STRATHALBYN
Yarding: 670
Steers to $1980 & $6.86/kg
Heifers to $1700 & $6.60/kg
BOTH agencies conducting the Strathalbyn store cattle sale, on Friday last week, were impressed by the quality and number of cattle on offer for a July sale.
Nutrien Strathalbyn livestock sales manager Ben Dickenson said prices on the Nutrien portion were firm to even a fraction stronger than those received in late May.
"I was surprised by the numbers (more than 600 head)," he said.
"We haven't had a July sale in a long, long time. Our market is gaining in strength and the vendors and buyers know they are going to be regular so that is helping pull cattle into the sale."
Mr Dickenson quoted 300 kilogram plus steers at $5-$5.30/kg, 250-300kg steers at $5.26-$5.78 and 200-250kg steers at $5.31-$6.80/kg.
Heifers weighing 300-360kg made $4.80-$5.40/kg and those weighing 200-250kg received $5-$5.95/kg.
Elders Strathalbyn's Danny Reynolds said while the average weight of the yarding was considerably lighter than that in late May, the quality was surprisingly good for this time of year.
He said a handful of pens were heavy enough to suit feedlotters, with the majority of weaners weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms and better suited to restockers.
The Elders steer portion was estimated to be back about five cents/kg overall, while heifers were 5-10c/kg dearer with producers looking to rebuild their herds the main reason behind that increase.
Topping the market with the heaviest steers on offer was Garry Paine, Rosehill Farm, Harrogate.
His eight Angus/Murray Grey steers, av 380kg, made $1960 or $5.16/kg, with 10 Angus steers, av 388kg, demanding $1980 or $5.10/kg from Thomas Foods International and a further 9 Angus, av 358kg, receiving $1870 or $5.22/kg from the same buyer.
Mr Paine, who runs 50 breeders at Harrogate, said these were the first cattle he'd sold since being affected by the Cudlee Creek fire in December 2019.
Topping the $/kg stakes were seven lightweight Speckle Park/Angus steers. The 175kg November 2020-drop cattle from Wade & Farmer, Myponga, fetched $1200 or $6.86/kg
A pen of 12 vendor-bred Angus steers, av 225kg, from Raeburn Rural, Strathalbyn, were met with plenty of interest and were knocked down for $1430 or $6.36/kg.
Selling 12 Angus & Black Baldy steers, av 233kg, for $1400 or $6.01/kg was VJ Dowling.
Muster Enterprises, Lobethal, received $1420 or $5.80/kg for 14 steers, av 245kg.
Receiving $1680 or $5.73/kg for 9 Charolais/Murray Grey steers, av 293kg, was W Baraiolo.
Caleb Pratt, Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, sold 12 Angus/Simmental steers, av 256kg, for $1480 or $5.78/kg
Jamieson Trust, Macclesfield, sold four Angus steers, av 321kg, for $1700 or $5.30/kg, while TFI bought 13 Black Baldy steers, av 329kg, for $1740 or $5.29/kg from RL Carmichael, Weetulta.
Topping the heifer yarding were two PTIC Pathfinder-blood Angus heifers, av 520kg, from Vella Wines, Mount Torrens, which sold for $2050 and two dry 515kg heifers of the same description for $1700 to TFI.
R Palma & Sons, Hahndorf, made $1550 or $5.12/kg for ten Angus heifers, av 303kg, with Jamieson Trust receiving $1670 or $5.39/kg for eight Angus heifers, av 310kg.
Making $1220 or $5.65/kg for 26 September/October-drop Angus heifers, av 216kg, was Raeburn Rural.
Getting close to the $6/kg mark were 13 Angus/Simmental heifers, av 200kg, from Caleb Pratt, which made $1190 or $5.95/kg.
AT&JK Brown, Birdwood, sold 12 Angus heifers, av 302kg, for $1600 or $5.30/kg.
There was about 50 cows with calves-at-foot on offer and it was four Hereford cows, with five April-drop Simmental cross calves at foot, from Echunga Livestock that made the top money at $2580.
Nutrien and Elders are aiming to hold another store sale in late August depending on numbers, and will advise vendors and buyers in due course if it is likely to eventuate.
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