NARACOORTE
Yarding: 1049
Steers to $2080, av $1470
Heifers to $1860, av $1290
Cows with calves to $2280, av $2160
Big price jumps were seen across most categories at the Naracoorte combined agents' monthly store cattle sale last Thursday compared to the July sale, in line with the red hot prime market.
Most feeder steers made $4.20 a kilogram to $4.35/kg, with a 10-20c/kg premium for EU cattle ,while medium weights made $4.20-$4.70/kg.
There was less weight in the 1049 head yarding than previous months but light weight steers made up to $5.25/kg for a pen of 240kg Angus steers.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen's Scott Bittner said rates rose 20-30c/kg on last month's sale which he attributed to the good season across a wide geographical area.
"The shortage of cattle is starting to be seen and it is definitely evident in the statistics of slaughter cattle which had picked up to somewhere around 160,000 a week but I think are now back to 90,000 to 100,000 a week," he said.
The only exception was heavier feeder heifers which Mr Bittner said reported a more modest rise.
RELATED: Mount Gambier steers peak at $1900
"The majority of the people coming into the market are people that have been selling with exceptional money - it is very difficult for someone not already in the market to buy," he said.
" I'd describe Tuesday's fat sale as one of the dearest for the year."
Mr Bittner expected prices to remain at similar levels in the short-term but said predicting the medium to long term was more difficult.
"Knowing we have the dearest beef in the world there is a worry about how long we can sustain that," he said.
One of Mr Bittner's clients, Jacdavlyn, Kingston SE, topped the steer yarding with their 18 Granite Ridge blood, EU Angus making $2080.
The 476kg steers were knocked down to Hopkins River Beef, Vic, who put together nearly 160 head.
Hopkins River also bought 24 Angus steers from Murradale, Langkoop, weighing 423kg for $1800.
Stony Rise, Coonawarra, received $4.22/kg for six autumn 2019 drop, 467.5kg, EU Herefords which sold to Princess Royal feedlot, Burra, equating to $1973, while four Angus from the same vendor made $4.34/kg.
Six Angus, 458kg, steers from Deepwater made $1850 to TFI.
TFI also bought 14 Boonaroo bld Angus, 428kg from Twistydale, Millicent, for $1780 and not far behind Kangaringa Farms, Keith, received $1740 for 9 Angus and Angus-Herefords.
These 396kg EU cattle also sold to Princess Royal.
Feeder weight heifers made $3.80/kg to $4/kg but the lighest heifers hit $5/kg.
Agars and Doecke, Tintinara, sold the top dollars a head heifers with nine 483kg Angus which made $1860 to Woodwards.
The Bull Oak Well and Roseleigh blds were April-May 2019 drop.
GG&JJ Hinze notched up $3.90/kg for five Shorthorn heifers, weighing 468kg, equating to $1825.
These were bought by Westside Meats.
Creek Livestock, Mount Gambier,were active heifer buyers.
Their tally included 21 406kg Angus from Tyeka Partners, Meningie, for $1550 as well as 15 from Tirrike Farms, Naracoorte for $1436.
Tirrike Farms were also among the high prices in the steers with eight milk and two tooth steers, weighing 450.6kg, selling for $4.18/kg or $1881.
HL Robertson, Kingston, achieved strong prices for both Angus steers which sold to a $4.34/kg and heifers which broke the $4/kg mark.
The heaviest 16 November-December 2019 drop, Glatz Black Angus bld heifers, 343kg sold to TDC for $1360, while another nine weighing 297kg made $1200.
Petschel Nominees, Millicent, received $2280 for nine mixed age Angus cows with young calves.
Elders Lucindale agent Scott Christie said the market was 10-15c/kg stronger than he anticipated and heifers were "considerably better" again.
He said while the lamb job had softened considerably the cattle market had continued to strengthen.
This was making it "daunting" for those trying to step into the store market but for those who were selling feeders for $1600 to $1800 at a similar time the changeover was no big deal.
"I've got fellas that would love to step up but unless they pay four figures they can't - there were 180 to 200kg calves making $1000 and even 220 to 240kg light heifers up around the same mark."
Mr Christie said with many in NSW and Qld taking the attractive feeder money on offer rather than holding onto them for an extra year and finishing them on grass as bullocks he expected SE grass finishers to be in a strong marketing position in coming months for these types.
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