Morgan Harris and Brad Mulvihill from TopX Gracemere auctioning D J Parsons 140-head Brahman offering averaging 427kg which made 544c/kg to return $2331/head.

A SURGE in confidence within the feedlot industry drove demand at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange Gracemere store and prime sale on Wednesday, where a 140-head Brahman steer line reached 544c/kg.

The complete offering averaging 427kg from Raglan vendor, D J Parsons of Mongton Hill returned $2331/head.

Morgan Harris, TopX Gracemere, said the sought-after Brahmans sold to three Queensland feedlot operators.

“They were very good quality, lovely to handle, and were sold three different ways,” Mr Harris said.

“The COVID pandemic has caused delays for feedlots to get their cattle processed, but that has eased, which is giving lotfeeders the confidence to step in to buy some larger feeder lines.”

Another highlight within the feeder portion was a 103-head run of 367kg Brahman and Brangus cross steers, offered by Mackland Grazing, Collinsville, which sold for 593c/kg and returned $2063/head.

Overall, Mr Harris said the market sold to a firm-to-dearer trend across the 2314 head of good quality cattle on offer.

“Processor cattle were extremely dear and good heavy cows were consistently selling for more than four hundred cents per kilo,” Mr Harris said.

Standout sales in the cow category included Dululu vendor, AM and ML Wilson’s offering of 613kg Droughtmaster cross cows which sold for 406c/kg to return $2593.

Demand from restockers was also thriving, with the steer price hitting 950c/kg in the less than 200kg weight range.

Errol Mellor, Gogango, sold 188kg Brangus weaner steers for 912c/kg to make a return of $1714/head.

St Lawrence vendor, Booth Bros, made 800c/kg for their Brahman cross steers which weighed 260kg to equal $2075/head.

A 281kg Charbray weaner steer pen, drawn from the Moretti Family, Wowan, made a return of $2290/head when sold for 814c/kg.

For heifers, prices topped at 762c/kg in the 200kg to 280kg category for a Nullegai Grazing, Marlborough, run of No.1 and No.2 Grey Brahman weaners, which averaged 247kg and returned $1882/head.

Dalma vendor, IV and A Walters, made a return of $2195/head for a Brangus heifer pen, which averaged 405kg when secured for 542c/kg.

For cows and calves, Cashemere Cattle Company, Mulara, reached $2650/unit for its Droughtmaster line.

Looking ahead, Mr Harris was predicting a similar yarding of high-quality cattle at next week’s Prime and Store Sale.

“This week the condition of cattle was excellent, we had early November rain in the Central Queensland area so there has been plenty of dry feed around,” Mr Harris said.

“Numbers wise, I think we will be consistent and have around 2000 to 3000 head on offer again.”

Source: CQLX