NARACOORTE
Yarding: 1380
Steers to $1720, av$1246
Heifers to $1472, av$1124
Cows with calves to $1780, av $1651
HEAVY cattle were slightly cheaper than last month but light weights held firm at the Naracoorte combined agents monthly store cattle sale on Thursday.
It was another very small crowd with the sale strictly limited to agents and active buyers in these COVID-19 times.
There were a few orders from NSW but the majority of the 1380 head yarding stayed locally with Mount Gambier based agents Miller Whan & John and Creek Livestock active buyers.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen agent Ashley Braun, Penola, said buyers seemed to have come with a minimum dollar figure in mind ensuring the lighter weights sold well.
"Everyone seemed to have $1100 to $1200 to buy steers and $1000 to $1100 for heifers no matter what weight they were," he said.
He quoted feeder steers as 5c/kg cheaper than the March sale but said the biggest drop was for those middle run steers (320kg to 400kg) which were 10c/kg to 15c/kg cheaper, while light weights were unchanged.
"Most of our grown steers 400 to 460kg made $1530 to $1570, while those 380kg to 400kg changed hands at $1220 to $1370 and light weights were in strong demand with those 260kg to 300kg making $1150 to $1240," he said.
"Heavy grown heifers were tough enough with no real feeder competition on them with 460kg Shorthorn heifers making $1240 and Hereford heifers weighing 416kg making $1150."
Mr Braun said it was a mixed quality yarding with many showing signs of the upcoming winter and mainly small lines of eight to 10 head per vendor.
Top price steer honours went to PJ Harrold Pty Ltd, Penola, with four Boonaroo blood Angus steers weighing 508.8kg.
They were snapped up by Atron Enterprises for $1720.
PJ Harrold Pty Ltd were one of the sale's volume vendors with their 39 March-April 2019 drop steers and 90 heifers averaging $1277.
AJ&ST Angel, Woolumbool, sold four Simmental-Shorthorn cross steers for $3.72/kg equating to $1544.
Autumn 2019 drop Red Angus-Charolais crosses from SL&VK Clarke, Avenue Range, made $1470 to Schubert and Boers, Lavington, NSW.
The same buyer also bought 16, 368kg Angus steers from MC&C Agnew, Millicent, for $1370.
SA&GE Smith, Lakala, Lucindale, averaged $4.06/kg for 77 well-bred Angus steers averaging 306kg.
Dicker Earthmoving, Kingston SE, notched up one of the best steer cents a kilogram rates with 26, 9-10 month old Angus making $4.30/kg when the 289kg made $1240.
Morundah Props, Bool Lagoon, averaged an impressive $4.21/kg, or $1081 for 32 August/Sepetmber 2019 drop Angus steers weighing 256kg.
Hardwick Meats, Kyneton, Vic, secured the sale's top price heifers- three Murray Greys from MJW&JL Wyndham, Copeville which made $3.32/kg or $1472.
Longtrail Farms, Parilla, sold 12 Angus heifers, 392 kilograms for $1360 to Atron Enterprises.
Hislop Nominees, Stewart Range, received $1110 for two pens of Angus heifers, 11 weighing 302kg and another 19 weighing 292kg.
The whole store market is based on how much the north is prepared to pay.
- DARREN MANEY
Oakland Park sold the top cows with calves with its10 head knocked down to PPH&S Naracoorte for $1780.
Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson director Darren Maney was "absolutely delighted" to see well-bred Angus heifers from the Harrolds making up to $3.70/kg
"With the COVID-19 restrictions it is always worrying times before the sale but since it has happened we have had three of the better sales for the year," he said.
"The whole store market is based on how much the north is prepared to pay, we saw some little black steers making $4/kg to $4.30/kg."
Mr Maney said high prices were enticing some of those who had held weaners from January sales to fatten them to cash in a few months early.
"In isolation you might be able to get $3.20 to $3.30/kg at the feedlot but if you can sell those same not quite feeder type cattle for $3.70/kg I can see where they are coming from," he said.
"Every processor is complaining about selling product so you'd have to be a pretty naive person not to think there won't be some impact on the market due to COVID-19."
But Mr Braun said he was expecting the market to remain firm.
"I can't see it jumping but I can't see it much cheaper either with $3.60/kg to $3.80/kg for feeder steers and lighter cattle in that $3.70/kg to $4/kg," he said.
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