Mount Gambier store cattle prices generally kicked a little or held firm on last month across all classes at last Friday's sale, with a total of 2792 head yarded.
Well-bred cattle sold to strong competition, feedlotters predictably strong on lines of cattle which suited their requirements.
A total of 1484 steers were nominated, Angus steers 450 kilograms plus selling stronger from $3.10 to $3.65 a kilogram, heavy coloured steers in the same range also sold stronger making from $3.10 to $3.24/kg.
Angus steers 360-450kg were firm, selling from a low of $2.67/kg but consistently making in excess of $3.45 to $3.69/kg. Prices for coloured steers 360-450kg were much stronger selling from $2.81 to $3.38/kg.
The middle run of steers sold firm on last month, Angus steers 320-360kg selling stronger on the low end from $2.76 to $3.63/kg, while coloured steers in the same weight range made from $2.56 to $3.16/kg.
Angus steers 280-320kg were dearer, selling from $2.69 to $3.84/kg and coloured steers in this weight range made from $2.79 to $3.11/kg. Prices were higher for lighter Angus steers under 280kg selling from $2.89 to $4.04/kg with coloured steers of the same weight also selling stronger from $2.71 to $3.09/kg.
Making the equal highest dollars a head price for the day were seven Angus and Angus cross steers from PJ&SL Burchell, Moorak, at $1950 or $3.23/kg. The 603kg steers were bought by Thomas Foods International.
Twelve Angus steers averaging 558kg were sold by Telfer Trading, Hatherleigh, and equalled the $1950 top price, equating to $3.49/kg, selling to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson, Penola.
A heavier draft of the Telfer steers weighing 610kg sold to Thomas Foods at $1940 or $3.18/kg.
Wandoon Pastoral, Kongorong, hit Friday's peak cents a kilo price, with 22 Ardno and Boonaroo-blood Angus steers weighing an average of 198kg, selling at $4.04/kg or $800 to Elders Millicent.
Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson bought a draft of 28 August/September 2023 drop, 284kg Toora West, Dollar Angus and Grassdale-blood Angus steers from Amaroo, Hamilton, Vic, for $1090 or $3.84/kg.
A lighter draft of 264kg Amaroo steers sold to Miller Whan & John at $970 or $3.67/kg.
K&L Badenoch, Mount Gambier, sold 15 Pasture-fed Cattle Assurance System eligible 12-month, 250kg, Angus steers for $950 or $3.80/kg to BR&C Swan Hill.
Elders bought bought 30, 243kg Yalkuri-blood Angus steers from Yalkuri Pastoral, Narrung, at $920 or $3.79/kg and the vendor's lighter draft of 25, 234kg steers made $880 or $3.76/kg.
AG&AJ McKinnon, Strathdownie, Vic, sold 65, 10- month European Union accredited and PCAS eligible Borderdowns-blood Angus steers. The run weighed between 323 to 358kg and averaged $1197.
Midfields bought 46 PCAS eligible April/May 2023-drop Boonaroo-blood Angus steers from HP&M Milich, Mcarthur, Vic, paying $1370 or $3.58/kg for a draft of 23 av 383kg and $1210 or $3.63/kg for a lighter draft of 23 av 333kg.
Versace Properties, Mount Gambier, sold fourteen 10-12-month old Ardno-blood Angus steers at 385kg for $1420 or $3.69/kg to Miller Whan & John.
AB BE&SD Feast, Port MacDonnell, sold 14 PCAS eligible May/June 2022-drop Morganvale-blood 533kg Hereford steers at $1650 or $3.10/kg to Nampara.
Teys Australia bought Angus and coloured steers weighing from 380 to 450kg including 20 Granite Ridge-blood Angus steers at 477kg for $1740 or $3.65/kg from TW&DL Flint, Kingston SE.
Lyndhurst Pastoral, Glencoe, sold 11 EU-accredited and PCAS eligible 12-14-month old, 388kg, Bra-Ma and Ardno-blood Hereford steers at at $1300 or $3.35/kg to Teys Australia, while McKeon McGregor, Bendigo bought a lighter draft av 339kg at $900 or $2.65/kg.
Nutrien Mount Gambier Jeff Olafsen said prices were a reflection of graziers being optimistic after the splash of rain the southeast region in the last month.
But he said follow-up rain was needed.
"It was a very good quality yarding today, considering the unseasonal dry conditions we have experienced in the last couple of months but we really need to get a good rain in the next couple of weeks," he said.
"The last situation we want to find ourselves in, is with the cold weather coming in before we get a decent start to the season.
"Overall though, it was good to see some positivity coming back into the market".
Twenty four cows with 24 calves at foot were yarded by Laggan Pastoral, the top price of $1980 was paid by Creek Livestock for five Barwidgee-blood Angus cows with five Boonaroo-blood calves at foot.
JJ&CL Gysbers, Millicent, sold four Angus cross cows, with calves at foot at $1740 to Green Livestock. They also paid $1980 for a draft of six mixed-aged South Devon cows with six Charolais calves at foot from S Bolte.
Home Living Co sold nine PTIC Angus heifers to Creek Livestock at $1350.
Heavy heifers weighing 450kg and above made to $2.15/kg, while heavy heifers 450kg plus sold to $2.15/kg, heifers within the 360-450kg range sold from $2.26 to $3.06/kg.
Heifers weighing from 320-360kg sold firm from $2.24 to $3.08/kg. Well-bred smaller and lighter weight heifers weighing from 280-320kg made from $2.13 to $3.09/kg.
Mandala Kalangadoo sold 40 12-14-month old Angus heifers, a draft of 21, 413kg heifers sold to Creek Livestock at $1220 or $2.95/kg.
Miller Whan & John bought 18 PCAS eligible Boonaroo-blood Angus heifers av 393kg at $1140 or $2.90/kg from ML&GY Thompson, Mount Gambier, and five PCAS eligible Canawigra-blood Angus cross heifers av 394kg at $1120 or $2.84/kg were sold by SR&BL Bury, Murray Bridge.
Griffin Pastoral, Biscuit Flat, yarded 221 PCAS eligible Spotshill-blood Angus cross and Hereford heifers, with weights from 281-349kg for an average of $741.
HP&M Milich, Mcarthur, Vic, sold 24 PCAS eligible April/May 2023-drop Boonaroo-blood Angus heifers av 373kg at $1140 or $3.06/kg to Creek Livestock and a lighter draft av 331kg at $1020 or $3.08/kg to Miller Whan & John.
Kyndalyn Trust Dartmoor,Vic, yarded 55 Weeran and Boonaroo-blood Angus heifers weighing from 191-212kg for an average of $505.
Lyndhurst Pastoral sold a yarding of 68 EU-accredited and PCAS eligible 12-14-month Nampara-blood Angus and Bra-Ma, and Ardno-blood Hereford heifers weighing from 312 to 344kg for an average of $907.
Lake Leake Holdings, Glencoe, sold 22 PCAS eligible Angus heifers av 304kg at $940 or $3.09/kg to the Ogilvie Group.
