RESTOCKERS and graziers from Victoria's south-east and Western District were out in force at Mount Gambier's monthly store cattle sale on Friday, with bids coming thick and fast for a modest yarding of cattle.
Numbers were down slightly in a typical winter yarding, with only 1452 head offered due to recent inclement weather and rough conditions, which forced a number of producers to withdraw their nominated cattle, unable to get trucks in.
Prices kicked significantly, with Landmark Mount Gambier's Jeff Olafsen estimating an increase in steer prices of 50-60 cents a kilogram compared with the June store market.
"Heifers sold from $2.80 a kilogram up to $3/kg-plus, where lately, they've been struggling to make $2.20-$2.30/kg," he said.
"There looks to be a shortage of store cattle on the horizon, and with an improving fat market and recent general rain in the area, confidence is up and all these factors contributed to the very buoyant prices."
Heavy steers weighing more than 450kg sold from 237-3.48c/kg, those 360-450kg made 289-3.49c/kg and steers from 320-360kg sold at 292-349c/kg.
Lighter steers from 280-320kg sold from 304 to 387c/kg, while weighed steers under 280kg made 206-352c/kg.
Redgums, Nelson, sold 13 Angus-cross steers, 494kg, for a sale-topping $1710 or 346c/kg to Teys Australia for its Charlton feedlot.
Redgums' 465kg second draft of 14 Angus made $1620 or 348c/kg.
Teys Australia bought 81 steers, including 12, 362kg Pathfinder-blood Angus from AJ&MS Reichelt, OB Flat, SA, at $1260 or 348c/kg; Boonaroo-bld Angus, 324kg, offered by Killarnie, Mingbool, SA, at $1090 or 336c/kg; and six 452kg Limousins at $1330 or 294c/kg from JM Richardson, Compton, SA.
Kryburn Pastoral, Wandilo, sold nine 448kg YoHo-bld Poll Hereford 12-14mo steers at $1470 or 328c/kg.
A 410kg second Kyburn draft made $1380 or 337c/kg.
GT Trading, Lucindale, SA, sold eight Hereford steers, 316kg, at $1040 or 329c/kg to Elders Lucindale, with a 278kg second draft making $970 or 349c/kg.
The 185 cows with calves at-foot offered included a dispersal from Highbury Trading (property sold), Mumbannar.
Its 102, four to eight-year-old Angus cows with March/April-drop Angus CAF and running back to an Angus bull av $1521. The top draft of 4-5yos made $1750.
Nangkita sold five Angus first-calvers with five Angus CAF, running back with Nampara Angus bulls, at $1625.
Heifers 360-450kg made 266-318c/kg; 320-360kg heifers made 274-319c/kg; 280-320kg from 282-304c/kg; and under 280kg from 204-287c/kg.
Regent's Gate sold 10 Angus-crosses, 347kg, at $1120 or 313c/kg.
Reg Edwards & Son, Mount Schank, SA, sold 26 Hereford heifers, 329kg, at $1050 or 319c/kg.
