FRIDAY'S cattle sale at Strathalbyn followed the trend of recent markets with strong support from buyers.
Landmark Strathalbyn’s Richard Snoswell said it was “easily the strongest sale” he had seen at the yards.
He said supply and demand had resulted in good prices with cattle gradually getting dearer since Christmas.
“The outlook looks so positive for cattle that people are prepared to pay extra money confident they will get a good return at the other end,” he said.
Elder’s auctioneer Bruce Cameron, Roseworthy, said there was a good line up of cattle in a very buoyant sale.
“It sold probably $50-60 above expectations,” he said.
He said young, well-bred heifers and cows and calves sold particularly well, reflecting the anticipated shortage of cattle to come.
The heavier of the sale’s offering, eight steers with an average weight of 375 kilograms from C&S Bartlett, sold for the top price of $965 while a second pen of nine, av 332kg, from the same vendor made $930.
Two Angus steers, av 288kg, account Delani, sold for $935, with the remaining six of that pen at $830.
AS&ML Camac had a pen of six steers, av 305kg, sold for $860.
In the heifers a pen of 17 Murray Grey from the Grady family made $840.
In the smaller heifers a pen of 13 Hereford heifer weaners from CB Rowe sold for $640, while Range View sold 11 Angus weaners for $620.
Cows also sold well as D Stewart sold three Hereford cows with two to four-week old calves-at-foot making $1530.
A second pen of 11 Hereford cows with their first March/April-drop caf from Kookaburra Rest made $1460.
