STRONG demand from feedlotters and restockers at Mount Gambier on Friday, resulted in store cattle prices breaking through the $2000 barrier for the first time, with most classes of cattle slightly dearer or steady, compared with prices from the June sale.
Even though the 1911 yarding was showing effects of the recent cold weather, feedlotters were very strong on heavier cattle, while restockers fought it out for the lighter and lesser quality types.
Heavy steers 450 kilograms-plus sold from $3.14/kg to $4.24/kg; Angus steers from 360-450kg made $3.80-$4.15/kg; and coloured steers 360-450kg were $3.36-$4.17/kg.
Angus steers from 320-360kg sold at prices from $3.73-$4.21/kg, coloured steers in the same weight range made $3.73-$4.13/kg.
Lighter Angus steers 280-320kg sold from $3.15-$4.62/kg, coloured steers in this weight range made from $3.17-$4.21/kg; Angus steers under 280kg sold from $3.97-$4.80/kg, coloured steers from $3.79-$3.91/kg.
Prices broke through the $2000 barrier for a draft of 12 Pasturefed Cattle Assurance Scheme-eligible 16-month-old Angus-Hereford steers, averaging 479kg, selling at $2030 or $4.24/kg for DJ&CG Sims, Mount Gambier, to Teys Australia.
Wattle View Holdings, Portland, Vic, sold 56 European Union-accredited, PCAS-eligible, Weeran-blood Angus steers, 9-10 months-old, for an average of $1258.75. Their top draft, av 307kg, sold at $1360 or $4.43/kg to Miller Whan & John, with a lighter draft av 286kg selling to Thomas DeGaris Clarkson, Penola, at $4.62/kg or $1320.
Bassendean Farms, Strathdownie, Vic, sold 24 Boonaroo-bld Angus steers, av 271kg, at $1240 or $4.58/kg and another 15 av 262kg at $1260 or the highest cents/kg steer price of $4.80/kg, both drafts selling to MWJ, Mount Gambier.
NT Scott, Drumborg, Vic, sold 36 Hereford steers for an average price of $1531; the top draft av 410kg sold at $1670 or $4.07/kg to Nampara, Lucindale, while the second draft av 349kg sold to Nutrien Keatley at $1420 or $4.07/kg.
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Heifer prices were slightly up on last month over most classes.
Heavy heifers 450kg-plus sold from $3.82/kg to $3.86/kg; 360-450kg sold from $3.64-$3.98/kg; 320-360kg sold from $3.03-$4.05/kg; 280-320kg sold from $3.29-$3.96/kg; and heifers under 280kg sold from $3.07-$4.07/kg.
Wattle View also featured in the top of the heifer prices selling 48 Weeran-bld Angus heifers, 9-10 months-old, for an average of $1041.
The top draft av 268kg sold to MWJ at $1090 or $4.07/kg - the top heifer c/kg price of the day.
Seven PCAS-eligible Angus heifers, 12-14 months-old, from WR&SK Saffin, Yahl, av 453kg made the top dollars-per-head heifers price on Friday, selling to Schubert Boers, Albury, NSW, at $1750 or $3.86/kg.
T Hunt & Son, Kalangadoo, sold 20 PCAS-eligible Angus-cross heifers, 8-10 months-old, av 279kg, at $1130 or $4.05/kg to MWJ.
The Farm, Mingbool, sold 14 Angus-cross heifers, 16-18 months-old, av 453kg, at $1730 or $3.82/kg to Schubert Boers, who also bought a second draft av 425kg at $1690 or $3.98/kg.
Yalambie, Yahl, sold 17 Angus heifers, 10-12 months-old, av 321kg, at $1300 or $4.05/kg to Hardwicks.
JK&MJ Moore, Penola, sold 10 PCAS-eligible Simmental-cross heifers, 14-15 months-old, av 371kg, at $1390 or $3.75/kg and a second draft av 350kg at $1280 or $3.66/kg to Garrison Cattle Feeders, Swan Hill, Vic.
Forty one cows with calves at-foot were offered for sale, in one of the biggest yardings in some months.
These sold to a top of $2720 for six Angus first- to third-calvers with six Angus CAF from GJ&DJ Koenig, Dartmoor, Vic, which were bought by Nutrien Ag, Millicent.
S Cameron, Claywells, sold two Angus heifers, running back with Angus bulls, with two Angus CAF at $2280 to MWJ, who also bought 14 PCAS-eligible and EU-accredited Hereford second calvers, not rejoined, with 15 May/June-drop Yerwal-bld Angus-cross CAF at $2180 from Sunray Pastoral, Hatherleigh.
A complete herd dispersal of 133 Pathfinder-bld mixed age Angus cows PTIC to Angus bulls from Noola South, Hamilton, Vic, sold for an average of $1331, the top draft selling at $1620 to Nutrien Ag Hamilton, Vic.
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