There have been plentiful numbers of cattle being sourced from the Peninsula, Gulf and Northern Tropical regions of Queensland for the most recent live export shipment that was loading in Townsville this week, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

MLA reports that prices have been firm, as both quality and condition of stock presented for live export and to processors has been good for this time of the year.

It puts this down to a milder winter, although the onset of frosts is predicted in coming weeks.

Consequently, MLA says numbers are being supplied in a more consistent pattern to previous Queensland winters – last year there was panic selling due to cooler temperatures, declining prices and lack of adequate pastures.

At the Mareeba sale on Tuesday, lower numbers were yarded, although there may have been more numbers had more trucks been available for transport.

Around half of the yarding was sourced from the local and coastal districts, and the remainder from the Gulf and Peninsula areas.

Demand was stronger from processors, with solid local competition assisting. Prices were dearer across most categories. Grown steers were 15¢ to 20¢/kg lwt dearer and cow prices were 4¢ to 13¢/kg lwt higher.

In the western districts, Longreach has been consistently penning around 3,500 head of cattle and prices have improved over the past week. At the Wednesday sale, grown steers and cows were both dearer, with processors pushing grown steer prices to a top of 183¢/kg lwt.

Over the hooks prices were firm across the board from last week, with the North Queensland yearling steer price at 265¢/kg cwt. The direct to works Japan ox price currently stands at 281¢ and the US cow price at 235¢/kg cwt.