VENDORS were grinning from ear-to-ear at Naracoorte combined agents' monthly store cattle sale on Thursday last week as prices continued their climb.
The yarding of 1201 was top quality for late winter and included many spring-drop calves which would normally be sold later in the year.
Many were being offloaded because of the lack of winter rain. Other vendors were looking to cash-in on the long-anticipated high prices.
Most of the steers made $3.30 a kilogram to $3.45/kg and heifers $3-$3.10/kg, with an extra bid or two for European Union-accredited cattle.
Thomas, DeGaris & Clarkson auctioneer Ashley Braun quoted heavier cattle 4 cents/kg to 5c/kg dearer than the previous month's sale and lighter cattle 8-10c/kg dearer.
"The smaller heifers were considerably dearer but there was not as much competition on the 320kg-plus heifers," he said.
"Anything that is finished well - come spring - will still be in strong demand. We have sold so many cattle now that we would normally sell in October-November."
Feedlotters again fought it out on the heavier-end steers - Princess Royal, Burra, Teys Charlton and Thomas Foods International were all strong bidders.
Top-price steer honours at $1495 went to SR&AJ Auld, Dergholm, Vic, for 11 Angus and Angus-crosses, 15-16 months, which had been bought late last year at a Mount Gambier prime sale. They weighed 445kg and were knocked down to TFI.
T&J Edwards, Penola, received $1490 for 22 Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System-eligible Red Angus steers and $1325 for 30 Herefords which had been bought at the Hamilton, Vic, weaner sales earlier in the year.
BJ&YM Mitchell, had one of the heaviest pens of steers - Murray Greys, 16-18 months and 465kg, at $1470.
Nurrungar Cattle Co, Cadgee, was the sale's volume vendor with his entire drop of Angus calves, 6-7 months. The well-bred Willalooka and Granite Ridge-bloods achieved some of the highest c/kg rates, up to $3.67/kg. In total the 139 steers topped at $1010 and averaged $919.
The heaviest of Nurrungar's heifers were sold to a live export order earlier in the week, but 29 heifers averaged $657.
Two pens of March/April 2014-drop Simmental-Hereford heifers offered by Walteela Props, Avenue Range, were easily the standouts in the unmated heifer offering.
The well-bred heifers were originally bought at a February Naracoorte weaner sale from Egremont Pastoral Company, Lucindale. Teys Charlton snapped-up both pens, paying $1335 for 15 heifers, 420kg, and $1255 for 16 heifers, 402kg.
AG Cane & Co received $1250 for 14 Angus and Angus-cross heifers, 431kg.
Sixteen Angus seventh-calving cows with March/April-drop Angus calves from C&MAT Cram, Penola, were another highlight and made $1920.