MOUNT GAMBIER
Yarding: 1360
762 steers to $1650
820 heifers to $1570
78 cows with calves to $2450
BUYERS from as far as Loxton and Warracknabeal, Vic, as well as the local contingent of feedlot buyers and restockers, flocked to the October store sale in Mount Gambier last Friday.
Heading towards the end of the selling season, a smaller yarding of 1360 cattle were offered. Competition was still strong, with plenty of buyers going home empty handed.
Landmark Penola agent Jeff Olafsen thought the quality yarding was “pretty much on a par with last month, with strong demand and making similar rates, cattle showing a little more spring condition”.
He said smaller steers made more than $4 a kilogram, with heavier steers 300 kilograms-plus trending towards the high $3-$4/kg.
Heifers made good money, with best-bred Angus returning $3.80-$4/kg.
Red Swamp Holdings, Mumbannar, Vic, were the market toppers, selling 48 Nampara and Coolana-blood, Pasturefed Certified Assurance Scheme-accredited Angus and Angus-cross steers for an average of $1487.50.
The top draft, av 449kg, sold at $1650 or $3.67/kg to Thomas Foods International.
Red Swamp’s next two drafts, consisting of 15 steers each, av 328kg, both sold at $1390 or $4.24/kg to Hopkins River Beef, Dunkeld, Vic. Hopkins River were strong contenders in the steer market, buying 68 steers, av 284-395kg, including eight August/September-drop Angus steers, av 324kg, at $1390 or $4.30/kg from Big Rock; 11 weaned Angus steers, av 313kg at 10-12 months, for $1460 or $4.66/kg from PC&EM Crauford; and eight unweighed Boonaroo-blood Angus steers at $1300 from Killarnie, Mingbool.
Mundi Waters sold six weaned Angus-cross steers, av 442kg, at $1500 or $3.39/kg to TFI and 10 weaned Hereford-cross steers, av 421kg, at $1440 or $3.42/kg to Landmark Kingston.
Morella, Eight Mile Creek, sold nine spring-drop Banquet and Coolana-blood Angus steers, European Union and PCAS-accredited, av 442kg, at $1610 or $3.64/kg to Lucindale producer Jack Hassell. Mr Hassell also bought 11 EU-accredited August/September-drop Weeran-blood Angus steers, av 385kg, at $1470 or $3.82/kg from Stenmark.
Dunburst sold six Angus-cross steers, av 422kg at 16 months, at $1470 or $3.48/kg to TFI and 18 Angus steers, av 290kg at 12-13 months, for $1330 or $4.58/kg to Landmark Naracoorte.
Dunburst also sold six Hereford steers, av 393kg at 16 months, for $1440 or $3.66/kg to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson.
VR&CM Kent, Millicent, sold 19 Charolais steers 10-12 months, av 291kg, at $1375 or $4.72/kg to Miller Whan & John, Mount Gambier.
LR&LR Leake sold eight weaned Hereford steers, av 362kg at 12-13 months, for $1400 or $3.87/kg to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson, who also bought the Leake’s second draft, av 328kg, at $1345 or $4.10/kg.
Clifton Hill, Branxholme, Vic, sold 11 weaned Hereford steers, av 376kg at 14-16 months, for $1395 or $3.71/kg to Miller Whan & John, plus a second draft av 332kg at $1320 or $3.97/kg to Landmark Kingston.
A large yarding of more than 200 Friesian and Friesian-cross dairy steers were offered. Melcris Farms had the largest offering with 96 steers, weighing 307-372kg, av $881. The top draft, av 372kg, sold at $995 or $2.67/kg to Colin Hennickson.
