EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2024
Agents present just shy of 2,800 in this weeks Emerald combined sale. Cattle were consigned from a wide area, with a couple bigger lines significantly boosting numbers. Quality and presentation was very mixed in most categories and the majority were showing the wear and tear of a mixed season with a large portion in store condition.
All regular processors were present and the market for the better finished article stayed either side of firm across all classes. Bullock prices eased another 5c following on from a drop of 7c last week, a small sample of well finished cows sold to 296c on occasion to help lift the average 5c, medium cows held firm although believe there were some heifers prices quote quote in the table below which will have distorted the result, a small offering of heavy heifers over 400kg if they were carrying cover gained good buyer interest from processors the best made to 310c the average rose 8c & Livex helped push bull prices up for those suited the over 600kg class peaking at 284c the average lifted 7c.
Feeder steer prices remained firm with a top of 358c to average 332c in the 400/500kg class, however buyers were selective with some big variations at times, steers 350/400kg did get some support from grass/crop fatteners this along with a lift in quality helped the price improve 14c @ 331c, steers 280/350kg in plentiful numbers but mixture of presentation and quality noted in the results with a high of 352c the average eased 27c @317c, there was a good run of feeder heifers, albeit a large sample slid under 350kg, they still were will presented with a good frame and shape and for those 350/400kg at 303c well above the previous result, heifers 280/350kg were very well supplied, the best made to 320c however there was a fair mix in this weight class noted in the average of 264c close enough to firm on the last sale.
There was nearly 500 steers under 280kg but this class was very mixed in quality and presentation with only a glimpse of true Central Highlands type weaners among them,, the best peaked at 352c however, the mixed offering saw the average ease considerably, particular noted in the 200/280kg class, heifers 200/280kg produced the largest numbers in any one weight class for the day and conserving the sheer weight of numbers the market held quite well with a top of 270c and the average of 230c back 11c but once again quality will have played some part in this result, a small extremely mixed offering of heifers under 200kg are hardly worth quoting the best made 240c.
| CATEGORY | WEIGHT RANGE | HEAD | MIN c/kg | MAX c/kg | AVG c/kg |
| STEERS | Under 200kg | 64 | 158 | 342 | 297 |
| 200 – 280kg | 421 | 140 | 352 | 281 | |
| 280 – 350kg | 367 | 80 | 352 | 317 | |
| 350 – 400kg | 138 | 250 | 356 | 331 | |
| 400 -500kg | 52 | 245 | 358 | 332 | |
| BULLOCKS | 500-550kg | 55 | 320 | 340 | 329 |
| 550+ | 167 | 268 | 343 | 333 | |
| HEIFERS | Under 200kg | 40 | 20 | 240 | 171 |
| 200 – 280kg | 546 | 98 | 270 | 230 | |
| 280 – 350kg | 398 | 65 | 320 | 264 | |
| 350 – 400kg | 128 | 217 | 332 | 303 | |
| Over 400kg | 40 | 280 | 310 | 299 | |
| COWS | 300-400kgs | 38 | 70 | 250 | 101 |
| 400 – 450kg | 36 | 226 | 272 | 245 | |
| 450-520kgs | 141 | 195 | 299 | 264 | |
| Over 520kgs | 81 | 170 | 296 | 279 | |
| BULLS | Up to 450kg | 32 | 195 | 280 | 240 |
| 450-600kg | 8 | 212 | 281 | 267 | |
| Over 600kg | 26 | 182 | 284 | 260 | |
| COWS & CALVES | – | – | – | – | |
| PTIC | – | – | – | – |