LAST year will be remembered as one for the record books in terms of cattle prices, with the trend still reflected in prices Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula markets.
Pro-Stock’s Clint Endersby said good young steers to put back out into a paddock were generally making between $2.90 a kilogram and $3.30/kg at Mount Compass.
There were similar returns on well-bred, heavy steers to go to slaughter, while females were making about 10 cents/kg less.
Mr Endersby said prices were likely to remain strong in the foreseeable future, on the back of tight supply.
“The big numbers are gone, so there’s no real reason why prices should come back, as long as processors continue to pay the money,” he said.
Mr Endersby said younger cattle should also sell well.
“The good prices through spring time to February means it’s affordable to go back into the market for the little cattle,” he said.
“The quality of the cattle has been holding up as well.
“They are in better condition than you would expect, seeing the paddocks they are coming out of.“
While dry conditions had affected the quantity of feed in the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, the quality had been very good, which had helped get the cattle through the recent tight times.
But, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula vendors warmly welcomed good rainfall in early February.
“It was dry until early February,” Mr Endersby said.
“Feed supplies were a bit tight, but you’d expect that this time of year.
“Water supplies were the bigger issue but that’s been fixed by the good rains we’ve had.”
The monthly Strathalbyn cattle market has also got off to a strong start for 2016.
Steers made to $1225 and heifers to $1190 at the January Strathalbyn sale.
Meanwhile, at the annual Mount Pleasant weaner sale in January heavyweight steers made to $1860 and weaner steers sold to $1460.
Heifers attracted bids of up to $1070 and cows made to $1570.
Auctioneer Colin Fawcett said the sale was “pretty solid from start to finish”.
