Mt Gambier store prices stack up

It had been a long wait but the price rise, which saw 380 kilogram to 420kg steers make $2/kg and above and unjoined heifers climb to $1.85/kg, was in response to the rise in prime markets after widespread rain across eastern Australia.

Agents expected a jump but it exceeded the expectations of many, with only a handful of very light pens of steers under $500 a head.

Driving the strong demand was SA's two export processors - Thomas Foods International and Teys Australia - looking to buy heavyweight steers to put on feed.

It was well into the second lane of steers before any restockers could outbid them, with the local graziers instead setting their sights on lighter-weight cattle.

The yarding swelled from the 1500 head advertised to more than 2300 head, including some which were scheduled to be sold at the Naracoorte store sale, which was cancelled the previous week.

Top price steer honours at $870 went to Fernbanks, Portland, Vic, with 20 Angus.

The 430kg steers - the second pen of the sale - sold to TFI.

The first eight pens all made $800 or more, including a pen of 430kg steers from GT Trading, Millicent, at $830.

The highest price Herefords made $795. The 400kg steers were offered by Warreanga at Donovans and also sold to TFI.

Kangaringa Station, Keith, was one of the sale's volume vendors and also enjoyed some of the best prices in cents per kilogram - achieving $2.11-$2.41/kg for its EU accredited 10- to 11-month-old Hereford steers.

Overall, its 108 steers topped at $680 and averaged $636 and 110 heifers topped at $475, averaging $446.

The unjoined heifer category provided some opportunities with only three or four regulars buying heifers to feed.

Churinga Park topped the unjoined heifer category with 13 Angus-Herefords making $690.

Another top-quality run of 10- to 11-month-old Angus heifers came from Sarnia Pastoral Company, Mingbool, which made $1.86/kg.

Its top pen of 17 Angus heifers, weighing 354kg, made $660 to TFI. Another 24 weighing 316kg fetched $590 for Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson

DC McEachern, Carpenter Rocks, had the standout Hereford heifers. The 78 head topped at $580 and averaged $520.

Cows with calves sold to a $1300 high for a pen of six Angus, mainly first calvers, with young calves from Coorara Estate, Kalangadoo.

Ray White Keatley's Dale Keatley said most steers were $60 to $80/hd dearer than the March sale and heifers may have been $100/hd dearer in places.

"It was about what we were expecting where the industry is at the moment- the fat job has picked up, there has been rain through the north and people are looking to put cattle out," he said.

"If you wanted them you had to pay the rate or miss out."

* Full report in Stock Journal, April 17, 2014 issue.