NARACOORTE
Yarding: 1400
Steers to $3.44/kg
Heifers to $3.19/kg
AN export order provided the floor price for strong steer competition at Naracoorte's monthly store cattle sale on Thursday.
Steers sold to $3.44 a kilogram with most selling in the $3.10/kg to $3.40/kg range, according to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson agent Rob Handbury.
He said a complete dispersal of Poll Hereford cows and calves from the Paltridge family, Lucindale, was one of the stand out pens of the sale.
"These well-bred cows made $2320 and are PTIC with a March/April-drop calf at foot, about 300kg, so they'd be worth every bit of that," he said.
"Steer competition was excellent, with most steers selling from $3.10/kg to $3.40/kg and some available for about $2.90/kg.
"Heavweights generally made $3.10/kg-$3.20/kg, while medium to lightweights made $3.20/kg-$3.40/kg.
"The steer buying was held up well by an export order that made sure it didn't dip below $3/kg."
A pen of 20 Yalkuri-blood, November/December 2018-drop, Angus steers, averaging 311kg, from Pitchford Farms, Meningie, made $1070 or $3.44/kg. The same vendor sold 22 Yalkuri-bld, November/December 2018-drop Angus heifers, av 297kg, for $870 or $2.93/kg.
Eldra, Naracoorte, sold 23 Bendulla-bld, April/May 2018-drop, EU-eligible Poll Hereford steers, av 471kg, for the top price of $1460 or $3.10/kg.
Matching that price and making $3.20/kg were 18 Pathfinder-bld, May/June 2018-drop Angus steers, av 456kg, from Struan Research, Naracoorte.
Hamanoon, Keith, sold 22 Mandayen-bld, October/November/December 2018-drop Angus steers, av 338kg, for $1130 or $3.34/kg.
Mr Handbury said the monthly sale attracted a lot of feedlot interest, as well as good demand from local restockers.
He said heifers also sold surprisingly well.
"Heifers sold very well for the most part," he said.
"There were some off types which sold for $2.40/kg to $2.50/kg but the vast majority sold for $2.60/kg-$2.75/kg."
A few exceptional pens cracked the $3/kg mark including a line of 10 February/March-drop, Goodnwindi-sired Charolais-cross heifers, av 313kg, from Katani Park, which made $1000 or $3.19/kg.
Hamanoon sold 23 Mandayen-bld, October/November/December 2018-drop Angus heifers, av 323kg, for $1010 or $3.13/kg.
A draft of 19 February/March/April 2019-drop Angus heifers, av 268kg, from Delrae made $810 or $3.02/kg.
A heavier line of seven March 2018-drop Angus cross heifers, av 438.6kg, from BR Dohnt & C Hallett made $1219 or $2.70/kg.