Central Queensland currently has a contrast of conditions, with  some places lucky to have dry feed and other areas in total drought. Districts including Alpha and the Belyando Crossing are very dry with supplementary feeding for the past 12 months to keep breeders going and water problems starting to emerge. Springsure, Rolleston and Bauhinia had good rains from last October to February and have dry feed. Lotfeeders are active securing heavier cattle in the Central, which come the end of winter, will be difficult to find. Markets in the Central are trying to maintain the current rates and numbers coming forward were back on previous weeks in some saleyards.

Hobartville Station, Alpha, part of the Clark & Tait group of properties, are moving livestock due to the drying conditions. Steve and Vonda Kimber this week have marketed Santa and Santa infused breeders from the station the same way they have for the past 14 years, via AuctionsPlus.

“We have sold our breeders on AuctionsPlus as we have exposure to a buying panel nationally, so our bloodlines could quite easily be found in every state in the country,” Steve said. “The sale this year we bought forward due to the dry to make sure we can carry through our younger breeders.”

AuctionsPlus cows averaged $660 on property. The light weaners went to the physical market in Emerald and topped at 309c/kg with the weaners averaging $595. Steve and Vonda are more than happy with the cattle prices beating their expectations on the day.

The Clark and Tait station managers, as a group, work to actively promote their cattle by having in March each year their own special sale that features cattle form all holdings. Hobartville, along Mantuan Downs at Springsure, Boongoondoo at Jericho and Mt Enniskillen at Tambo co-ordinate on property weaning and mustering activities to make this unique sale work, and again this year, were rewarded with a premium price for their efforts. They work closely with their livestock-marketing agent, Bob Jenkins, Elders AuctionsPlus Queensland manager, who says they are keen to grow the sale each year.

“The managers are really enthusiastic and a little competitive within this sale to make sure they get the best price for their station and the company,” Bob said. “This is the only pastoral group that I am aware of that is currently working together with this type of sale concept. The Clark & Tait special sale has captured a significant repeat buyer gallery that support the sale year on year.”