NARACOORTE Combined Agents' monthly store cattle sale entered a new era of pricing on Thursday last week with European Union-accredited Hereford steers hitting an incredible record high of $1615.
Woakwine Station, Beachport, offered the outstanding run of Hereford and Angus steers, having bought them as weaners in March, 2014, from a sale at Casino, NSW, as part of its trading business.
The 22 August/September 2013-drop, averaging 476 kilograms, were bought by Elders Roseworthy, which also snapped-up three other pens.
It is believed the previous SA state store sale steer record was $1445 achieved at Mount Gambier a fortnight earlier.
In total, Woakwine's 101 Hyde Park-blood Hereford steers, which created plenty of discussion in the yards, averaged $1560 or $3.42/kg.
These rates were in excess of 28 Angus sold by Woakwine from their trading business at $1355 and $1450 or $3.27/kg and $3.12/kg.
Woakwine's agent Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson Penola's Peter DeGaris said prices were above expectations but the cattle "presented very well".
"The feeder prices are very good but on a rising market we decided to put them in the saleyards and we have proved the point with a very good result," he said.
Woakwine's Peter McCourt said: "It was my first cattle trade and I was lucky enough to buy during the drought and sell at the peak of the market."
The yarding of 1040 comprised some top lines of cattle, with many producers lured onto the rapidly ascending market.
The dominant players were again processors Thomas Foods International and Teys Australia, buying many of the 350kg-plus heavyweight steers and down to 280kg to 300kg range.
Elders Lucindale branch manager and auctioneer Ronnie Dix described the sale as "the dearest sale at Naracoorte ever", with prices about 40 cents/kg dearer than the previous month's sale.
He said the monthly sale had really gained momentum in the past six months and was receiving strong vendor and buyer support
He predicted prices might reach $4/kg liveweight by Christmas for good feeder cattle and prime cattle as producers brought forward their selling.
"Where will we be if the season shuts off again – it will be the third year in a row and people will not take the chance again," he said.
"Why wouldn't you sell at this money rather than punt on turning a $1300 into prime cattle worth $1500-$1600."
Other good sales included Fisher Clover Ridge Pastoral, Lucindale, with two pens of EU Angus steers at $1220 and $1030.
The Baker Group, Woonallee, Furner, sold 43 March/April 2014-drop Simmental-Angus steers to $1240, av $1129.
MacLachlan Props, Pewsey Vale, Mount Pleasant, sold 48 European Union-accredited Poll Hereford and black baldy steers to $1025 twice and 37 heifers to $805.
Treetop Estate, Meningie, sold 375kg milk-teeth steers to $1240, and 25 more steers, 343kg, $1150.
Treetop sold the $1160 top-price heifers, 13 Coolana-blood, September/October 2013-drop Angus, to TFI.
A run of 128 Angus heifers, August/September 2013-drop from Kushoon, Mingbool, topped at $770, av $677.
