Yarding 2850 Change -410

File pic of Dalrymple Saleyards. Image: Charters Towers Regional Council

A return to two sales this week resulted in 2850 cattle penned in a prime only sale. Quality was mixed, comprising some well finished bullocks and heifers, some very good pens of heavy cows and an increased supply of plainer conditioned cows.

The southern processors of recent months were not in attendance, reducing demand throughout, however one live exporter and feeder buyer were active with regular Queensland based processors.

Cattle were drawn from Mt Isa to Chillagoe and Georgetown, south to the Belyando and local area.

Despite the reduced buyer panel, better quality heavy lines improved on last week, however plainer conditioned and secondary types met limited demand and sold to reduced rates. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed lifted by up to 22c,heavy prime steers improved 27c to 32c, prime heifers rose 9c, heavy bullocks increased 34c and cows averaged 5c to 18c better.

Yearling heifers above 330kg to feed sold from 304c to 362c, trade types averaged 338c, while heavy heifers above 400kg reached 378c to average 349c to 366c/kg. Grown steers above 400kg to processors averaged 374c, a good sample of heavy grown steers sold to 420c multiple times to average 409c/kg.  A good supply of prime grown heifers sold from 250c to 368c/kg.

Heavy young bullocks to export slaughter topped at 429c, averaging 396c to 408c/kg. A large supply of lightweight cows to processors 120c to 298c, restocker cows sold from 40c to 228c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows to processors averaged 287c selling to 344c, 3 score cows to processors sold from 300c to 354c, averaging 332c to 341c/kg. A good sample of prime heavyweight cows topped at 368c to average 346c to 359c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors made to 342c/kg.

Market Reporter: Mick Kingham

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