NARACOORTE
Yarding: 2776
PTIC heifers to $2260
Cows with calves to $2000
PRICES for pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers at the Naracoorte combined agents’ annual feature female sale, last Friday came thudding back more than $600 a head on the spectacular 2017 sale.
The 2776 head yarding was nearly double last year’s offering, but was down on the 3400 head advertised.
The big numbers tested the market but was not the catastrophe many had feared with agents doing plenty of pre-sale work.
The top end of the Angus heifers made $1700-$1900, but three pens surpassed $2000.
IV&A Millard, The Grass, Penola, topped the sale with 16 outstanding European Union accredited Angus-Hereford heifers at $2260.
The sale toppers were bought as weaners from the Cromley and Cleves families, Mount Gambier, and mated to a Boonaroo Angus bull, due to calve for eight weeks from mid February.
They were bought by PJ&JM Coote through Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson, Penola.
The Grass sold another 15 for $2020 and the final pen for $1680.
Eight rising three-year-old Shorthorns from Blackmoor Pastoral, Kingston, made $2020, part of a consignment of 70 head.
The Hann family’s Nampara Pastoral Company, Biscuit Flat, again had a magnificent run of PTIC Angus heifers which averaged $1638.
Their top pen, which kicked off the sale, made $1980 to Landmark Mount Gambier for EWP & ER Jones
Another respected heifer seller, Michael Mattei, Williup, Hynam, sold 343 PTIC heifers to $1800 twice.
The tops of his Angus were bought as weaners from Canowie, Coonalpyn, while the tops of his coloured cattle which made the same money were Simmental-Herefords from Batemans at Furner.
Tyndarra Props, Wattle Range East, sold 94 Angus and Angus-Herefords, in calf to a Warrawindi Limousin bull for a $1754 av.
Cows with calves topped at $2000 for two pens of Angus – one from Eastknife, Penola, and the other from Beniagh Pastoral, Penola.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen director Robin Steen said prices were “realistic” to the prime market especially with the huge number of females available at Vic and SA sales in a short period and dry paddock feed.
“Some people who couldn’t get into steers last year but heifers with the option of putting the bulls with them, which showed in the numbers.”
Mr Steen said last month’s fire at Thomas Foods International was still having a major impact on the cattle market.
“You can’t easily replace kill space for 5000 cattle
“When the opportunity comes for the exporters to bring it (the market) back to where they can make money that’s what happens.
The beef job is not just about Australia, it is about the world and we have been a little over priced.”
Other vendors to shine
HB Schinckel & Sons, Stewarts Range: 42 Angus and Angus cross PTIC heifers to $1860 av $1687
Engler Enterprises, Maaoupe: 69 PTIC Angus heifers to $1800 av $1727
G Smith & Co, Borderdowns: 37 PTIC Angus heifers to $1800 av $1670