MT GAMBIER
Yarding: 2309
Steers to $1675
Heifers to $1300
Cows with CAF to $2450
PTIC cows to $2060
With hats removed and heads bowed, agents, vendors and buyers paused for a minute’s silence to remember the fallen, prior to Friday’s monthly Mount Gambier store market, held on Remembrance Day.
Following the Ode of Remembrance, it was back to business, with regular local buyers and those from further afield from the Hamilton, Vic, Naracoorte and Meningie areas, gathering to bid on a quality line-up.
In a significantly larger yarding than was initially advertised, Teys Australia and Thomas Foods International were the only two feedlots represented and came up against very strong competition from local restockers.
Prices on bigger, heavier steers, weighing 400 kilograms-plus, were in-line with prime cattle rates, generally returning between $3.50 a kilogram and $3.80/kg, medium weight steers, 300-400kg, made $3.50-$4/kg and lighter steers made in excess of $4/kg.
Heifers sold solidly, with medium to heaviest weight heifers, 300-400kg-plus, returning $3.20-$3.60/kg.
Lighter heifers weighing less than 300kg sold to rates of $3.60-$3.90/kg, which were in-line with recent sales.
Teys Australia bought more than 50 steers for its Charlton, Vic, feedlot including nine Angus-cross steers, 450kg, at $1465 or $3.25/kg, from DG,PK&BL Sims, and 11 Hereford steers, 434kg, at $1510 or $3.48/kg, account Kilsby Road.
Mount Gambier graziers DuKalkis Farming offered a line of 35 Angus steers, achieving the market high of $1675 or $3.21/kg for its top draft of 13 Angus steers, 522kg, which sold to TFI.
A second draft weighing an average of 526kg sold at $1630 or $3.10/kg to Elders Mount Gambier and the final pen, 464kg, was bought by Teys Australia Charlton feedlot at $1520 or $3.28/kg, returning the vendors an overall average of $1621.
TFI bought more than 100 cattle, paying the top money of the day at $1675 again for 14 Ballengeich-blood 18-month-old Angus steers, 550kg, equating to $3.04/kg, and a second draft, 501kg, at $1535 or $3.06/kg, sold a/c Arrandale, for an average of $1620. Regular vendors Kleenview, Casterton, Vic, sold 15 Angus-Hereford steers, 527kg, at $1635 or $3.10/kg to Elders Mount Gambier and a draft of 11 Angus steers, 526kg, at $1660 or $3.16/kg to O’Connor & Graney Mount Gambier.
Mount Schanck Estate, Mount Schank, sold 84 Angus steers with weights from 398-420kg, including 19 Angus steers, 398kg, at $1590 or $3.99/kg to John Hommelhoff on behalf of local restocker Brian Smith.
Mr Hommelhoff bought a total of 58 of the Mount Schanck steers, av $1580.
