Cattle prices go through the roof

CATTLE sent to the Laidley Saleyards have sold for one of the highest prices in a number of years, with many graziers receiving more than $1000 a head.

BOOM PRICES: Cattle at the Laidley Saleyards have sold for one of the highest prices years. Picture: Emily Smith

CATTLE sent to the Laidley Saleyards have sold for one of the highest prices in a number of years, with many graziers receiving more than $1000 a head.

Coominya grazier Laurie Beard said he and his father together took 12 head of cattle to the yards last Thursday, with some of the heavy feeder steers bringing in $1425 a head.

"I don't really know exactly why the prices are so strong. It could be to do with the shortage of cattle," Mr Beard said.

"My dad is in his late 60s, and he said he'd never seen cattle this expensive before and he's been selling and buying from Laidley for a number of years."

Saleyard manager David Stariha said a total of 687 head of cattle were brought to the yards last Thursday, but he wasn't overly sure why the market was so strong.

"The market was just very dear for all types of cattle," Mr Stariha said.

"I don't think there's even a shortage. The numbers are still here. I just think it's a booming industry at the moment."

Some sellers travelled more than 800km to bring their cattle to the Laidley yards, and Mr Stariha said they travelled from as far as Middlemount.

"We're getting a good following of yarding and vendors," he said.

"There's a lot of confidence in the industry."