SOUGHT after breeding heifers made similar prices as steers the previous day during the second leg of the weaner sale held at Naracoorte on Friday last week.
Friday's 3327 heifers averaged $2059 and $6.29/kg.
The limited number of heifers weighing 400 kilograms plus averaged $5.73/kg to a top of $6.16/kg, with 330-400kg heifers averaging $6.13/kg to a top of $8/kg.
Those weighing 280-330kg averaged $6.44/kg to a top of $7.57/kg and those below 280kg averaged $6.86/kg to a high of $8.50/kg.
Elders auctioneer Ronnie Dix said the cattle job was still very strong and prices were holding up despite the large numbers on offer across Vic and SA in the past fortnight.
"This year's opening weaner sale may have been slightly cheaper than December but that was an extraordinary sale and was at a time when not a lot of cattle were available," he said.
"During last week and this week, there'd be 100,000 calves getting sold through the Western districts of Vic, Gippsland and SA so buyers have got more options."
Mr Dix said lines of purebred breeding heifers made $2250 to $2500 during Friday's sale.
"As soon as they were backgrounding heifers, nearly regardless of weight, they were $1900 to $2100," he said.
While Angus and Angus cross heifers made up a large portion of the market, it was 23 Red Angus heifers that attracted the fiercest competition.
After prolonged bidding, the EU eligible, April 2021-drop heifers, av 335kg, from NK&CE Elliott, Lucindale, were knocked down for $2680 or $8/kg to a Hamilton, Vic, buyer operating on AuctionsPlus.
Other pens to attract strong interest during the Elders run included 24 Speckle Parks, av 296kg, from WV James & Son, Lucindale, which made $2240 or $7.57/kg.
Laneville, Lucindale, received $2290 or $6.58/kg for 24 Pathfinder-bld Angus heifers, av 348kg, while Bull Island Pastoral Co, Avenue Range, made $2280 or $6.57/kg for 24 Angus/Black Simmental heifers, av 347kg.
KP Pastoral, Frances, offered 53 Roseleigh-bld, March/April 2021-drop Angus heifers, through Southern Australian Livestock, with their lightest pen of 22 weighing 333.9kg making $6.98/kg or $2330.
Their pen of 21, av 371.9kg, sold for $6.55/kg or $2436, while another ten, av 353kg, made $6.54/kg or $2309.
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TDC's run included 17 Woonalee and Pathfinder-bld Angus/Simmental heifers, av 401.5kg, from Kanangra Props, Furner, which demanded $6.16/kg or $2473.
MG&TM Smith, Lucindale, received $6.98/kg or $2286 for 30 Nampara, Granite Ridge and Stoney Point-bld Angus heifers, av 327.5kg, while Ferris Partners, Keilira, made $6.58/kg or $2394 for 29 Glatz-bld Angus heifers, av 363.8kg.
Leading the way in PPHS's run were 23 Sterita Park and JB Angus-blds, av 356kg, from Glendoon Pastoral, Binnum, which made $2490 or $6.99/kg, and 20 Hazeldean-blds, av 396kg, from Donald Brown & Co, Keppoch, that made the same price but at $6.29/kg.
Buying the Glendoon heifers and also securing some of the top quality pens of Angus heifers during TDC's run was Parawa's Sonya Jensen.
The Jensen's have almost dispersed their Kentish Downs dairy stud and are transitioning to a beef enterprise.
Mrs Jensen said the purchase of about 200 heifers at Naracoorte signalled the establishment of their breeding herd and saw the significant outlay as a long-term investment.
"I'm quite happy with what we bought and the price given the environment we're working in," she said.
"This is the start of our breeding herd and if you're going to get in you want to buy good quality at the top end of the heifer market.
"Buying these rather than preg-tested in calf heifers gives us control over what sires we use and we can target traits like calving ease.
"When you buy this amount of heifers you want to know what they're calving to."
Mrs Jensen said they would be calving down about 250 heifers to straight Angus bulls and implementing an AI program.
"They're young and it's a long-term investment - hopefully the majority will still be around on their sixth and seventh calves."
More Glatz-bld Angus heifers, from RJ, JE, AB&CE Smith, Joanna, were in demand and made $2460 or $6.81/kg for a pen of 20, av 361kg, and $2300 or $7.14/kg for 25, av 322kg.
Oakley Family Trust offered 56 Simmental cross and mixed heifers through Nutrien, making $6.04/kg or $2156 for the pen of 32 Simmental crosses, av 357kg.
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