EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2024

Numbers near trebled to 3142 head for this week’s Emerald combined sale. The majority were consigned from the more immediate area, quality & presentation varied from class to class. There was a fair sample of cows and heifers, however, feeder steers were by far best represented. Whilst weaners (steers or heifers) were mostly in smaller lots of varying breeds.

The processing sector was again well represented, however, the buyers didn’t have the vigour, the market easing around 10c across all categories, as per the table below. Heifers over 400kg with buyer interest from export, local & feeder buyers sold to 336c, however, a mixture of age and quality as well as condition saw the average ease by 18c.

A good run and supply of feeder steers sold well, but couldn’t maintain what could have been the dearest result in

Australia last week, those 400/500 kg the best sold to a very healthy 392c, the additional numbers and a bit more of a mix in breed helped the average ease 29c to 366c, thus this was still a very solid result. Steers 350/400kg produced the biggest numbers for the day, similar result here with a top of 390c to average 357c, there wasn’t enough steers in this class last sale to accurately quote a market trend. Steers 280/350kg sold from 230c to peak at 417c to average 322c firm, however, it really was a tale of 2 sales, those that meet buyer specs got rewarded & those that struggled. Short a couple of local buys from previous weeks, heifers 350/400kg in much better supply sold to a high of 325c to average 299c, close enough to firm on recent results, heifers 280/350kg once again found solid buyer interest, the market also close enough to firm with a top of 336c to average 300c.

In the weaner classes whilst numbers were limited, (no surprises there given the time of year) buyers were very

selective on males or females and once again it was a tale of 2 buyer accounts, in the steers there was sales to 370c and a above to top out at 417c & those off the pace or not in buyer specs 270c to 320c to end up with an average of 332c, an increase of 26c in the 200/280kg class, steers under 200kg too few to quote or draw conclusion. Weaner & yearling Heifers under 280kg, again, those preferred gained solid buyer competition to reach 324c the average lifted marginally to 279c, heifers under 200kg in slightly better numbers were mostly showing the signs of the need for an improvement in the season, most struggled to gain a lot of buyer attention with sales from 200c to 260c to average 236c.

There were no cows and calves offered.

Highlights

Whitehead Pastoral Co, Springsure sold Droughtmaster x light weight weaner heifers weighing 197kg to 260c to return $513

Ian & Deanne Kirby, Emerald, sold Angus x steers to 380c with an average weight of 377kg and the lead making $1570

Colin & Lorna Baker, Capella sold Droughtmaster #2 heifers weighing 461kg to 295c to return $1361

Mitch & Jackie Stranks, sold Brahman cows with an average weight of 473kg to 266c, the lead returning $1308