Rain lifts Naracoorte sale 10-20c/kg

The market continues to charge ahead with well-bred 360-380kg steers making around $3.70-$3.80/kg,  many 300-350kg calves nudging $4/kg and 280-300kg calves up to $4.21/kg.

But Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson director Darren Maney said the rates were to be expected.

Mr Maney said a great season and strong financial position were giving buyers confidence to fill their paddocks.

“The previous two autumns people were feeling the pressure of feeding and their overdrafts but with a very good spring and both sheep and cattle values, people are in a comfortable position,” he said.

“We have seen calves make $4/kg before but this time it was those 300 to 350kg not 250kg.”

Moya Trading, Penola, received the $1680 steer top price for seven milk and two tooth Angus steers weighing 472.1 kilograms. This equated to $3.56/kg.

John Chay&Co, Millicent, paid $1465 for seven, October-November 2015 drop Angus steers from C&J Dicker Earthmoving, Kingston.

Andran Pty Ltd, Stewarts Range, led the weaner offering cracked $4/kg for well-bred pen of May-June 2016 drop, Wirruna blood Poll Herefords. 

The 18 EU accredited steers weighing 353.9kg sold to the Wooding family through TDC Penola.

Andran’s heifers were also keenly sought.

The 348.9 kilograms made $3.69/kg or $1287.

Beniagh Pastoral, Penola received $4.21/kg for 20 EU Angus steers weighing 306.5kg.

Poltalloch Pastoral, Meningie also sold EU steers receiving $1460 for 11 March-April 2016 drop Angus.

JT&GM McKay, Egremont Pastoral Co, Lucindale, sold May 2016 drop steers and heifers.

The 26 PCAS accredited steers made $1330 while two pens of heifers made $1380 and $1200.

Backgrounders outbid processors on most pens with Landmark’s Richard Miller securing more than a third of the yarding (210 head) for a Kingston client.

Scott Creek, Creek Livestock, Mount Gambier,was also active including the tops of the March-April 2016 drops from Faceys for $1445.

The March-April 2016 drops weighed 388kg.

Limestone Ridge Estate, Coonawarra, secured top heifer honours at $1404.

The five heifers weighing 388kg made $3.62/kg.

CD&JL Muster, Mundulla, sold seven February 2016 drop Angus heifers for $3.71/kg or $1375.

Mr Maney said processors had been trying for 10 months to pull prices back to a level they see as sustainable but had been unable to because of the “perfect seasonal conditions”.

“With a good winter there will be good early spring selling of cattle but beyond that we can only hope that seasonal conditions stay in our favour so the processors can’t square the job up.”

Landmark Naracoorte livestock manager Brendan Fitzgerald said “all the stars were aligned.”

“Rain has kicked the fat job and everything else is following suite,” he said.