A larger yarding made for a price increase at Mount Pleasant on Thursday last week for the first spring sale of the year.
Cattle saw strong a return with heifers, steers, cows and bulls all receiving a price rise compared to the last August offering.
With 336 cattle offered, Landmark Mount Pleasant’s Colin Fawcett said the heavier cattle sold very well.
“It was a reasonable yarding overall, and numbers were up – certainly in cattle – due to some drier conditions,” he said.
“The prices were strong throughout and it was met with good competition.”
“The store buyer component was a bit limited but that’s just the current trend, equivalent to any sale anywhere,” Mr Fawcett said.
In the cattle auction, MF&LF Seelander, Angaston, picked up the top price for heifers, with two Murray Greys at $1260 each.
Glen Haven Stud, Birdwood, had three Murray Grey heifers knocked down to $1080, and Hearnden Farms, Keyneton, had two Limousins go for $1040.
Nadolny, Christies Beach, sold a Murray Grey steer for a $1400 top, while Hartley Vale Shorthorns, Gumeracha, sold two Shorthorns for $1140 each, and Tara Hills Pastoral, Tungkillo, fetched $1005 for nine steers.
The sale offered 24 cows, averaging $1032 and to a top of $1460 for two Angus cows from FK&A Dorr, Birdwood, who also received $1340 for one other Angus.
SB&R Vivian, Mannum, also picked up $1340 for a Galloway cow, and their Brahman bull sold well for $1280.
TD Kassebaum, Angaston, had the top price bull of the sale, a Murray Grey that went for $1880, and Glen Haven sold two Murray Grey cows with calves to a top of $1200.
Mr Fawcett said there was plenty of feed lot, grazier and processor interest for both cattle and sheep, and frequent buyers included Thomas Foods International, Princess Royal, Australian Lamb Company and Kangarilla Meats.
Mr Fawcett said lamb numbers were up with 997 lambs offered at an average of $117 a head.
“Prices for lambs remained pretty sold and it was the first time we had a few more sucker lambs around as well,” he said.
Making the top money was SJ&RJ Dohnt, Eden Valley, with $190 for a pen of 15 lambs. DM&KA Liersch, Angaston, followed close behind with ten lambs sold for $186.
GC&DC Watts, Nairne, also did well with ten lambs bought for $184, and A Sharrad, Birdwood, sold a pen of 20 for $180 and another pen of 31 for $155.
Hoggets hit a top of $110 for a pen of five offered by Robert Scarborough, Cherry Gardens, and wethers also made $110 for ten offered by D Male & W Harvey, Mount Pleasant.
Tracy McInerney, Lyndoch, received $110 a head for 13 ewes, and SJ & RJ Dohnt, Eden Valley, sold 32 ewes at $100.