By Margaret Maccoll
Cattle sales have rocketed with record prices reached at the first sale of the year held at the Eumundi Saleyards held on Tuesday.
After tough years marked by drought and bushfires stocks across the region have been greatly diminished, making sales of the scarce available cattle beyond anything ever before seen.
Stariha Auctions owner David Stariha said the price of cattle had more than doubled in the past year. Animals that would have sold for $500 a year ago were now fetching more than $1000.
“It was an extremely good with incredible prices,“ he said of the auction.
David said many farmers were forced to sell their stock during the drought and were now looking to build up their herds. The high prices are a boon for farmers with stock and are creating challenging for others.
“A lot of people don’t have the cattle. Some people can’t afford to restock,“ he said.
There were just over 200 beef and dairy cattle at this week’s sale which would normally attract more than double that number and buyers came from across the state. Steers were selling for $1200 to more than $1700 and the top sale for the day was a cow and calf that went under the hammer for $2280.
“After the drought numbers are greatly diminished. That might be the norm now,“ David said.
David said most of the cattle were picked up by west Queensland buyers from areas including St George and the Condamine.
“A lot of locals were there to buy but they wouldn’t have bought anything,“ he said.
Two Conondale farmers watched the auction unfold in disbelief of the prices. One was hoping to buy 30 to 50 cows and calves and the other wanted steers but neither placed a bid.
Former sale yard owner Terry Murtagh has been a fixture at the Eumundi saleyards since he helped his father-in-law build it in 1968.
“I’ve never seen this sort of money when I was in the game,“ he said. “I wish I had I’d be a millionaire. They are breaking all records.“
Terry began working for Bill Boxall at 12 years of age, married the boss’ daughter, Lolie, and inherited the business. Terry said his father-in-law used to travel the area on
horseback visiting farmers and buying unwanted cattle before the saleyards were established.
Terry sold the saleyards to Mike Wheeler then David Stariha took it on, but he never misses a sale.For the past 10 years Evelyne Atkinson has also been a stalwart of the sales, providing food and drinks to the buyers and sellers. Evelyne brings along everything she needs for her canteen (including the water) and her corned beef sandwiches are her best seller. She said attendees were about half the usual number and while not an auction participant the cattle prices had come as a surprise.
The Eumundi sale yard auctions are held every second Tuesday.
