Producers suffering through the dry conditions are continuing to offload through the Dubbo saleyards, boosting numbers at both prime and store cattle sales.
Despite the bigger numbers, good lines of well-bred cattle have been offered including lines of quality Herefords from Albert and Nevertire vendors.
John Shadwell, PT Lord Dakin & Associates, Dubbo with vendor Greg Radford, G & J Radford, Albert.
Greg Radford, G & J Radford, Albert (pictured with PT Lord Dakin and Associates’ John Shadwell) offered 100 EU Poll Hereford weaner steers in yesterday’s store cattle sale, where 1670 head were yarded.
While a regular vendor of the Dubbo saleyards, Mr Radford said he wouldn’t usually sell these six to eight month old steers through the yards.
“We have had a little bit of rain in January and that’s it,” he said. Mr Radford said they would normally finish the steers and send to the feedlot however the cost of hay and grain didn’t make that viable in the current season.
“Sell the grain and sell the cattle – it’s worth more as money in the bank.”
The Radford’s line sold from $625 to $720/head and were purchased by buyers from Moree, Dubbo and Blackall, Queensland.
Peter Swatridge, “Brangus Park”, Nevertire with grandson Ben Rasmussen.
Peter Swatridge, “Brangus Park”, Nevertire (pictured with grandson Ben Rasmussen) offered 192 vendor-bred EU Hereford steers, six to nine months old.
These sold from $600 to $950/head.
Overall, steers sold dearer at yesterday’s sale, making as much as $20/head more than the previous sale two weeks ago.
Steer weaners sold from $335 to $970/head, and averaged $610/head.
Heifer weaners were up to $30/head cheaper, averaging $435/head and topping at $720/hd.
Cow and calf units were also cheaper, by as much as $50/unit. They sold from $485 to $1360/unit.
PTIC cows sold from $480 to $890/hd while the small number of dry cows on offer sold up to $500/hd.
For the full report, visit the Market Reports section.
