EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2024

Due to one big single vendor mob numbers lifted by 300 to reach 1573 head for this week’s Emerald combined sale. The quality & presentation was fair, however, bar the one mob mentioned most consignments were smaller lots and numbers were spread across near all categories, thus, there was no big numbers in any one class bar the steers 200/280kg. Cattle were consigned from a reasonably wide area given the overall numbers with vendor support from all corners of the traditional supply area plus Clarke Creek & between Tambo and Alpha.

All regular processors were represented and most operated on a small sample of slaughter ready product, bullocks held firm for the age & polish presented, good cows were rewarded with sales to 298c, secondary cows saw some improvement & store cows were much more sort after, heifers over 400kg to feed or processors appeared to hold firm to perhaps a touch dearer, bulls over 600kg suited to Live export gained good competition to peak at 280c whilst bulls to processors held firm.

In the slot feeder steers were in short supply selling to a top of 358c firm, whilst the average improved 6c for those over 400kg, steers 350/400kg were really too few to quote, heifers 350/400kg a reasonable sample sold with good competition the best suited to feed making to 324c the average lifted 17c however quality potentially played some part in this result, heifers 280/350kg improved 12c with breed and quality as well as a lift in the market contributing to this result.

In the weaner & yearling steer classes buyers were selective, a good run of local steers made to 406c, those 280/350kg eased 10c however factors potentially contributed to this result as was the case in the 200/280kg weight range easing 51c however a very different offering this week and the better bred local pens as mentioned were mostly rewarded however they didn’t have to be far off the pace and the price slipped considerably, steers under 200kg were mixed as was the result. Weaner & yearling Heifers under 280kg were mostly of smaller lots in varying breeds however the results were for the most part pleasing to further improve with sales peaking above the 300c barrier for the first time in quite a while with a top of 310c, albeit heifers 200/280kg saw a significant drop in numbers & mix in quality resulted in average easing 21c, whilst heifers under 200kg didn’t reach the same top price but the average lifted 20c with more consistent competition on the limited numbers offered.