Strath cattle surge again

Meat buyers competed strongly with feeders and restockers, with buyers present from local areas plus the South East, Yorke Peninsula, Mid North and South West Vic.

The majority of the 1100-head yarding were March to May drop weaners, with a small offering of yearlings, as well as pregnancy-tested-in-calf cows and cows with calves at foot.

Elders Strathalbyn agent Danny Reynolds said he was starting to sound like a broken record, but said prices were the strongest on record at Strathalbyn.

He said feeder steers were up to 45 cents dearer in places and general prices were up 35 to 40c across the board. The only surprise was on lighter cattle, which didn't reach the heights of the last Strathalbyn sale.

"There are a couple of reasons buyers are flocking here," Mr Reynolds said.

"Because of the rains up north in NSW and QLD. That's created another surge in the cattle market.

"There were a lot of commission buyers from QLD and NSW at Naracoorte (on Thursday last week) and they basically bought the market out, meaning other buyers that were there are still looking for cattle and have come this way.

"People in the Mid North have got feed down and failed crops so are also looking for cattle to put out so the surge comes down to a combination of factors."

Three hundred to 350kg heifers made from $5.77-$6.13/kg, those from 250-300kg made $5.90-$7.07/kg, while those in the 200-250kg weight range made from $5.88-$6.88/kg.

A pen of 185kg heifers made $1400 or $7.57/kg, with two pens of heavier yearling heifers reaching the sale's top prices of $2520 and $2450.

Steers weighing from 350-380kg attracted $5.92-$6.36/kg, those from 300-350kg made from $6.28-$6.77/kg, those weighing 250-300kg made $6.65-$7.48 and 200-250kg steers attracted anything from $7.23-$7.97/kg.

Thomas Foods International paid $2330 or $6.13/kg for 13 Pathfinder and Newlyn Park-blood Angus steers, av 380kg, from Manning and Shallow.

Making $2270 or $6.22/kg for 17 Angus cross steers, av 365kg, from SM Coote, Middleton, while 14 Angus steers, av 352kg, from Clover Ridge Pastoral, Langhorne Creek, attracted $2240 or $6.36/kg.

Knocked down for $2240 or $6.24/kg were nine Angus steers, av 359kg, from Beerenberg P/L, Hahndorf.

Making $2050 or $6.77/kg for 14 Angus steers, av 303kg, was Wesley Hart, Meadows, with 20 Angus steers, av 274kg, from RB&LM Couchman, Kangaroo Island, making $2000 or $7.30/kg.

Also making $2000, or $7.02/kg, was Beerenberg P/L for nine Angus steers, av 285kg, while CJ&KM Stapleton, KI, received $1990 or $7.48/kg for 13 Angus steers, av 266kg.

Leading the way on a dollars a kilogram basis were eight Tooperangus-bld steers, av 231kg, from Tooperang Beef Cattle which made $1840 or $7.97/kg.

Making $1930 or $7.88/kg were 18 Elite Hereford and Stoney Point-bld steers, av 245kg, from AJ&BJ Nolan.

Topping the heifer market were 15 April/May 2020-drop Newlyn Park-bld Angus heifers, av 490kg, which made $2520 or $5.14/kg for Griguol Nominees, Kangarilla, with a further 15 heifers from the same vendor, av 442kg, selling for $2450 or $5.54/kg.

Making $2060 or $6.01/kg were 15 Angus heifers, av 343kg, from Clover Ridge Pastoral, while knocked down for $1990 or $6.03/kg were 21, 330kg Angus heifers from Duxton Farm P/L, Carrackalinga.

Getting high dollar a kilogram rates were ten Angus heifers, av 185kg, from CJ&KM Stapleton, which made $1400 or $7.57/kg.

Coming in at $1810 or $7.07/kg were 20 Angus heifers, av 256kg, from GN&CS Smith, KI.

Five mixed age Murray Grey cows with five calves at foot from J Burgess sold for $3520, while seven PTIC eight-year-old cows from Tooperang Beef Cattle made $2620.

The next Strathalbyn sale will be held on December 17, with another on January 7.

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