Steers to $1350 at Naracoorte

The final tally of 1252 head sold was a sign of the dry conditions in the South East, with most producers having little or no summer rain to speak of.

Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen Naracoorte agent Richard Harvie said the yarding was heavier than expected.

“Given the season we’re having in the South East, you’d expect a lot of lighter cattle, but we’re still getting cattle with weights of 320 kilograms to 340kg-plus,” he said.

He said demand for European Union-accredited cattle was very strong and above expectations by 10 cents a kilogram to 15c/kg liveweight.

Feeder cattle weighing more than 380kg were in demand, with buyers paying from $2.65-$2.95/kg and one northern feedlotter underpinning the market.

Heavier steers were slightly easier on February prices, with lighter steers selling pretty much on a par.

Lighter weight steers were comparatively good buying at $650-$800 or $2.90-$3.30/kg and as good a buy as they have been for the past couple of months.

Although a couple of pens of recognized breeders’ heifers sold exceptionally well, heifer prices were generally a little more subdued than expected, mainly selling from $2.50-$2.75/kg, which in comparison with the steers represented reasonable buying.

Notawurri Park, Naracoorte, sold 10 Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System-eligible, March/April 2017-drop, Woonallee-blood Black Simmental-Angus steers, 441kg, at $1250 or $2.83/kg to Teys Charlton, Vic. A second draft, 463kg, sold at the market high for steers of $1350 or $2.92/kg to Thomas Foods International.

Arthur Facey Pty Ltd, Millicent, sold 45 Hereford and Hereford-cross steers with weights from 369-408kg, for an average of $1103. Its top draft, 408kg, sold to Teys Australia at $1140 or $2.79/kg. Mr Facey also sold six February/March 2017-drop Angus-cross steers, 403kg, at $1180 or $2.93/kg to TFI.

Pitchford Farms, Meningie, sold 17 Yalkuri-bld Angus steers, 271kg, at $850 or $3.13/kg to Elders Lucindale, who also bought their second draft, 234kg, at $750 or $3.20/kg.

Messamurray, Naracoorte, had 24 EU and PCAS-eligible, Sterita Park-bld Angus steers, 418kg, make $1310 or $3.13/kg, sold to Elders Lucindale.

Heath Tiller, HB Rural, Warnertown, bought 207 steers and heifers from 272-391kg, including 20 Granite Ridge-bld Angus-cross steers, 391kg, at $1130 or $2.89/kg a/c PB&JF Schutz; eight August/Sept 2017-drop Bull Oak Well-bld Angus steers, 300kg, at $870 or $2.90/kg a/c Monash Station and 18 May/June drop, Morganvale-bld Hereford steers, 331kg, at $970 or $2.93/kg from Yulkuri Pty Ltd.

Regular buyers Teys Australia bought cattle with weights from 319-471kg including 10 March/April-drop Nampara-bld Angus steers, 425kg, at $1250 or $2.94/kg from Quarpena Pastoral Co, Naracoorte; four Stony Point-bld Angus-Gelbvieh steers, 420kg, at $1176 or $2.80/kg a/c Broadacre Bacon and 12 Beamma and Eylwarra Sands-bld PCAS eligible Murray Grey steers, Nov 2016-February 2017-drop, 471kg, at $1280 or $2.72/kg a/c Kooyong.

TFI were also sourcing heavier feeder cattle weighing 350kg-plus, including 20 May/June 2017-drop Willalooka-blood Angus steers, 370kg, at $1105 or $2.99/kg a/c PC&JL Giles; 20 Granite Ridge-bld Angus steers, 380kg, at $1125 or $2.96/kg a/c Wonarah Pastoral and 13 Murray Grey steers, 396kg, at $1125 or $2.84/kg a/c Kooyong.

Moyle Pastoral sold 15 May/June drop PCAS eligible Pathfinder-blood Angus steers, 353kg, at $1040 or $2.95/kg to Caicowrie, Penola, who also bought a draft of 13 Granite Ridge-bld Angus steers, March/April 2017-drop, 350kg, at $1060 or $3.03/kg a/c Wonarah Pastoral.

Miller Whan & John Kingston agent Mike Newton bought a draft of 16 EU Morganvale and Bendulla-bld Hereford steers, 363kg, at $1070 or $2.95/kg a/c MK&C Agnew, Wattle Range, as well as 25 February/March 2017-drop Hereford and Hereford-cross steers, 341kg, at $1060 or $3.11/kg sold a/c AJ&LC Facey, Millicent.

Jullunder Farms sold 45 March/April drop Te Mania and Banquet-bld Angus steers, weighing from 318-363kg to a top of $1105 or $3.04/kg and an average of $1041 and 26 Angus-Murray Grey steers, weighing from 295-334kg to a top of $1010 or $3.02/kg, av $971.

Making room for breeding stock after the recent fires in Western Vic destroyed pastures, RL Rollinson sold 75 Hereford, Shorthorn-cross and Angus steers with weights from 340-559kg. The steers topped at $1291 or $2.31/kg and av $1146. John Chay & Co, Millicent, bought 50 of the steers, paying an average of $1121.

PJ&MW Bellinger, Millicent, sold 13 Angus heifers, 377kg, at $1,040 or $2.76/kg to Southern Australian Livestock Naracoorte agent Will Nolan, who also bought a draft of Pitlochry-bld Angus heifers, 255kg, at $700 or $2.75/kg a/c Pitlochry, Kingston.

Messamurray sold 17 February/March 2017-drop PCAS eligible and EU Sterita Park-bld Angus heifers, 328kg, at $1000 or $3.05/kg and a second draft, 303kg, sold at $910 or $3/kg to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson, Penola.

Ferris Partners, Keilira, sold 61 March/April 2017-drop PCAS eligible Angus heifers with weights from 277-367kg for an av of $955. Its top draft, 378.5kg, sold at $1082 or $2.86/kg to Mr Nolan.

Only four Angus cows with Angus calves at foot were offered, selling at $1380 a/c NA&RG Eylward, Frances, to Elders Naracoorte.

Straven, Naracoorte, sold 15, 2009/2010/2011-drop Pathfinder-bld Angus cows, pregnancy-tested in-calf to Wittalocka Angus bulls to calve July-September to PPH&S at $1220.