Bidding on steers passes $2000 at Mt Gambier

Heavy Angus steers weighing 450 kilograms-plus sold easier from $3.27/kg to $4.12/kg, while coloured steers also eased to $3.64-$3.91/kg.

Angus steers from 360-450kg sold on par with November prices, making from $4.03-$4.62 /kg, as did coloured steers 360-450kg, returning $3.66-$4.55/kg. Angus steers from 320-360kg sold slightly easier from $4.18-$5/kg, with coloured steers in the same weight range slightly dearer at $4.04-$4.97/kg.

Lighter Angus steers, 280-320kg, sold cheaper, from $4.10-$5.37/kg, and coloured steers in this category rose slightly to $4.22-$5.36/kg. Angus steers under 280kg sold stronger at $4.98-$6.10/kg, as did coloured steers under 280kg, making $5.42-$5.52/kg.

The top price per head came for a draft of 16 Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System-eligible Hereford steers, weighing 563kg at 15 to 16 months, sold by AB,BE&SD Feast, Port Macdonnell, and bought by Creek Livestock at $2050 or $3.64/kg.

MJ&HJ Ruwoldt, Yahl, sold 14 Pathfinder-blood Angus steers, 519kg, at $2020 or $3.89/kg to JBS Australia and A Izzo, Wandilo, sold 13 PCAS Angus steers, 12-14mo and 484kg, at $1990 or $4.11/kg to Garrison Feedlot.

Related reading: November sale report - Mt Gambier prices rise again

ST&J Hawke, Glencoe, sold 22 Stoney Point and Pathfinder-bld Angus steers, 9-10mo and 254kg, for the top price/kg of $6.10/kg, or $1550, to Green Triangle Livestock. The Hawke family sold 86 Angus steers in total with weights from 254-347kg for an average of $1560.

Avonlea, Strathdownie, Vic, sold 12, 15mo PCAS Hereford-crosses, 501kg, at $1940 or $3.87/kg to JBS Australia, with a second draft, 16-17mo and 496kg, also selling at $1940 or $3.91/kg to Garrison.

Gasparini Storage, Moorak, sold 90, 14-16mo Angus steers, weighing 412-448kg for an average of $1840. Their top draft sold to Teys Australia at $1970 or $4.40/kg.

Bamboa, Strathdownie, sold 86 PCAS and European Union-accredited Borderdowns-bld Angus and Angus-crosses, 305-430kg at 9-10mo, for an average of $1553. JBS Australia bought Bamboa's heaviest draft at $1780 or $4.14/kg, with Green Triangle Livestock buying 16 of the 256kg lighter steers for $1440 or $5.63/kg.

Holmes Livestock, Mumbannar, Vic, sold 229 Weeran, Banquet and Pathfinder-bld Angus steers, 9-10mo and 271-372kg, averaging $1614. Their top draft sold at $1685 or $4.53/kg to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson Penola, while a 271kg lighter draft sold to Miller Whan & John at $1460 or $5.39/kg.

Related reading: Saleyard business reflects slow herd rebuild

Mandala, Kalangadoo, sold 83 PCAS and EU February/March 2020-drop Angus and Angus-crosses weighing 315-386kg for an average of $1649. The tops sold to commission buyer Duncan Brown at $1670 or $4.33/kg, with a 315kg draft selling to Mount Gambier agents O'Connor & Graney at $1600 or $5.08.kg.

A Childs, Glencoe, sold 19, 10mo PCAS Charolais steers, 397kg, at $1750 or $4.41/kg to Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson Penola, while a 330kg second draft sold to Elders Mount Gambier at $1510 or $4.58/kg.

C&G McGregor, Mil Lel, sold 14 Murray Grey steers, 383kg at 8-9mo, at $1610 or $4.20 to Karunye Park Family Trust, with Miller Whan & John paying $1530 or $4.78/kg for a 320kg draft.

Miller Whan & John bought 11 March/April 2020-drop Hereford-Simmental steers, 323kg, at $1470 or $4.55/kg, and seven March/April 2020 Angus-Hereford steers, 259kg, at $1430 or $5.52/kg from Heronslea, Dismal Swamp.

N&EM Fry sold 87 Kirraweena and Ardno-bld Hereford steers, 277-356kg, for an average of $1541. Dale Keatley, Mount Gambier, bought the top draft at $1650 or $4.63/kg, with a lighter draft, 277kg, selling to O'Connor & Graney at $1500 or $5.42/kg.

TW&DL Flint, Kingston SE, sold a draft of South Bundarra and Yamburgen-bld Shorthorns, 365kg, at $1580 or $4.33/kg to Nutrien Adelaide, plus a lighter draft, 289kg, to O'Connor & Graney at $1300 or $4.50/kg.

Leigh Kent, Millicent, bought 130 steers including 25 EU, Injemira-bld Herefords, 291kg, at $1560 or $5.36/kg from Belgrave, Mumbannar; 34 Stoney Point and Pathfinder-bld Angus, 304kg, at $1550 or $5.10/kg from ST&J Hawke, Glencoe; and 15 EU, Lynton Park-bld Angus-crosses, 306kg, at $1560 or $5.10/kg from Bruce's Farm.

Green Triangle Livestock was a strong bidder on steers between 250-360kg and bought 135 head, including seven Angus, 6-8mo and 276kg, at $1510 or $5.47/kg from Burrossi; eight PCAS Lawson-bld Angus, 271kg, at $1480 or $5.46/kg from T&D Dent; and six Angus-crosses, 304kg, at $1550 or $5.10kg from G Prosperi Porta.

Related reading: The great rebuild - what's 'normal' for Aust's cattle herd now?

Heifers were also slightly cheaper across most weight classes, except 360-450kg heifers, which sold dearer, at $3.89-$4.87/kg. Heifers weighing 320-360kg sold cheaper, from $3.22 to $4.49/kg; 280-320kg heifers were also cheaper, at $3.82-$4.91/kg, and heifers under 280kg made $3.86-$4.49/kg.

The top price/hd went to Kushoon, Mount Gambier, for 11 PCAS Shorthorn heifers, 388kg at 10-12mo, at $1890 or $4.87/kg, paid by Nutrien Adelaide. A 324kg lighter draft made $1190 or $3.67/kg to Green Triangle Livestock.

ST&J Hawke, Glencoe, sold 68, 9-10mo Stoney Point and Pathfinder-bld Angus heifers averaging $1353, with a 291kg draft making the top price/kg of $4.91/kg, equating to $1430, paid by Southern Australian Livestock.

Neathvale, Heywood, Vic, sold 21, 13mo Angus and Angus-cross heifers, 433kg, at $1690 or $3.90/kg to Jamie Bellinger; R&S Kenny, Mount Gambier, sold five PCAS Euro heifers, 376kg, at $1610 or $4.28/kg to Nutrien, and Patanga Pastoral, Avenue Range, sold 23 Temana-bld Charolais-cross heifers, 305kg, at $1360 or $4.46/kg to Miller Whan & John.

Rainbow Waters, Kongorong, sold 55 Angus-cross heifers weighing from 272-334kg for an average of $1306, with the 297kg top draft making $1350 or $4.55/kg to Leigh Kent, Millicent.

Miller Whan & John bought 17 South Bundarra and Yamburgen-blood Shorthorn heifers, 369kg, at $1600 or $4.34/kg and a second draft, 295kg, at $1190 or $4.03/kg from TW&DL Flint, Kingston SE, as well as 17 South Bundarra and Yamburgen-bld Shorthorn heifers, 380kg, at $1600 or $4.21/kg from ER&GF Flint, Kingston SE.

A minimal offering of 16 cows with calves at-foot topped at $2750, paid by Miller Whan & John for two Angus-cross cows with two CAF from A Stutchberry, Gorae West, Vic. Wonganoo, Mount Gambier, sold four Saler cows with four CAF, not rejoined, at $2440 to John King.

A secondary offering of pregnancy-tested in-calf females topped at $2200, for 11 PTIC Angus-cross cows from Dunromun, Vic, sold to Green Triangle Livestock, while 20 Hereford cows, PTIC to Days Whiteface Hereford bulls, made $1900 for CN&JA Paltridge, Lucindale.