NARACOORTE
Yarding: 1686 females
1365 PTIC heifers av $1520
265 PTIC cows av $1373
56 cows with calves av $1748
THREE pens of pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers cracked $2000 at the Naracoorte Combined Agents’ joined female sale on Thursday last week, but the dry season in the South East softened demand.
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Most vendors enjoyed their highest returns ever, averaging $100 to $150 more than last year, but prices were slightly below expectations.
The majority of the 1686 females, which included heifers, cows and cows with calves-at-foot, made $1350-$1700. Overall, 1365 PTIC heifers averaged $1520, 265 PTIC cows $1373 and 56 cows with CAF $1748.
The talk of the yards was how difficult young breeding females would be to come by, especially with about 40,000 heifers bought for live export from SA, Vic and NSW. But with uncertainty about when the season will break, many kept their hands down.
The sale-topping pen at $2040 contained 13 Simmental-Herefords from Michael Mattei, Williup, Hynam. They had been bought as weaners at Woonallee’s AuctionsPlus sale and were mated to low birthweight sons of Angus supersire TeMania Berkley.
Noel and Cathy Munro, Burrendah Coleraine, Vic, were the buyers.
“I thought I would have to pay about $2000 for heifers like these, but these were the ones I wanted,” Mr Munro said. “When we can sell young Simmental-cross heifers to China for $1300, like we have, you expect prices to be good.”
Williup received $2000 for a pen of eight black baldy heifers bought by Landmark Naracoorte. The heifers had been bought at 316-318kg from the 2015 Hamilton, Vic, weaner sales.
Overall, Williup’s 180 heifers, which had been joined to Coorong Angus bulls, averaged $1640. This included the sale’s best presented pen, which made $1800.
Mr Mattei was pleased with his top pens, but said prices dropped off quickly.
“The empties made $1430 a few months ago,” he said. “Three pens today would have been better off not being in-calf.”
Regular blue-ribbon vendors Nampara Pastoral Company, Biscuit Flat, also reached $2000 for 15 Angus joined to their own stud Angus bulls. The best of their Black Simmental-Angus heifers made $1920.
Nampara’s 405 rising two-year-old Angus and Angus-cross heifers averaged $1600. Last year their heifers averaged $1490.
Vendor Stuart Hann was pleased with the consistent prices. Only one of their pens made less than $1460.
“They have had sheep running under them, so to put together what we have is really pleasing,” he said.
