purpose bred accredited pens to help lift the a/v to 380c, heifers 350/400kg numbers improved however buyer interest was subdued to see a top of 310c the a/v back 31c at 276c, heifers 280/350kg in good numbers peaked at 318c the a/v of 276c back 19c.

Steers 200/280kg once a run of purpose bred accredited steers helped see the top & average prices increase with a high of 460c the a/v of 386c up 35c, however most of the better bred calves held close enough to firm whilst plainer types and those with content found minimal buyer competition, steers under 200kg too few to quote, heifers 200/280kg produced the biggest class for the day with very odd sales to 342c once again secondary & veal calves were the hardest hit to see the a/v ease 21c at 250c, heifers under 200kg made to 290c for the better bred softer types whilst the average of 218c tells the tale of buyers being very selective pen on pen.

There were 4 lots of cows and calves. Selling from $980 to $1,450 per unit.

Highlights:

Russ Holzwart, Springsure sold Brangus heifers weighing 395kg to 287c, $1,134, he also sold a Simmental bull to 273c, 810kg, $2,213.

The Faint Family, Clermont sold Brahman steers weighing 517kg to 327c, $1,693.

Ian & Sara Beck, Malanda sold Angus steers with an a/v weight of 301kg to 412c to top at $1,290.

Ryan & Rachel Holzwart, Emerald sold Charolais cows to 286c, at 575kg they returned $1,645.

Emma Holzwart & Nic Bell, Emerald sold Charolais x cows weighing 296kg to 286c, $1,706.

Bindi Nalder, Emerald sold Euro x steers weighing 304kg to 378c, or $1,150.