AN extra Strathalbyn Feature Cattle Sale on Friday drew about 850 head for agents Elders and Landmark, with most steers fully firm on the previous week to a high of $710 and heifers to $730.
"The first six pens went gangbusters, averaging about $620, and it really settled in from there," Elders Strathalbyn's Danny Reynolds said.
"The best of the top-end black heifers sold pretty well, with the bottom-end plainer heifers selling around $330."
Landmark Strathalbyn's Bradley Walker said the sale was similar to the previous sale, with the steer job firm on black steers.
"Steers were fully firm while heifers were $20-$30 cheaper," he said.
"Overall it was a very good run of cattle and it was good to get so many in an unscheduled sale."
Good processor demand pushed steer prices up early in the sale but backed off as orders were filled.
A sole steer made the $710 top price, sold by Lucernbrae Proprietors, Callington, to Thomas Foods International, but it was the Angus steers sold at the front of the sale which attracted solid competiton.
JM&SK Davis, Kangaroo Island, sold nine Angus steers at $695 to Kangarilla Meats, MK&YL Schmidt sold seven Angus steers at $685 to Philip Noske, and MA Murray, Kapunda, sold 15 Roseleigh blood Angus steers at $685 to TFI.
Whiteface cattle were also well-sought - GR&KE Barrett sold nine Hereford-cross steers at $675 and AJK Pastoral, Mount Pleasant, six Poll Hereford steers at $645.
PR&ST Morris, KI, sold 13 Angus steers at $630 to Philip Noske; MJ&CA Bell, KI, sold 14 Murray Grey steers at $630; and Partacoona Props sold a Murray Grey steer at $625 to Kangarilla Meats.
Robyn Hills, Second Valley, sold 13 March/April 2013-drop Angus steers at $610 and Ellers Pastoral Investments, Victor Harbor, sold nine Poll Hereford steers at $595.
A pen of 12 Roseleigh blood Angus heifers sold by MA Murray made $730 to Landmark Balaklava, well above the next best heifers.
The same vendor also sold nine of the same description at $580 to TFI.
PR&ST Morris sold three Angus heifers at $510, Bruce Patillo sold five Angus heifers at $505, and JM&SK Davis sold 11 Pathfinder blood Angus heifers at $500.
* Full report in Stock Journal, December 12 issue, 2013.
Carla Wiese-Smith
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
