Steers hit $2860 high in heavy weight Naracoorte yarding

Of the 1569 head yarding there were at least 500 head over 400 kilogram plus, a sign producers are keen to take advantage of the current record prices.

Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson director Darren Maney said prices on most categories were 10-15c/kg up on last month's sale but in line with other recent rates seen in southern Australia.

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"As more people start to sell bullocks in excess of $3000 and these people then enter the store market they are quite happy to pay $2300 to buy replacement steers," he said.

Mr Maney quoted the bigger,older steers 480-520kg up to $5.30/kg; 410-460kg steers at $5.40/kg-$5.85/kg and said plenty of lines of lighter steers made $6/kg-$6.30/kg.

"It is a pretty small steer that still makes $2000," he said.

"As per normal the dearest cattle are the worst bred, all cattle are dear so you might as well have good ones in the paddock."

Steer top price honours of $3040 went to Killanoola Props, Bool Lagoon, with nine Red Angus steers weighing 574kg. This equated to $5.30/kg

M&H Davidson, Lucindale, received $2860 for the opening pen of the sale.

The 509kg Angus sold to Thomas Foods International who also outlaid $2670 for another 34 head weighing 372kg from the same vendor.

PR&JL Clark, Murradale, Koppamurra, received $2810 for 19 Nampara and Mandayen blood Angus, which were also knocked down to TFI. The 510kg steers were April/May 2020 drop.

Teys Charlton were also on the rail securing the next pen of Clarks, these 493kg steers made $2720.

Nineteen Angus from Kennion Pastoral ,Thornlea, made $2700. They were 476kg.

There was a premium for bigger lines such as McLaren Creek Cattle Company and KJ&HA McGrath, Beachport, which were the sale's volume vendor with 239 steers and heifers.

The tops of their May-June 2019 drop steers- 26 head weighing 533.2kg made $5.22/kg to JBS but it was the cattle nearly a year younger that drew the most spirited bidding.

A line of 47 March/April 2020 drop Sterita Park bld Angus made $6.22/kg. They were 384.6kg, equating to $2392.

Another 38 Angus steers from McLaren Creek of the same age made $6.14/kg. They were 411.5kg.

Karana Holdings, Lucindale, also received tremendous c/kg rates for their well-bred, July and August 2020 drop, EU-accredited Angus.

Thirty of these weighing 383kg made $6.30/kg, equating to $2413 and another 15 weighing 339kg made $6.38/kg or $2163.

J&J Densley, Keith, received $2400 for eight Bull Oak Well bld Angus weighing 422kg. They were only 10-11 months of age.

AP&VK Schwarz, Senior, sold 16 April/May 2020 drop EU Poll Hereford steers for $5.58/kg. At 440.9kg this was $2460.

Elders auctioneer Ronnie Dix said 400kg feeder steers could have 10-25c/kg dearer than the July sale and the 330-350kg steers were 20-30c/kg dearer.

"Everyone is getting desperate now it is nearly September and the feed is starting to grow, there is something about the South East and everywhere really, no one likes to see a spare blade of grass not being eaten," he said.

Mr Dix said there was so much positivity in the market and with many steers being sold early he predicted prices would remain near current levels.

"Unless there is push back in the retail market it should continue, we are hearing that the global market has strengthened and Australian beef is not as dear now in comparison," he said.

Mr Maney is also expecting "more of the same" prices with the supply-demand imbalance. He said the only way he could see anything changing was if interstate processing capacity was reduced by half due to COVID-restrictions.

"The processors seem to be selling meat okay and we saw bullocks in Mt Gambier the week before making $4.85/kg for 685kg bullocks," he said.

"Normally record prices bring out more cattle but we saw less bullocks the next week, those bigger grown cattle are just not there."

Two pens of pregnancy-tested-in-calf Angus heifers due to calve in March next year were the highlight of the female offering at last week's Naracoorte store sale.

PR&JL Clark, Koppamurra sold these two pens of heifers (35 head) for $2520 to Monash Station, Monash.

The Clarks also sold 12 similar aged, preg tested empty heifers for $2200.

Creek Livestock, Mount Gambier, outbid the buying gallery on some of the top lines of unmated heifers securing 17 Angus cross heifers from JR&PJ Kernich, 463kg, April-May 2020 drop for $2410.

They also bought 20 February-March 2020 drops, 434.5kg, for $2360 from Old Fairview, Lucindale.

Ferris Partners, Harold Park, Keilira, sold 12 March/April drop Angus heifers, 462.5kg, for $5.18/kg or $2396.

Karana Holdings, Lucindale, received $5.48/kg for 22 Angus weighing 355.2kg.

These July-August 2020 drops were also knocked down to Creek Livestock.

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