EMERALD CATTLE SALE MARKET REPORT – THURSDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2025

Emerald agents yarded 1300 head for their weekly combined sale. The quality and presentation was mixed in near all classes. The drier conditions are starting to play a part in the overall lack of finish in the categories suited to processors. There were not enough bullocks to quote. The better end of the heavy cow averages stayed close to firm. Plainer and lighter cow prices eased, as did for heifers over 400kg to feed or processors. There were not enough in the feeder steers to quote. Feeder heifers 350-400kg lost a little ground, but still found solid competition across most pens. In the weaner classes, the better bred pens sold well and improved on poor results last week. The heifers suited to veal or background gained reasonable competition, but some of the pens with hump or out of spec copped plenty of punishment.

Steers over 500kg were few to quote, topping at 380c/kg. Steers 400-500kg were too few in numbers and mixed to quote. Steers 350-400kg also too few to quote. Steers 280-350kg were few in numbers, some quality pens made to 479c/kg to average 404c/kg firm. Steers 200-280kg met with improved competition, topping at 494 c/kg to average 400c/kg, well above last sale.

Heifers over 400kg topped at 378c/kg to average 349c/kg, back 13c/kg. Heifers 350-400kg to feed sold to 366 c/kg to average 350 c/kg, back 16c/kg, albeit age and other factors may have played a part in this result. Heifers 280-350kg sold to 386c/kg to average 340c/kg, an increase of 24c/kg. Heifers 200-280kg topped at 391c/kg, however the average of 314c/kg told the story of the huge variance in price in this class.

Cows over 520kg sold to 361c/kg to average 341c/kg, back 2c/kg. Cows 450-520kg peaked at 347c/kg to average 315c/kg, up 16c/kg

One pen of six Speckle Park cows and calves sold from $730 per unit.

Bulls over 600kg sold to 354c/kg to average 310c/kg, back 19c/kg.