Top price for cattle at saleyard

Cattle prices at this weeks Coolabunia Tuesday cattle sales dropped for everyone, apart from Blackbutt vendor Bevan Burnell.

A GOOD DAY: Aussie Land and Livestock agent Midge Thompson with Bevan Burnell, who had the day's top sale, and his head stockman Chris Melville at Coolabunia cattle sales. Picture: Madeline Grace

CATTLE prices at this weeks Coolabunia Tuesday cattle sales dropped for everyone, apart from Blackbutt vendor Bevan Burnell.

Aussie Land and Livestock agent Midge Thompson said the prices really have dropped considerably with the change of season.

"Despite the drop Bevan's lot have done really well,” Mr Thompson said.

"His pen of Charolais cows and calves have made $1925 for the two of them. He had about 29 pairs that he sold at this price.

"Which is just exceptional money.”

Mr Burnell was also pleasantly surprised with his sale considering the conditions.

"He couldn't be more pleased. It's very good. Especially compared to how everyone else and their cattle did here today,” Mr Thompson said.

"They're just very good young cows and calves. They're here today when it's pretty busy and are presented in absolutely beautiful condition.

"They're going to go back to the paddock to restock now. It's the top sale of the day.”

Mr Thompson said considering the conditions and time of year these cows and calves would usually have gone for about $1450 a pair.

"So this lot have surpassed that pretty easily. It's all down to the quality and type of calves that are on them. The size of the calves and they should be back running with the bull again pretty much right away,” Mr Thompson said.

"The rest of the prices were a bit down today. It's getting in toward the winter time and the seasonal conditions are starting to alter just that little bit for us.

"And short weeks like this for processors is often an awkward time for them. The processors have to hold the cattle over and not many processors like to do that. They'd rather have them, go to the plant, have them processed right away. They don't like having any cattle hanging around.”

Mr Thompson said it's better for the welfare of the animals to sell right away even if they do end up going for a lower price.

"Usually it's not too noticeable but prices were already down so it's not great for everyone as we head into winter,” Mr Thompson said.

Mr Burnell said he was very happy with his sale.

"It sure could of gone a lot worse,” Mr Burnell said.

Mr Thompson said even when prices are down it is the quality that will still make for a good sale.

This wasn't the case with every buyer though.

South Burnett farmer Clive Thomasson sold his heifers for a bit lower than he had originally hoped.

He was able to get a good sale on his bull though.

"It went pretty good considering the time of year . I ended up getting just under $1800 for him. He was 800 odd kilos. He's pretty big. $2.24 a kilo he was,” Mr Thomasson said.

"I sold some heifers but I didn't get quite as much for them.

"From where the prices were 12 months ago they sure are down .

"Everything is down by maybe 50cents a kilo..”

Mr Thomasson has been selling his cattle at the Coolabunia sale yards for more than 35 years now.

"There's no real over supply it just seems like the meat-works can't get rid of it overseas,” Mr Thomasson said.

"And of course this all comes back to affect the bloke who's producing them; your local farmers.”