The state's stud breeders are expected to gain their share of the spectacular cattle market highs, with agents agreeing bull sale averages could lift 10 per cent to 20pc - or more - on 2020's stellar season.
In the next few weeks, more than 1500 bulls will be offered at SA's on-property sales, including 940 in Angus Week alone.
Clearances are expected to again be very high and agents are encouraging buyers to bid up in auctions with far fewer herd bulls available in the paddock this year.
Many studs filled pastoral orders in November and December last year.
Spence Dix & Co director and auctioneer Jono Spence said it was "just" that stud breeders should receive higher prices too.
"Once the cattle market broke through the $3 a kilogram barrier last year we didn't think it could get much stronger but it has," he said. "Compared to when we had last year's sales, we are 80 cents/kg to $1/kg up on most grades of cattle and we have seen a number of bulls to the kill making $3000-plus so it (prices) should all be relative."
He says uncertainty about sudden border closures could prevent individual top price records from being broken, with many interstate stud breeders more cautious about attending sales, but is confident the accumulated average across all sales this season will easily be a record.
"I don't see that we'll get the extreme averages seen at NSW sales in late winter and into spring, we never do, but I expect the prices will be solid right through all the breeds," he said.
"There will be sales averaging $10,000 or a bit better, I just don't know how many."
Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall says he "would not be surprised" if averages jumped $1500 to $2000.
There will be sales averaging $10,000 or a bit better, I just don't know how many.
- JONO SPENCE, Spence Dix & Co
"All the signs are there to set records; the season is good, it is raining in the right places and there is a lot of confidence in the industry," he said. "In some pastoral areas they need another good rain to set them up but there is no doubt we are in a stronger position than this time last year."
Mr Wetherall said buyers would be prepared to buy "the right bulls at the right price" and would look for a balance of traits, but particularly mid maturity and good eye muscle area, positive fat and good intramuscular fat.
He expected base prices to be $4500 or more.
"It is where it is, there are a lot of costs involved for studs in producing these bulls," he said.
Nutrien SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood said based purely on comparing cattle prices in 2020 and 2021, there could be a 40pc increase in averages at bull sales but he was realistic this was more likely to be a 15-20pc rise.
"All the stars have aligned but I am also very aware that we don't have a massive herd in SA, unlike the eastern states where they have a lot more competition at their sales," he said.
"If sales in previous years had averaged $6000 to $7000 I would not be surprised if they are $8000-$8500."
Mr Wood says online selling platforms such as AuctionsPlus will remain a big part of sales, maximising competition and offering potential buyers the convenience of bidding from home.
He urged buyers to bid up at sales or risk missing out.
"By the time we get to the end of Angus Week I don't think there will be many bulls in the paddock. We will see people scrambling to buy bulls through the sales and as the sales are finishing, people will be trying to buy privately at that place," he said.
"This is the most confident I have been in 15 years in stud stock heading into bull sales, the perfect storm would be another six inches in the bush before the sales."
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