LOCAL buyers and feedlotters held up the opening day of the two-day Naracoorte weaner sales yesterday, with steers attracting up to $3.87 a kilogram despite a smaller than usual buying crowd.
Elders auctioneer Ronnie Dix said European Union-accredited steers sold for a premium, with most sold in the $3.00 to $3.45/kg range, while non-EU cattle largely made $2.80-$3.30/kg.
"We went into it knowing it wasn't going to be quite as strong as the last sale we had in December, but the heavier feedlot and EU job certainly held up," he said.
"The cattle that suited the bullock people were very strong.
"The quality of cattle throughout the whole sale wasn't as good as the previous sale, but there were still some very good cattle here."
Mr Dix said there were some very good buying opportunities for steers under 320 kilograms for a buying crowd that was down due to the large number of sales in the past week, seasonal conditions and various fire events.
There was strong competition on steers from L&S Johnson & Son, Conmurra Plains, with 63 February/March-drop, EU-accredited Angus steers, averaging 390kg across three pens, making the sale's top price of $1510. It was also the top dollar a kilogram value of the day at $3.87/kg.
The same vendor sold another 33 February/March-drop Angus steers, av 424kg, for $1470 or $3.47/kg.
They also achieved a good dollars a kilogram return on another 48 February/March-drop Angus steers, av 353kg, selling them for $1270 or $3.60/kg.
Kanangra Props, Furner, sold 15 March/April-drop EU-accredited Angus steers, av 447kg, for $3.31/kg or $1480.
The same vendor offloaded another 21 March/April-drops, av 457.1kg, for $3.20/kg or $1463 to Princess Royal.
Donald Brown & Co, Padthaway, sold 20 Hazeldean-blood April/May-drop Angus steers, av 439kg, for $1460 or $3.33/kg.
LD&A Zanker, Coonalpyn, sold 12 November/December 2018-drop Angus steers, av 446.7kg, for $3.17/kg or $1416.
AC Davidson & Co, Penola, received $1407 or $3.25/kg for 18 March/April-drop Angus steers, av 432.8kg, which were bought by Landmark Kingston.
Selling 17 January/February-drop, EU accredited, Woonallee-bld Angus steers, av 444kg, to Princess Royal for $1420 or $3.20/kg were Sunray Pastoral, Hatherleigh.
Clovelly Pastoral Co, Naracoorte, sold 19 March/April-drop Angus steers, av 445kg, for $1400 or $3.15/kg.
GB&RE Hage, Messamurray, Naracoorte, received $1300 or $3.51/kg for 11 Sterita Park/JB Angus-bld steers, av 370kg.
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Click here to sign up to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
