Emerald combined agents penned 1950 head for the 2^nd last sale in 2024. Cattle were consigned over a broad area from Nebo, Bauhinia to Jericho and all corners in between, quality & presentation once again varied in what could be best described as a wishy washy yarding, with very few classes having any great continuity or consistency.

The processing sector was well represented & whilst some accounts did not operate the limited supply of well finished article found good buyer interest to sell mostly fully firm to a touch dearer in patches. There was not enough bullocks to quote, the cows over 520kg average lifted 5c, medium cows lifted 8c, light cows fell either side of firm, heavy heifers to processors appeared to sell close enough to firm, those to feed lifted 5 to 10c.

In the feeder classes there was a limited offering of genuine in spec pen ready feeder cattle on hand which sold fully firm to dearer particularly noted in some of the heifer sales peaking at 340c, steers sold to 392c, the average easing 6c in line with a drop in quality, additionally feedlot buyers appeared keen to get some numbers around them leading into the Christmas break & operated on a broad spectrum of animals under 400kg which given there is still limited buyer interest from grass operators helped keep those out of spec lots selling at reasonable levels.

In the weaner classes it was a mixed or patchy yarding of weaners male or female. The better end/bred steers attracted fair competition to again crack the 4-dollar mark, high content pens continue to struggle to find any great level of competition, the average eased 19c in line with the difference in the cattle offered. Topping the weaner heifer category was a couple of pens that had been on grain selling to veal at 294c, whilst the remainder mostly in smaller lots of mixed pens many showing plenty of content sold to back grounder & veal buyers & albeit the average eased 17c for those 200/280kg most sold at rates not dissimilar to recent sales for the breed and quality offered. Heifers under 200kg in contrast lifted 13c with sound competition from backgrounders, veal and opportunists.

Cows & Calves; There was 1 pen of mixed aged Braford cows with younger calves selling for $950 per unit.

Highlights:

The Thompson & Byrd Family, Clermont sold Charolais and Shorthorn X heifers that have had access to grain, the lead pen weighing 340kg, making 294c, to return $1000