THERE were 358 meatworks cattle in a 1370 head yarding at the Braeside Nebo Regional Saleyards on October 14, which included 668 store steers, 250 store heifers, 27 bulls and 46 cows and calves.
Meatworks buyers from Borthwicks, Swift and Teys as well as buyers for butchers bid strongly and that kept prices for No.5 and No.6 bullocks destined for the Jap ox market at 179c/kg-183c/kg, which was the range paid for the largest draft of 60 Brahman bullocks from Suttor Creek, Nebo.
Lighter wights sold to butchers, meatworks and finishers from 161c/kg-170c/kg.
Aged cows were also keenly sought by works buyers, most selling between 138c/kg-152c/kg, while lighter weights brought 118c/kg-138c/kg and there was the odd cow or two that failed to make a dollar/kg.
Bulls ranged from six gangly weaners from Mia Mia that made 101c/kg, to 21 grown bulls that ranged between 120c/kg-155c/kg.
Store steers started with a draft of 103, No.7 Brahman and Brahman cross from the Philp family, Figtree, Collinsville, which made from 171c/kg-182c/kg, most purchased by Landmark Mackay.
Local store buyers David Kemp, Lotus Park Feedlot, and Greg Boto, Four Mile, were competing with agents for SE and Central Queensland graziers for the rest of the stores, both steers and heifers.
Other No.7 steers made 142c/kg-167c/kg. Twelve of the 16 pens of No.8s were bought by David Kemp at prices ranging between 143c/kg and 170c/kg and he also purchased a pen of 30 Brahmans about eight months-of-age for $275.
*Full story in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.