Dalrymple Saleyards. Image: Charters Towers Regional Council.

Yarding 3621 Change +992

Numbers lifted by nearly 1000 for a yarding of 3621 cattle. An additional 65 local show cattle were penned for sale. Quality was generally good throughout with some large lines of heavy well finished northern bullocks and cows, supported by some good lines of feeders and young cattle to suit restockers. Additional southern processor activity and one central operator along with one live exporter bolstered the buyer panel which operated at improved rates on last sale. Cattle were drawn from north of Mt Isa to Normanton and south to the local area.

Values for most categories lifted on improved quality and additional processor attendance, particularly heavier well finished types. Prime grown steers lifted 19c and best quality grown heifers up to 28c higher. Bullocks averaged 11c to 19c better and cows rose 5c to 15c for heavyweights.

Young vealer steers returning to the paddock averaged 448c making to 470c, similar bred heifers to backgrounders reached 370c/kg. Yearling steers to grass sold from 364c to 394c, while good quality steers above 330kg to feed made to 422c, averaging 413c/kg. Yearling steers above 400kg to feed sold to 446c to average 438c/kg. Mixed small lines of light yearling heifers sold according to quality. Yearling heifers above 330kg to feed sold from 340c to 394c, trade types averaged 347c/kg. Heifers above 400kg to processors sold from 320c to 380c/kg.

Prime grown steers above 400kg to live export averaged 364c, processor types averaged 371c/kg. Prime grown steers above 500kg to processors lifted 19c selling from 366c to 390c, extra heavy steers sold from 380c to 416c/kg. Several small lines of prime grown heifers met good competition selling from 290c to 394c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors topped at 370c/kg.

An increased supply of heavy full mouthed bullocks to export slaughter topped at 386c to average 378c/kg. Individual show bullocks sold from 406c to 430c/kg.

A good supply of well finished cows sold to strong competition. Medium weight 2 score cows to processors averaged 298c, 3 score cows sold from 284c to 364c to average 325c to 340c/kg. A very good sample of prime heavyweight cows averaged 357c selling to a top of 378c/kg. Heavy bulls to processors sold from 360c to 370c/kg.0

A small number of cows with young calves sold for $1,100 per unit.

Market Reporter: Mick Kingham

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