NARACOORTE
Yarding: 1470
PTIC heifers to $2420, av $1990
PTIC cows to $2360 av$1817
AN outstanding run of well-bred females sold to a $2420 high at the eighth annual Naracoorte Angus feature female sale, on Thursday last week.
Many pens of pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers and cows surpassed last year’s $2100 record, with the overall $1928 average up nearly $300.
In the breakdown independent agents Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen and Spence Dix & Co sold 949 heifers for a $1990 average and 521 cows for a $1817 av.
Strong buyer support came from the Upper SE where many with drought-depleted herds were looking to take advantage of the excellent season to rebuild numbers.
Gilbrae Pastoral Company, Coonalpyn secured the sale’s top price with 14 Coolana bloods joined to Coolana bulls for 12 weeks to calve from early February. The March-April 2015 drops sold to Landmark Kingston for $2420.
Vendor Adrian Smith said it was pleasing to see a premium for PTIC heifers over on-hooks prices.
“Instead of only getting the same money as if we cut their heads off we are now being paid a fair price for the effort we go to with our breeding,” Mr Smith said.
Spence Dix & Co director and auctioneer Jonathan Spence said buyers came expecting to pay $2000 for top breeding females but the result exceeded many expectations.
“The market reflected producers’ trade-in value of cows and yearling heifers which has been huge, plus the shortage of breeders in the whole region, and now everyone has grass to put a few out,” he said.
He was thrilled to see one of his long-time loyal clients, the Smiths rewarded for their breeding and management.
“We are rapt to see Adrian and his son Ty earning the sale topping gong,” Mr Spence said. “They have done a great job of the Gilbrae cattle over the years and were one of the first to sign up and come with us at the start of Spence Dix.”
Another sale highlight was 156 Temania and Coolana bloods from Michael Mattei, Williup, Hynam which averaged $2226. They were bought as yearling heifers from Naweena, Padthaway and in-calf to Coorong Angus bulls.
Williup’s draft included the best presented pen of heifers- 15 spring 2014 drops which made $2320 to PPH&S Naracoorte.
Other notable lines included 76 heifers from MJ&SK Alexander to $2320 av $2194 and first-time vendors Moonee Hills, Meningie averaged $1980 for their 145 heifers.
Lake Ellen Pastoral, Tintinara sold 11 March-April 2015 drop EU heifers for $2200.
The blue ribbon winning pen of PTIC cows from PW&KM Bryson, Keppoch also claimed the $2360 top price for the mature females.
The 14 2013-drop European Union accredited females sold to Spence Dix & Co, Meningie.
Vendor Paul Bryson- who topped the sale in 2015 at $2100-said prices were “heading the right way”.
“But it makes them good buying for what we have seen calves make this year,” he said.
Brysons’ 80 Stoney Point and Coolana blood cows averaged $2164.
Munga Developments, Frances boosted numbers with an autumn herd dispersal of more than 350 head. Their heifers topped at $1780.
