WHILE prices were slightly softer than the previous market at Strathalbyn on Friday, cattle were still making extremely good rates, up to $2330 for steers and $2100 for heifers.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Strathalbyn auctioneer Bradley Walker said most categories would have dropped up to 20 cents a kilogram, except heavy feeders, which held firm.
"There has just been so many cattle sold through November and the start of December, but we still had very good interest, particularly from graziers and a few feedlotters, and the sale was still very strong," he said.
"Feedlot cattle were strongly supported by the Mid North; the trade was supported by Thomas Foods International; while grassfed cattle and future breeding heifers saw excited bidding from the Lower and Upper South East, western Vic and Hills and Fleurieu."
Mr Walker quoted steers weighing from 300-360kg at $5.98-$6.52/kg; those weighing 250-300kg made $6.38-$7.45/kg; and 200-250kg sold from $7.14-$7.74/kg.
The top price per head at $2330 went to a pen of eight heavier Angus and Hereford steers from L Manuel, Strathalbyn, averaging 417kg, it equated to $5.59/kg, sold to Fisher Bros, via Loxton.
The line that hit the saleyard high of $7.74/kg went to EL&LA Short, Curramulka, for 13 Boonara & Broomfield-blood Angus steers weighing 239kg, which sold for $1850.
The Shorts sold a second pen of 14 weighing 289kg at $1990 or $6.89/kg.
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Also making a good price per kilo were Campbell & Young, KI, with 17 April-June-drop Maryvale-bld Angus-cross steers, weighing 263kg, making $1960 or $7.45/kg, while their second pen of five Murray Grey steers weighing 282kg made $1980 or $7.02/kg.
L&M Bruce, KI, also fared well with their 10 lighter steers - the May/June-drop Murray Grey steers weighing 245kg reached $1830 or $7.47/kg, while a second pen of five weighing 294kg make $1970 or $6.70/kg.
In the first run of the sale, steers sold to $2270 for 15 Angus-Simmental steers from J&H Higgins, Port Elliot. The March/April-drop Lancaster-blds weighed 379kg, equating to $5.99/kg.
Fleurieu Springs also sold 10 Angus steers, weighing 387kg at $2270, or $5.86/kg to TFI.
In the heifer section, 300-360kg pens made from $5.98-$6.03/kg, those from 250-300kg made $5.83-$6.02/kg, while those in the 200-250kg weight range made from $6.90-$7.77/kg.
The top price per head of $2100 went to BA&DJ Paxton, Kingscote, for their seven Lindsay-bld Murray Grey heifers, weighing 375kg, equating to $5.60/kg.
Aruna Vale Trust, Victor Harbor, sold the next highest at $2090 to Bruce Cameron for 16 March/April-drop Pathfinder & Yerwal Estate-bld Angus-Simmental heifers, weighing 369kg, equating to $5.66/kg, while a second pen of 16 at 314kg made $1880 or $5.99/kg sold to Fisher Bros.
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Best dollars/head went to RW Young, Kingscote, for 13 April-June-drop Angus-cross heifers weighing 170kg and making $1320, while a second pen of nine at 203kg made $1500 or $7.39/kg.
Blackwood Park, Strathalbyn, sold 26 Granite Ridge-bld May/June-drop Angus heifers, weighing 314kg, at $1990 or $6.34/kg; while B Blefari & Sons sold 21 March/April-drop Angus steers, weighing 323kg, at $1980 or $6.13/kg to Jason Schulz, Field.
Brookmead Farm, Currency Creek, sold eight March/April-drop Angus-cross weaner heifers at $1600 or $6.93/kg, while JR White sold eight April/May-drop Angus heifers, weighing 275kg, at $1900 or $6.90/kg.
The next Strathalbyn store sale is on January 7.
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