DESPITE some pre-sale uncertainty about how the heifer job would hold up, agents and vendors were reasonably pleased with the returns from the second day of the Naracoorte two-day weaner sale on Friday last week.
Although feedlotter competition was down on previous sales, Elders auctioneer Ronnie Dix quoted the majority of heifers at $2.30 a kilogram to $2.60/kg, with exceptions fetching upwards of $3/kg.
"Everyone went into today reasonably nervous because we saw the bottom end of the steers drop off," he said.
"For good quality breeding heifers, the job was very strong - as strong as previous sales if not stronger."
Achieving the top price of the sale was Donald Brown & Co, Padthaway, with 30 April/May-drop, Hazeldean-blood Angus heifers, averaging 386 kilograms, making $1310 or $3.39/kg.
The line was one of only a few to crack the $3/kg mark.
Others included 27 March/April-drop, Lancaster Black Simmental and Coolana Angus-blds, av 345kg, from Yalanda Pastoral Co, Meningie, which sold for $1110 or $3.22/kg.
The Meningie vendors sold another 44 heifers of the same description, av 310kg, for $890 or $2.87/kg.
RJ,JE,AB&CA Smith, Joanna, received $1140 or $3.16/kg for 22 March/April-drop, Glatz Black Angus-bld heifers, av 361kg.
The same vendors sold 31 lighter weights of the same description, av 318kg, for $910 or $2.86/kg.
Making $1010 or $3.02/kg were 23 February/March-drop, Nampara and Pathfinder-bld Angus heifers, av 334kg, from Glendoon Pastoral, Binnum.
MG&TM Smith, Lucindale, sold 21 March/April-drop, Granite Ridge and Nampara-bld European Union-accredited Angus heifers, av 274.8kg, for $2.89/kg or $794.
Receiving $2.86/kg or $970 for 21 March/April-drop, Hazeldean-bld Angus heifers, av 339.3kg, were Lucindale vendors SA&GE Smith, 'Lakala'.
Fetching the same $/kg price was Glenrise Pastoral, Penola, for 20 March/April-drop, Brenair and Magpie Park-bld Simmental steers, av 290kg.
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