NARACOORTE
Yarding: 1385
Steers to $2013, av $1503
Heifers to $1901, av $1392
PTIC cows to $1700
HEAVY feeder steers sold to similar rates at the Naracoorte combined agents' monthly store cattle sale last Thursday on the previous month, but it was the lighter weight cattle where prices soared.
The majority of the 1385 head yarding made $4.20-$4.60/kg, but lightweight steers 260kg and under made $5/kg up to $6.05/kg which many agents considered the highest cents a kilogram rate that they had ever seen at the yards.
The most extreme rates were for 29 six month old Angus calves offered by Ken Sawers, Canowie, Coonalpyn
The 213kg, Ravenswood and Coolana bloods made $1290, while another 25 also from Canowie weighing 265kg, sold for $1370.
Elders Naracoorte livestock manager Josh Reeves, who sold the $6.05/kg steers, said the sale was "above expectations" but driven by confidence in the season and buyers looking to fill their paddocks.
"If vendors aren't happy with the rates today there is no pleasing them," Elders southern livestock manager Laryn Gogel added.
VJ&MK Patrick, Coonawarra, claimed both the top price steer and heifer honours - albeit with a single animal of each.
Their 550kg steer made $2013 to Creek Livestock, Mount Gambier, while their 490kg heifer sold for $3.88/kg, equating to $1901 a head.
JD Cooper, Struan, received $2000 for the sale's opening pen- seven 505kg May/June 2019-drops with plenty of frame.
They were knocked down to Thomas Foods International who secured about 90 head.
Among TFI's tally were 16 Landfall bld Angus, April/May 2019-drops from Moyhall Pastoral, Naracoorte, for $1940. They weighed 457kg.
Heathdale, Stewart Range, received $1860 for 17 EU Pathfinder blds of the same age, also going to TFI.
Eldra, Naracoorte, had the $1800 highest priced Poll Hereford steers with 20 EU Bendulla and Eldra blds, weighing 450kg.
Strong demand for EU cattle continued to the October/November 2019 drop black baldy and Poll Hereford offering from MacLachlan Props, Pewsey Vale.
These sold up to $4.58/kg for 19, 315.3kg steers, equating to $1444.
Miller Whan & John,Mount Gambier, snapped up all three pens of MacLachlans heifers, 34 head ranging from 293kg to 323kg, for $4.34/kg.
Many heifers made $4/kg plus and up to with the strength of the market still feedlotters and processors rather than producers looking to buy replacements.
GR Foster & Co, Bool Lagoon, received $1750 for 20 March/April 2019-drop Shorthorn heifers weighing 450kg.
Pegler Pastoral, Beachport, sold 15 Stoney Point and Yerwal Estate blds, 418kg for $1650 to Schubert & Boers, Lavington, NSW.
The following pen 16 EU Angus heifers, 420kg, from Heathdale made $1640 to Princess Royal, Burra.
The Mid North based feedlotter also snapped up two pens of Duck Island composite bld heifers from Duck Island, Keith for $1430; the first 26 weighing 331kg and another 11 weighing 345kg.
Roma Downs, Keith, topped the breeding female category with their six 2010 to 2015 drop, EU Angus cows in calf to Stoney Point Angus bulls. They made $1700 to PPHS Naracoorte.
It all comes down to dollars a head, everyone seemed to have $1100 to $1200 to buy a steer, it doesn't matter how light they are.
- ASHLEY BRAUN
PPHS Penola-based agent Ashley Braun said heavy steers were similar to quoted medium weight steers $20 to $50 a head.
The biggest rise was the lightweight cattle could have been $80 to $100 than the previous month.
'It all comes down to dollars a head, everyone seemed to have $1100 to $1200 to buy a steer, it doesn't matter how light they are," he said.
"It was the same with heifers everyone buying seemed to have $980 to $1030
Mr Braun said it may "seem crazy" to be paying $1500 to $1650 for a steer to feed or put back in the paddock but producers were still getting "good money" at the other end so the changeover was still attractive.
"Talking to agents and buyers in NSW it is appears our cattle are still as cheap as anywhere here with plenty of cattle making $5.50/kg to $6/kg in the north," he said.
"A lot of grass finishers that normally buy their runs of cattle in the May-June markets are still trying to top up and get their cattle together.
"My gut feeling is the job will be pretty solid right through spring and even through to next year just due to the lack of numbers and demand from the eastern seaboard where they have grass everywhere."
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