NARACOORTE WEANERS
Yarding: 2386 steers, 1008 heifers
Steers to $3.54/kg
Heifers to $3.32/kg
RETURNS lifted up to ten cents for feedlot steers and 30 cents for lighter cattle, with healthy buying competition at the third and final weaner sale of the selling season at Naracoorte on Thursday and Friday.
Prices topped at $3.54/kg for steers on Thursday, with most going under the hammer for between $3.15/kg-$3.40kg and the best lines making upwards of $3.45/kg.
The floor price was up significantly on a fortnight ago, when European Union-accredited steers made $3.00/kg-$3.40/kg and non EU cattle $2.80/kg-$3.30/kg.
A lot of buyers were local and Western Vic producers looking to grow out their purchases into feedlot or heavy steers.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen auctioneer Josh Manser said the sale was boosted by a small increase in the fat cattle job, which was backed by rain up North.
"There's more rain needed obviously but it has shown it can rain and when it does rain again, the last two days will probably look cheap," he said.
"Feedlot steers on Thursday were fully firm to five or ten cents better than the fortnight prior."
"Some of the lighter cattle were up to 30c dearer."
Leading the way in $/kg terms was a pen of 22 March/April-drop EU Angus steers, av 341.6kg, which made $3.54/kg or $1209 for Engler Enterprises, Maaoupe.
The same vendor received $3.48/kg or $1233 for 24 steers of the same description but weighing 354kg.
Making $3.47/kg or $972 for lighter 280kg July/August-drop EU Angus steers was Beniagh Pastoral, Penola.
Beniagh Pastoral also old two July/August-drop, European Union-accredited Angus steers, av 502.5kg for $3.10/kg or $1558 - the highest price per head of the sale.
Another line to make $3.47/kg or $1110 were 17 March/April-drop, Sterita Park and JB Angus-bld EU Angus steers, av 320kg, from GB&RE Hage, Messamurray, Naracoorte.
Receiving $3.08/kg or $1536 for 12 March/April 2018-drop Angus steers, av 499kg, was S Astbury.
Another pen to eclipse $1500 was a run of 19 February/March-drop, EU Angus steers, av 442kg, from Old Fairview, Lucindale, which made $1520 or $3.44/kg.
Teys Charlton bought a heavy line of 12, 481kg November/December 2018-drop Angus steers, for $1470 or $3.06/kg from Straven, Naracoorte.
Mr Manser said heifers also sold well on Friday and were up on a fortnight ago, up to $3.32/kg for a line from Clovelly Pastoral Co, Naracoorte, bought to retain as future breeders.
He said there were a lot of turn out heifers selling from $2.80/kg-$3.10/kg.
Clovelly Pastoral received the top $/kg value for 28 March/April-drop, Duck Island and JB Angus-bld Angus heifers, av 373kg, purchased for $1240.
Making $3.16/kg or $1025 for 19 March/April-drop Charolais cross heifers, av 356.1kg, was Caulfield Partners, Harrow, Vic.
DJ&AM Galpin, Penola, sold 15 March/April-drop, Warrawindi-bld Angus heifers, av 351kg, for $1070 or $3.05/kg.
Making $1060 or $2.98/kg for 13 March/April-drop, Roseleigh and Mandayen Angus-bld Angus heifers, av 356kg, was Dunholme Props, Naracoorte.
AC Davidson & Co, Penola, sold their complete drop, the tops of which $3.08/kg or $1180 for 15 March/April-drop Angus heifers, av 383kg.
Two lighter pens from BS&SL Skeer, Penola, and Brackenlea both made $3.23/kg.
The Skeers return was for ten March/April-drop, Nampara and Wrattenbullie-bld EU heifers, av 248kg, while Brackenlea sold 14 March/April-drop, Glenstrae-bld heifers, av 254kg.
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