THE trend for high returns at the 2021 weaner sales continued at Strathalbyn on Friday with prices reaching $1880 for heavy stock, while lighter steers reached a cents per kilogram high of $5.83/kg.
Elders Strathalbyn's Danny Reynolds called the sale an "absolute scorcher", in line with recent markets interstate and in the South East.
He said "very high demand" for restockers was caused by good seasonal conditions in the eastern states "pushing the whole chain up".
While most of the demand for cattle at Strathalbyn came from within SA, including the Riverland, South East and local, Mr Reynolds said prices were still driven by interstate conditions.
Nutrien Livestock Strathalbyn's Ben Dickenson said prices had likely reached a saleyard record on a cents per kilogram basis.
He agreed the price hike was largely driven by good grass supply, particularly in the east.
"I guess (cattle) are going to get harder to find from now on," he said.
He said the cattle had presented in good quality and "very fresh".
The sale topped at $1880 for a pen of 11, 436kg February/March-drop Angus steers from R Palma & Sons, Balhannah, which equated to $4.31/kg.
The same vendor offered another eight, 378kg, which made $1700 or $4.50/kg.
R&G Johnson Inv, Ashbourne, kicked off the sale with 12, 413kg March/April-drop Angus at $1860 or $4.50/kg.
WR Hart, Meadows, sold 10, 332kg March/April-drop Angus at $1610 or $4.85/kg.
A McLean, Mount Compass, sold nine, 368kg April-drop Angus at $1665 or $4.52/kg.
DB&HP Wright, Macclesfield, sold nine, 362kg March/April-drop Angus-crosses at $1645 or $4.54/kg.
Lorndan Noms, Gumeracha, sold 21, 342kg February/March-drop Angus at $1620 or $4.73/kg.
The same vendor has a run of 13, 283kg Angus made $1460 or $5.16/kg.
Calana Heights, Stokes Bay, had 18, 320kg May/June-drop Angus make $1590 or $4.97/kg, as well as 16, 290kg, make $1540 or $5.31/kg.
A third run of seven, 270kg, made $1470 or $5.44/kg.
A Saturno Noms, Macclesfield, offered 28, 290kg April/May-drop Angus, which made $1560 or $5.38/kg.
GN&CS Smith, Kingscote, sold 10, 285kg May/June-drop Angus at $1520 or $5.33/kg.
TD&TL Smart, Harrogate, had 12, 266kg March/April-drop Angus make $1470 or $5.52kg.
Hallfam Pty Ltd, Hope Forest, offered 16, 268kg March/April-drop Angus at $1470 or $5.48/kg.
NB Thorpe, Meadows, topped the market on the dollars a kilogram rate with 17, 210kg Angus-crosses making $1225 or $5.83/kg.
RD,LP&DA Howard, Penneshaw, sold 12, 233kg June/July-drop Murray Grey and Murray Grey-crosses at $1300 or $5.58kg, while a run of 18, 255kg made $1320 or $5.17/kg and 15, 277kg made $1400 or $5.05/kg.
RW Young, Parndana, had 20, 248kg May/June-drop Angus-crosses make $1340 or $5.40/kg.
CJ&KM Stapleton, Kingscote, sold six, 248kg April/June Angus at the same price.
Heifer prices were also high, with a run of 19, 254kg April to June-drop Angus from CJ&KM Stapleton making $1300 or $5.12/kg while 12, 222kg made $1220 or $5.45/kg.
Tabor Park, Lobethal, sold 18, 307kg at $1405 or $4.57/kg.
R Palma & Sons offered 12, 374kg February/March-drop Angus, which made $1580 or $4.22/kg.
Upper Rodwell Creek, Wistow, sold 19, 287kg March/April-drop at $1380 or $4.81/kg.
WR Hart sold five, 251kg Herefords, which made $1220 or $4.86/kg.
Hallfam Pty Ltd, had a run of 30 March/April-drop Angus, with 15 at 287kg making $1405 or $4.90/kg while the reaminder at 250kg made $1330 or $5.32/kg.
NB Thorpe sold 18, 211kg at $1080 or $5.12/kg.
Another weaner cattle sale will be held at Strathalbyn on January 22.
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Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
