NARACOORTE
Yarding: 613
Steers to $1994, av $1303
Heifers to $1380, av $1152
INDUSTRY veterans at the Naracoorte combined agents’ monthly store cattle sale on Thursday last week commented it was the dearest prices they had seen.
Heavyweight steers made $3.60 a kilogram to $3.85/kg, mediumweights $3.90-$4.25/kg and some light European Union Angus steers sold to $5/kg. Most of the heifers made $3.70-$4/kg.
But the 613-head yarding featured some outstanding locally-bred cattle, as well as consignments from Kangaroo Island and the Barossa.
There was plenty of weight in the pens including RH Hodge & Partners, Oriental Park, Tintinara, who topped the steer section with eight June/July 2015-drop Simmental-crosses.
The EU-eligible steers, weighing 576kg, made $3.46/kg or $1994 to MC Herd, Vic.
Another eight of the Hodge steers made $3.42/kg or $1864.
GR Foster & Co, Bool Lagoon, sold two heavyweight pens of Shorthorn steers to Thomas Foods International for $3.80/kg and $3.85/kg, equating to $1805 and $1816.
Wonarah Pastoral sold two terrific pens of spring 2015-drop Angus steers at $1235 and $1440. They also had the highest priced heifers at $1380.
Buyers scrambled for 76 five to six month-old, EU Angus and Angus-cross steers from Nyroca, Padthaway. The tops made $1160, or about $4.43/kg, but others edged near $5/kg.
BLW Steer & Son, Warrensville, Bordertown sold 57, 10-12 month-old Poll Hereford heifers from $3.60-$3.81/kg for a $1154 average.
Eight 2011- and 2013-drop Red Angus cows with calves, also from RH Hodge & Partners, made $2750.
PPH&S Richard Harvie said it was a good sign for upcoming weaner sales for February/March-drop calves to make $1100.
“Heavy cattle are still realising $3.75-$4.10/kg and the little cattle $4.20-$4.70/kg, so the job is about the right ratio where it has been when the job was $2/kg,” he said.