STORE cattle prices continued their meteoric rise at the Mount Gambier market on Friday, surging into new territory again, with rates from $5 a kilogram to $6/kg becoming more the norm than the exception.
An exceptional yarding of 2054 quality cattle drew robust competition, dominated by the regular feedlotters on the heavier lines of both Angus and coloured steers, leaving restockers to battle it out for the lighter weights.
Chris Manser, Green Triangle Livestock, said the yarding was of excellent quality.
"As good as you'd usually see in November/December - with some good, even lines of steers offered which suited the feedlots down to the ground," he said.
"The top end heifers sold extremely well, with lighter heifers weighing from 220-260kg selling at around $1300-$1500, which is pretty good money for a smaller animal."
Angus steers 450kg-plus sold from $5.02-$5.65/kg; coloured steers 450kg-plus made $4.93-5.40/kg; Angus steers 360-450kg sold from $5.50-$6.37/kg; coloured steers 360-450kg made from $4.88-$5.86/kg.
Angus steers from 320-360kg sold from $5.59-$6.31/kg, coloured steers in the same weight range, sold $5.13-$5.66/kg.
Lighter Angus steers 280-320kg sold from $5.57-$6.52/kg, the coloured steers in this weight range selling from $5.26-$6.53/kg; Angus steers under 280kg sold $5.87-$7.93/kg and coloured steers under 280kg sold $5.36-$6.79/kg.
In a first for the Mount Gambier store market, the first two races of Angus steers all made over $2000.
The top dollars a head price of $2800 was achieved by EJ, TM, JC&BJ Allen, Kongorong, with eight Angus steers averaging 509kg equating to $5.50/kg selling to Teys Australia, while another 15 Angus and Angus-cross steers, av 554kg at 14 months, sold at $2780 or $5.02/kg to Thomas Foods International.
Matt Heinrich for TFI was a strong contender on Angus steers weighing 350kg-plus, paying $2770 or $5.56/kg for 21 Pasturefed Cattle Assurance Scheme-eligible Pathfinder and Six Creek-blood Simmental/Angus steers, 16-17 months, av 498kg, while also taking a lighter 16 av 457kg at $2580 or $5.65/kg from Corinda Downs, Mount Gambier.
Regular vendors Tuscanna, West Avenue, received an eye-watering $7.93/kg or $1490, for 19 PCAS Angus and Angus-cross steers, 8-10 months weighing 188kg, selling to Miller Whan & John.
A heavier draft av 226kg sold to Green Triangle Livestock at $1440 or $6.37/kg.
Danny Saunders for Garrison Feedlot was also very active, targeting steers 320kg-plus, including 15 Angus and Angus-cross steers, 14 months av 472kg, at $2640 or $5.59/kg sold A&S Pearson Burrungule; 12 European Union-accredited and PCAS Granite Ridge and Pathfinder-bld Angus steers av 485kg at $2500 or $5.15/kg sold by Riverside Partnership, Drik Drik, Vic, and 10 Bowmont-bld Hereford-cross steers av 317kg at $2070 or $6.53/kg sold by Dunorer, Hotspur, Vic.
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Nangwarry Station sold 139 PCAS Lawson-bld Angus steers, 12-14 months-old, for an average of $2155. Creek Livestock bought their heaviest draft av 366kg at $2220 or $6.07/kg and Mingbool Station paid $2020 or $6.31/kg for a draft of 18 av 320kg.
Benara Pastoral, Mount Gambier, sold 88 PCAS Coolana and Sterita Park-bld Angus steers, 14-16 months with weights from 417-434kg, for an average of $2435. Their heaviest draft av 434kg, sold to Garrison Feedlot at $2450 or $5.65/kg.
K&K Lock, Kalangadoo, sold 20 Lawson-bld Angus steers, 12-14 months av 302kg, at $1970 or $6.52/kg and a lighter draft av 276kg at $1910 or $6.92/kg, purchased by Oliver.
Green Triangle Livestock bought steers weighing from 200-320kg, including seven Murray Grey steers, 8-10 months av 215kg, at $1460 or $6.79/kg sold by Caroline Hills, Mount Gambier; four PCAS Murray Grey steers av 208kg at $1380 or $6.63/kg from Diamond Swamp, Furner; 14 PCAS Angus and Angus-cross steers av 224kg at $1520 or $6.79/kg from Oakland Park, Mil Lel; and 11 Angus-cross steers av 235kg at $1600 or $6.81/kg sold by The Treacle Pot, Allendale East.
Victoria Park, Lake Mundi, sold six Warrensville-bld Hereford-cross steers av 263kg at $1690 or $6.43/kg to MWJ Kingston SE.
Walkenny Park, Cape Bridgewater, sold six PCAS Hereford-cross steers at 286kg at $1800 or $6.29/kg to MWJ Kingston SE, plus a heavier draft of nine steers av 425kg at $2220 or $5.22/kg to Nampara Pastoral.
A secondary yarding of cows and calves were offered, the top price of $2080 paid for two cows with calves at foot to Stewie Hill.
Scrubby Park, Wandilo, sold two Murray Grey-cross cows with CAF at $1980, plus four Angus-cross cows running with Hereford bulls at $1460 to King.
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Heifers prices increased in line with steer prices, with the exception of the lighter heifers under 280kg, which stayed consistent with prices over the past two months.
Heifers 450kg-plus made from $4.66-$4.83/kg; 360-450kg heifers made from $4.14-$5.37/kg; 320-360kg heifers sold from $4.74-$5.60/kg; 280-320kg heifers $5.05-$6.08/kg; heifers under 280kg made from $5.51-$6.03/kg.
Cape Bridgewater returned the top dollars a head heifer price with eight Angus-cross heifers, 22-24 months-old av 521kg, at $2430 or $4.66/kg to Garrison Feedlot.
The top heifer c/kg price was paid by Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen, Penola, for 20 PCAS Hereford-cross heifers, 10 months av 202kg, at $1320 or $6.53/kg sold by TD Beaton, Sanford.
PPHS also paid $1310 or $6.30/kg for 12 Simmental/Angus heifers, 8-10 months av 208kg, sold by Savannah Simmentals, Myponga.
Belgrave Pastoral, Mumbannar, Vic, sold 12 EU Injemira-bld Hereford heifers, av 509kg, at $2420 or $4.75/kg to King, while a lighter draft av 415kg sold at $2190 or $5.28/kg to TFI.
The Allen family sold 13 Angus and Angus-cross heifers, 14 months av 491kg, at $2370 or $4.83/kg to J&F, while a second draft av 471kg sold at $2230 or $4.73/kg to Garrison Feedlot.
Riverside Partnership sold 15 EU and PCAS Woonallee-bld Hereford/Simmental heifers, 14-16 months av 437kg, at $2300 or $5.26kg to TFI, while a lighter draft av 408kg sold to J&F at $2190 or $5.37/kg
Boronga Estate, Port Macdonnell, sold four Angus heifers, 7-8 months av 241kg, at $1510 or $6.27/kg to MWJ.
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