THE Herculean cattle market is defying any predictions of an impending slump, with already red-hot prices strengthening at the Strathalbyn store sale on Friday.
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With a full capacity yarding of 1100 cattle, feeder steer rates rose by 20 to 30 cents a kilogram with lighter steers firm to 10c stronger on last market.
Heifers increased by 30 to 40c/kg, with Elders Strathalbyn agent Danny Reynolds saying they were very much in demand as future breeders.
Elders quoted 330kg plus steers at $5.05/kg, 250 to 330kg steers at $5.45/kg and those under 250kg at $6.15/kg, while 250-350kg heifers were quoted at $5/kg and heifers below 250kg at $5.35/kg.
In the Nutrien yarding, 360kg plus steers sold from $4.77-$4.98/kg, 300-360kg from $4.57-$5.43/kg, 250-300kg from $5-$5.64/kg and steers under 250kg from $5.72-$5.77/kg.
Heifers from 300-360kg made $4.55-$5.20/kg, those in the 250-300kg range made from $4.86-$5.44/kg and those under 250kg made from $5.22-$5.63.
Nutrien Strathalbyn agent Ben Dickenson said off the back of the strength of Friday's sale, another would be scheduled for July 2.
"We were confident it was going to be a good sale," he said.
"It was a good yarding from both agencies, with the weight and quality really good for this time of year.
"The yarding ranged from local Hills and Fleurieu cattle to cattle from the Upper South East and Kangaroo Island."
Mr Reynolds said lighter Angus steers and heifers made especially good money on Friday and while everyone is having a stab at predicting when the market will slump, he doesn't think it will happen anytime soon.
"There has always been the worry that the meat job and the store job are going two different ways and eventually the meat job would pull it back," he said.
"However, Argentina has just cancelled their exports and America's grinding beef prices are skyrocketing so that would suggest the job's going to stay up for a while yet because where else are they going to get their meat from (but Australia)?"
Making top money for steers was MG Green, Woodside, who received $1950 or $4.79/kg for 18 Angus steers, av 407kg, from Thomas Foods International.
Arkuba Farm made $1900 or $5.15/kg for 13 of their Angus steers, av 369kg, and $1890 or $5.12/kg for another 12 of the same weight to TFI.
Princess Royal were the winning bidders on 16 Murray Grey steers, av 385kg, from Glenellen Poultry, Jervois, paying $1880 or $4.88/kg.
GB&WR Schenke, Brinkley, offloaded four Angus steers, av 381kg, to TFI for $1880 or $4.93/kg.
Making $1870 or $4.95/kg for eight Angus/Simmental steers, av 378kg, were Bowles Nominees, Mount Compass.
Princess Royal snapped up five Poll Hereford steers, av 375kg, for $1860 or $4.96/kg from Sweetham Hill, Milang.
On a $/kg basis, 14 Angus steers, av 237kg, from R Ceravolo & Co, Oakbank, made $6.33/kg or $1500.
Two pens of Angus steers, 26 in total and av 253kg, from Reichstein Pastoral, Field, were knocked down for $1560 or $6.17/kg.
Kangaroo Island vendors L&M Bruce made $5.91/kg or $1370 for 16, 232kg steers, while 14 Shorthorn steers, av 220kg, from fellow KI vendors MJ&M Tremaine were knocked down for $5.77/kg or $1270.
Making $5.74/kg or $1480 for seven Angus steers, av 258kg, were C&K Moore, while Adelaide Hills vendors B&S Jungfer, received $5.72/kg or $1620 for nine 283kg Angus steers.
Heifers topped at $1780 or $4.60/kg for 386kg Red Polls from P&C Mignanelli, Mount Compass, while the lighter end reached $5.55/kg or $1300.
SA&ML Mumford, Parndana, KI, received $1670 or $4.77/kg for 17 Angus/Simmental heifers, av 350kg, with 12 Newlyn Park, Willalooka, Angus heifers, av 319kg, skyrocketing to $1660 or $5.20/kg.
Another 18 Angus heifers, av 340kg, from Lallawa Grazing, Meningie, sold for $1630 or $4.79/kg, while 13 Angus heifers, av 318kg, from JL Hausler, made $1630 or $5.12/kg.
Reaching $5.55/kg were 16 Angus heifers, av 234kg, from R Ceravolo & Co, with 11 Limousin cross heifers, av 240kg, from L&M Bruce, making $1290 or $5.37/kg, and eight Angus, av 227kg, from C&K Moore, sold for $1220 or $5.37/kg.
There was a modest selection of cows and calves on offer but they met good demand, with 12 Black Baldy cows with Broomfield Angus-blood calves at foot from Riggs & Sons selling for $2800.
Nine 470kg Angus heifers, pregnancy-tested-in-calf to an Angus bull, from D&M Gray attracted a winning bid of $2200.
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