EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 22ND AUGUST 2024

Given a week’s break due to some useful rain through much of the area last week, Emerald agents had their first sale in a fortnight yielding just over 1800 head of predominately local cattle. Quality and presentation was mixed & overall it was a very wishy washy yarding in many respects with very few weight categories supplying good numbers or clean lines of cattle.

The processing sector was well represented but not all operated however this did not effect the market with significant price increases across all classes perhaps bar the vealer portion of the yarding. Feedlot buyers were some what subdued with that said there were only glimpses of in the slot product available which may have hampered some results. Resockers & backgrounders were selective in a small mixed offering of lighter cattle, however it was notable that the lighter weight better bred weaners male or female (which have not been in vogue) gained improved attention from local buyers.

Bullocks sold to 335c for those over 550kg the average lifting 48c from the previous sale held a fortnight ago.

Cows over 520kg rose 34c to peak at 282c, medium cows sold to 273c the average improving around 45c & light cows or secondary cows saw the biggest improvement with some lifting 60c to 80c.

Heavy heifers over 400kg found strong competition from feedlots & processors the best making to 326c to a/v 298c a lift of 44c & bulls made to 270c the a/v up 49c.

A small sample of feeder steers peaked at 374c however contributing factors saw the a/v settle at 336c, steers 280 to 400kg were mixed in quality and presentation with a top of 370c on occasion to see the a/v of 336c & 313c with averages suggesting a lift of 35c to 61c however numbers were limited at the previous sale darn near too few to quote.

Heifers 350/400kg made to 322c to feed to a/v 284c, heifers 280/350kg topped at 290c to a/v 258c once again with insufficient numbers at the previous sale to quote accurately in either of these weight classes.

There was only a small mixed sample of weaners under 280kg the steer portion selling full firm to dearer for the quality offered to reach 392c to a/v 327c, whilst heifers under 280kg saw solid gains for all the better-bred softer types topping at 302c to a/v 257c for those over 200kg, whilst a drop in class saw the heifers under 200kg a/v 234c.

There were no cows & calves present to quote.