ALL-TIME HIGH: cattle price smashes saleyards record

Homegrown cattle have fetched the Roma Saleyards’ highest ever per-kilogram price, as demand for southwest beasts remains strong.

BREAKING a record is all in a day's work for Roma's cattle agents, who have sold EU accredited Angus cross steers for a whopping 508c/kg - the highest ever sale price for the Roma Saleyards.

The new top price was paid to W & K Brown of Ardentrive, Roma, at the final store sale of last month, held on Tuesday, May 26.

It is the peak of consistent gains in the local cattle market, which has been on the up since widespread rain drenched the region in early 2020.

Roma Livestock Agents' Association president Andrew Holt said the local graziers who had been able to hold on to some cattle during the dry have truly reaped the rewards.

"The conditions and these climbing prices have definitely come at a good time," he said.

"Our local graziers had to endure the drought which placed significant strain on everyone in the rural industry, and then we had the indirect effects of COVID-19, so the record prices we are seeing have certainly helped."

The climbing price has been a boon for local sellers, and has been equally enticing for graziers further afield.

Mr Holt said some recent sales through Roma have included cattle from Longreach, Winton, Boulia, Hughenden, and even Mt Isa.

"A lot of cattle have come on to the market as a result of these prices - cattle which people have held on to during the drought, early weaned, and supplementary fed," he said.

"The rain has allowed them to put some weight back on those cattle and get them to a point where they are marketable, and they've been rewarded.

"There is already a big supply area for the Roma Saleyards, and as the season has started to cut out a touch (in the northwest), so quite a lot of cattle being trucked out because these buoyant prices are enough to attract them back this way."

As for those paying top dollar for local cattle, Mr Holt said most are still Queensland-based, but some interstate buyers are eager to purchase quality cattle in Roma.

"We are getting good competition from New South Wales restockers, which is important to note," he said.

"That is on top of the demand from our Queensland buyers, who are also looking to restock now."

At this week's sale (June 9), 5,542 head of cattle were consigned and reached a top price of 474c/kg; 7,300 cattle passed through the yards last week, fetching a top price of 486c/kg.

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