NARACOORTE
Yarding: 870
Steers to $1535, av $1019
Heifers to $1140, av $720
PRICES found exciting new levels at the Naracoorte combined agents' monthly store cattle sale on Thursday last week, in line with the spike in prime markets during July.
And there was plenty of talk about how far prices are set to rise in coming months.
The 870-head yarding was the smallest sale for the year but the cattle had plenty of frame.
Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson auctioneer Hayden Lambert said feedlot weight cattle (350 kilograms-plus) were 10cents/kg to 15c/kg dearer, depending on quality, than other sales in the area.
Most changed hands between $3.40/kg and $3.60/kg, while lightweight, well-bred Angus steers, 230-250kg, sold up to $3.80/kg.
Mr Lambert said heifers being bought by feedlots were up to 20c/kg dearer, while those bought to go back to the paddock still rose 10-15c/kg.
Most feeder heifers made $2.80/kg to $3.20/kg.
He said the "bit of feed" growing in paddocks and rise in prime sales had given buyers the confidence to up their ante.
"If you look at the long-term picture with China needing to source enough protein due to African Swine Fever, they will be looking to buy beef and lamb - the market for cattle is definitely on the rise," he said.
Steer top price honours went to PJ&MW Bellinger, Beachport, with 22 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers weighing 431kg. The milk and two tooths were knocked down at $1535 to Thomas Foods International.
Also among the heavyweights in the yards bought by TFI were 24 Angus from DP&KK Turner, Stewart Range. They paid $3.56/kg for the 404kg steers, or $1440.
TFI also bought nine March 2018-drop steers at $1395 from Wattle Plains, Penola, equating to $3.53/kg.
TR Truscott, Marcollat, received $3.63/kg for 29 Angus steers weighing 345kg.
Fourteen Angus steers weighing 351kg from PJ Harrold Pty Ltd, Coonawarra, made $3.58/kg, or $1257.
Jacdavlyn Pastoral Company, Reedy Creek, was rewarded with its consignment of April 2018-drop, European Union-accredited, Granite Ridge-bld Angus.
Its 23 steers weighing 365kg made $1330, while a pen of Jacdavlyn's 12 heifers, which were the sale's top price heifers, made $1140.
These 358kg Angus sold to Princess Royal feedlot, Burra.
SM&WJ Johnson, Naracoorte, sold 10 April/May 2018-drop steers for $1380 to Teys and their 19, 354kg heifers made $1100.
VL Morutto and Braemoor, Bray, received $3.12/kg or $1065 for 13 March/April 2018-drop Red Angus heifers.