More than 80 per cent of the 4726 head yarding in the final Naracoorte steer weaner sale are again bound for NSW- a repeat of the last sale at the same venue.
But the rates paid for heavy end cattle lifted as a couple of feedlotters which had been absent from the early January sale were back in the action.
The gap between medium weight range cattle closed again with 320kg calves making nearly the same price as 360kg ones.
There was a noticeable 20c/kg premium or more on many EU accredited lines.
Topping the sale in dollars a head at $2775 were easily the oldest cattle in the yards, a run of autumn 2020 drop Pathfinder blood Angus steers from Karowara Pastoral, Naracoorte.
These 37 head which weighed 491.2kg made $5.65/kg to Teys Charlton.
Karowara's next pen of 458kg steers made $5.70/kg or $2612 to NSW commission buyer Andrew Lowe.
Nutrien auctioneer Brendan Fitzgerald said the vendors had only recently decided to sell the cattle to make room for some sheep which had to be relocated from another one of Karowara's properties impacted by the recent Poolaijelo fire.
"They would normally grow them out to 650kg-700kg bullocks but they had to make room," he said.
"To put on 250-300kg they would have had to take them through another winter and they might not be missing out on much."
PJ&JM Coote, received $5.68/kg for 21 February/March, Angus-Simmental steers.
The 457.3kg steers were bought by Teys Charlton, equating to $2598.
A few pens later the Cootes' 447.1kg red coated cattle, made $5.40/kg.
Annual weaner sellers, Old Fairview, Woolumbool, were also among the high prices with their 233 February/March drop, EU-accredited steers. These were weaned in December.
Their top pen of 27 Angus, weighing 424kg made $2550 to J&F Australia.
This price was eclipsed by Old Fairview's heaviest black baldies which made $2590.
These eight head weighed 454kg.
Shady Grove Partners, Lucindale, were rewarded for their well-bred line of 31 Angus. These 427.2kg cattle made $2580 to TFI.
She-Oak Island, Millicent, sold 25 March drop Angus for $2520. They were 421kg.
They received the same money for 30 Angus steers which were lighter, 388kg.
Moyhall Pastoral, Moyhall, had an outstanding run of 200 May/June drop, Landfall bld Angus.
The heaviest pen - 26 weighing 341.54kg made $2360.
Moyhall Pastoral's lightest pen enjoying some of the highest cents a kilogram rates at the sale.
The 52 head weighing 279kg made $2200, selling to Corcoran & Parker.
The same buyer also bought 28 Angus in the next pen from MJ&SK Alexander, for $2180. These were 283.57kg.
Harrold Pastoral Co, Penola, also had an impressive draft of 131 Boonaroo bld Angus steers which sold to $2545 (or $6.10/kg for the 417kg calves).
These are bound for Nutrien Albury, NSW.
PPHS director Richard Harvie said heavy steers were back up in line with prices paid in the early December sale at Naracoorte, while light and medium weight cattle (290-360kg) had consistently made $6.20/kg-$7.50/kg.
Mr Harvie said the 22,000- 24,000 calves yarded in the Naracoorte feature weaner sales was way up on usual numbers.
Many later drop calves which would normally be sold in February-March and even April had come forward to January sales as vendors looked to grab $2000 now.
"You can see 220kg steers still making $1900-$2000, they are nearly $8/kg so blokes are saying why are we going to feed them for another two months and punt the market," he said.
Mr Harvie estimated 75 per cent to 80pc of their clients had pre-weaned calves for the sale and were being rewarded with a $50-$100 premium.
He said a trial conducted by one of PPHS's clients who had bought both weaned and unweaned calves from the last sale had shown the value of weaned calves.
"The unweaned calves walked the fences and didn't settle but those cattle that were weaned walked straight off the truck onto feed, so he has made his mind up about what he wants to buy," he said.
"If you are doing this weaner job it is not like 20 years ago when you were doing vealers.
"I reckon it is imperative that you start weaner calves in October, November and even early December and getting prepared."
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