Larger runs feature at cattle sale Gary Wendt from Ray White Rural Gracemere with a pen of DP and KC, Dululu, Brangus No.1 steers.
Rural Penny Hoffmann
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Formerly known as the Gracemere Saleyards, the CQ Livestock Exchange hosted a prime and store cattle sale on Wednesday.
The exchange is one of the biggest selling centres in Queensland and one of the nation’s best stud selling facilities.
Gary Wendt, of Ray White Rural Gracemere, said restockers boosted the cattle market, even if prices were firm to dearer across the board.
“Last week feeder and prime cattle prices lifted, and we had similar results this week, which makes me think the market will stay strong,” he said.
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Steer prices smashed records at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange Prime and Store Cattle Sale on Wednesday.
A Droughtmaster cross pen fetched 710.2c/kg, breaking the facility’s cents per kilo record.
The record-breaking pen, offered by Dean Wyatt and Nicole Marsh from Mount Martin, weighed 137.5kg to return $976/head.
Ray White Rural Gracemere livestock agent Trevor Humble said competition was running strong among the buying panel, particularly for lighter lines of cattle which helped push the price past 700c/kg.
“Lighter cattle have been a little hard to find, and this week there were three active buyers all chasing stock within that weight range,” Mr Humble said.
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Several livestock categories sold 30c/kg dearer at the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange Prime and Store Cattle Sale last Wednesday, at which a run of 1459 quality Brahman cattle were snapped up by buyers as far south as Roma.
The offering from Yacamunda Investments Pty Ltd of steers and heifers was met with fierce demand from an array of buyers in the bidding gallery.
A Roma producer pounced on the bulk of the 695 steers, which sold for an average of 458c/g, weighing 340kg to return $1555/head, while the 764 heifers were bought for 435c/kg and weighed 242kg to equal $1054/head.
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The CQLX team is in full swing preparing for the annual February All Breeds Sale which will include 430 bulls and 22 females from 13 breeds and composites on offer.
Team members like Matty Carr are putting the finishing touches on the renowned Gracemere selling arena for a full year of selling ahead.
As the CQLX maintenance manager, 28-year-old Mr Carr is one of a contingent of up to 30 who work tirelessly in the lead up and during the facility’s big-ticket events.
He delights in being part of this important link in the livestock supply chain, and enjoys watching the highlights like last year’s sale of Clukan Boabab, a Grey Brahman bull knocked down for $210,000 at Rockhampton Brahman Week.