New South Welshman, Boy Bradstreet, Cessnock, was all smiles at the Dalby cattle sale on Wednesday after he witnessed his Charolais/ Angus/ Murray Grey and Brahman cross heifers sell for a top price of 302c/kg or $1176/head.
Mr Bradstreet and wife Alice run 2000 Angus cross breeders at Dalkeith in the St George district, managed by John Wilson.
He offered 418 heifers ranging from trade weights of 400kg to lighter weaners in the 230 to 250kg weight bracket.
At the time of Queensland Country Life going to press, Mr Bradstreet had sold 281 heifers to average 285c/kg to return $931/head average.
The bulk of the buying competition was shared between Australian Country Choice and Wide Bay Feedlot.
Livestock agent, Wade Hartwig, Ray White Eastern Rural, said the Dalby market was firm, if not a couple of cents dearer than last week. He said the crossbred heifers were ideal for the trade and backgrounding markets in the sale.
“The cattle have freshened up since good widespread rain and are presented in ideal condition for the buyers,” Mr Hartwig said.
Overall the Dalby Combined Agents yarded 3922 head, and they are expecting similar numbers next week, for the final sale of the year.
Meanwhile, Mr Bradstreet said he had a total of 900 surplus heifers to turn-off this year.
“I sold half to a Wandoan feedlot for 315c/kg on-farm, and the balance are here,” he said.
Mr Bradstreet first bought cattle country in Queensland 25 years ago.
Initially, he bought Cashmere West in the St George district in 1992, then Mooramanna, before selling both to buy Dalkeith four years ago.
He grows his weaners out on leased country at Woodhaven, Surat and Kinumbrumm West, at Goondiwindi.
Dalkeith is soft red buffel country which has received 200mm of rain in the past eight weeks.