EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 23RD JANUARY 2025
In extremely hot and uncomfortable conditions agents offered just over 3,000 head for the first of 49 sales for this calendar year.
The presentation was mostly quite good however breed, quality & condition was mixed throughout near all categories.
The processing sector was well represented & with a better supply of numbers all accounts got to operate in a dearer market.
With a lot of cattle hitting the market feedlot operators were somewhat subdued only really getting the whip out on the very best product or when pushed by buyers heading back to grass, in the weaner and yearling categories the market did improve from last year however probably didn’t have the positivity one may have expected & as the week has progressed followed the trend of an easing market.
Bullocks over 550kg limited for numbers peaked 367c to a/v 349c, Cows sold to a top of 305c those over 520kg a/v 292c up 24c, medium cows sold to 301c to a/v around 265c however a fair sample were in plainer or store condition adding to this result, heifers over 400kg made to 348c to a/v 331cup 44c & bulls over 600kg in good numbers peaked at 286c to a/v 267c significantly above end of year sales.
Feeder steers 400/500kg in reasonable numbers but mixed in age & some showing cover sold processors which will have impacted the average, those in the slot to feed made to 393c the a/v was 358c, steers 350/400kg in lesser numbers & mixed in quality the best sold back to grass at 396c with an a/v 339c, steers 280/350kg this class showed plenty of content and a mix in quality with a high of 420c to a/v 338c, heifers 3501400kg in smaller numbers sold to 338c to a/v 307c, heifers 280/350kg produced the greatest numbers for the day with sales to 322c to a/v 295c back 6c.
Steers 200/280kg were very mix and it was hard for buyers to sink their teeth in shown in the results with a top of 414c to average 351c firm, steers under 200kg too few to quote, heifers 200/280kg in good supply hit 318c to a/v 271c up 16c, heifers under 200kg were also too few to quote.
There were 4 lots of cows and calves. Selling from $800 to $1,575 per unit.
| CATEGORY | WEIGHT RANGE | HEAD | MIN c/kg | MAX c/kg | AVG c/kg |
| STEERS | Under 200kg | 17 | 218 | 240 | 223 |
| 200 – 280kg | 215 | 288 | 414 | 351 | |
| 280 – 350kg | 367 | 200 | 420 | 338 | |
| 350 – 400kg | 152 | 238 | 396 | 339 | |
| 400 -500kg | 339 | 254 | 393 | 358 | |
| BULLOCKS | 500-550kg | 30 | 292 | 376 | 353 |
| 550kg + | 21 | 270 | 367 | 349 | |
| HEIFERS | Under 200kg | 14 | 214 | 230 | 229 |
| 200 – 280kg | 313 | 214 | 318 | 271 | |
| 280 – 350kg | 410 | 228 | 322 | 295 | |
| 350 – 400kg | 82 | 270 | 338 | 307 | |
| Over 400kg | 134 | 270 | 348 | 331 | |
| COWS | 300-400kg | 65 | 70 | 273 | 227 |
| 400 – 450kg | 174 | 198 | NQ | 253 | |
| 450-520kg | 245 | 208 | 301 | 277 | |
| Over 520kg | 310 | 244 | 305 | 292 | |
| BULLS | Up to 450kg | 14 | 204 | 306 | 233 |
| 450-600kg | 23 | 248 | 316 | 285 | |
| Over 600kg | 46 | 222 | 286 | 267 | |
| COWS & CALVES | 58 | $975 | $1,575 | – | |
| PTIC | – | – | – | – | |
Highlights:
The Kirby Family, Eli Park, Emerald sold Weaner Steers for 318kg, making 402c, to return $1,280. The Heifers averaged 310kg, at 296c, for $920.
Cleanskin Cattle Company, Springsure sold Brahman cows for 478kg, making 281c, to return $1,342.
Faint Family, Clermont sold Brahman cows for 510kg, making 281c, to return $1,434.