EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 17TH APRIL 2026
Emerald Combined Agents Prime & Store Sale yarded 2,233 head of reasonable quality cattle & overall were met with a firm to slightly softer market, with cattle drawn from most local areas.
Heavy bulls softened by around 30c/kg, topping at 340c/kg to average 306c/kg. A very healthy line of bullocks was presented, with over 350 head yarded and the best reaching 400c/kg, though the average eased to 353c/kg.
Heavy cows 520kg and above met a slightly softer trend of around 5c/kg, topping at 339c/kg and averaging 313c/kg, while secondary cows 450-520kg averaged 291c/kg with a high of 335c/kg. Prime heifers over 400kg reached 340c/kg with a firm average of 331c/kg.
Heavy feeder steers 400-500kg topped at 448c/kg and averaged 352c/kg, with increased activity on flatback types not fully reflected due to mixed quality, while lighter backgrounder steers 350-400kg reached 482c/kg to average 393c/kg. Weaner steers 200-350kg saw a top of 588c/kg and averaged 489c/kg, strengthened by a few standout quality lines.
Feeder heifers 350-400kg reached an isolated high of 446c/kg but averaged 293c/kg, showing a softer trend due to quality variation, while weaner heifers topped at 378c/kg for 200-280kg types and 320c/kg for 280-350kg types, with the overall weaner heifer average at 302c/kg, reflecting roughly a 20c/kg decline.
| CATEGORY | WEIGHT RANGE | MIN c/kg | AVG c/kg | MAX c/kg |
| STEERS | Under 200kg | – | – | – |
| 200-280kg | 150 | 489 | 588 | |
| 280-350kg | 200 | 418 | 524 | |
| 350-400kg | 230 | 393 | 482 | |
| 400-500kg | 200 | 352 | 448 | |
| Over 500kg | 260 | 353 | 400 | |
| HEIFERS | Under 200kg | – | – | – |
| 200-280kg | 210 | 302 | 378 | |
| 280-350kg | 40 | 268 | 320 | |
| 350-400kg | 148 | 293 | 325 | |
| Over 400kg | 270 | 331 | 446 | |
| COWS | 300-400kg | 170 | 259 | 289 |
| 400-450kg | 200 | 273 | 316 | |
| 450-520kg | 150 | 291 | 335 | |
| Over 520kg | 180 | 313 | 339 | |
| BULLS | Up to 450kg | 288 | 295 | 320 |
| 450-600kg | 188 | 296 | 315 | |
| Over 600kg | 50 | 306 | 340 | |
| Cows & Calves | – | – | – | |
Highlights
Whitehead Pastoral Co of Monto – Sold Charolais Cross weaner steers to a top of 546c/kg, weighing 230kg, to return $1,256 per head.
W & J Gakowski, ‘Karvella’, Emerald – Sold Droughtmaster Cross bullocks to a top of 381c/kg, weighing 639kg, to return $2,436 per head.
Redfield Pastoral of Blackwater – Sold Droughtmaster Cross prime heifers for a top of 328c/kg, weighing 537kg, to return $1,764 per head.
D & S Fletcher, ‘Good Hope’, Springsure – Sold HGP-treated Droughtmaster Cross feeder steers for a top of 444c/kg, weighing 421kg, to return $1,873 per head
JM Anderson & M Melano of Alpha – Sold Brahman Cross cows to a top of 314c/kg, weighing 564kg, to return $1,772 per head
G & S Walter, ‘Minnamurra’, Springsure – Sold a Limousin cow to a top of 312c/kg, weighing 730kg, to return $2,279.
S & K Schoo, ‘Yandoon’, Capella – Sold Santa Gertrudis weaner heifers to a top of 378c/kg, weighing 266kg, to return $1,007 per head
NEXT EMERALD SALE – THURSDAY 23rd APRIL 2026