Mount Gambier store cattle prices improve

Ben Gregory, Elders Mount Gambier, said there was very strong demand from the northern buying contingent and were competing with the biggest local presence since late 2021, with the exceptionally large 4665-head yarding.

"Producers are continuing to take the opportunity to cash in for good returns now, rather than hang on to their stock and sell further down the track," he said.

Prices for heavy Angus steers 450 kilograms-plus bounced back from last month's correction, selling mainly in the mid to high $5/kg range, from $4.83-$5.95/kg; while coloured steers of this weight also sold stronger from $4.86-$5.49/kg.

Angus steers 360-450kg made up the largest portion of Friday's yarding, selling from $5.30-$6.58/kg, while coloured steers 360-450kg making from $5-$5.95/kg.

Making up the majority of the 3209-head steer yarding, the medium weight classes of steers sold firm.

Angus steers 320-360kg made from $6.11-$7.07/kg; while coloured steers in the same class sold from $5.51-$6.42/kg.

Angus steers 280-320kg sold from $6.32-$7.35/kg, while coloured steers 280-320kg made $5.70-$6.76/kg.

Angus steers under 280kg saw prices ranging from $6.74-$8.70/kg; while coloured steers in the same weight range were $6.59-$6.88/kg.

Creek Livestock, Mount Gambier, paid Friday's top dollars a head price at $3040 or $4.83/kg for nine Pasturefed Cattle Assurance Scheme-eligible Angus steers, 14-16 months-old, weighing an average of 629kg, from EJ&TM&JC&BR Allen, Kongorong.

A lighter draft of the Allen family's steers av 558kg sold to Thomas Foods International at $2920 or $5.23/kg.

JBS were right in the competition with other feedlot and commission buyers pushing prices of heavier steers back to where they were a couple of months ago, paying $2960 or $5.17/kg for seven Angus steers 14-15mo av 573kg from S Dicenso, Mount Gambier; and 11 Woonallee-blood March 2021-drop Angus-cross steers, av 565kg at $2910 or $5.15/kg from Kennion Pastoral, Furner.

Regular vendor Roxley Park, Mount Gambier, sold 21 Pathfinder-bld Angus steers av 499kg at $2910 or $5.83/kg to TFI; while a heavier draft av 530kg sold to JBS at $2900 or $5.47/kg.

Vic agents Corcoran Parker, Wodonga, bought seven Pathfinder-bld Angus and Angus-cross steers av 257kg at $1910 or $7.43/kg sold by M Lane, Dartmoor, Vic.

Wannon Pastoral, Vic, sold 134 Ebony Beef-bld August/September 2021-drop Angus steers. A draft of 38 av 207kg sold to Corcoran Parker for the top cents/kg price of $8.70/kg, equating to $1800/head.

A slightly heavier draft weighing an average of 228kg sold at $1900 or $8.33/kg to Elders Mount Gambier.

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Glendene Park, Moorak, sold 21 PCAS Angus-cross steers 7-9 months av 267kg at $1970 or $7.38/kg to Corcoran Parker, and a draft of PCAS Angus and Angus-cross steers 7-9 months av 230kg at $1550 or $6.74/kg to Lord.

Kumara SE, Mt Gambier, sold 114 European Union-accredited and PCAS June 2021-drop, Pathfinder-bld Angus steers, weighing 294-401kg, for an average of $2275. A draft of their lighter steers av 294kg, sold to Corcoran Parker at $7.35/kg or $2160.

JJ&JD Arthur sold 103 Angus steers, weighing 407-493kg, for an average of $2605. Their heaviest draft av 493kg sold to Teys Charlton at $2860 or $5.80/kg.

Commission buyer Andrew Lowe, Wagga Wagga, NSW, bought the entire offering of 91 PCAS autumn 2021-drop TeMania, Pathfinder and Boonaroo-bld Angus steers, weighing 338-416kg, from Dukalskis Farming, Mumbannar, Vic, for an average of $2395.

Jarup, Digby, Vic, sold 129 PCAS Angus steers, 12-13 months-old weighing 380-457kg, for an average of $2504. Jarup's heaviest draft at 457kg sold to Teys Charlton at $2700 or $5.91/kg.

T Hunt & Son, Kalangadoo, sold 23 March/April 2021-drop Limousin steers, av 253kg, at $1740 or $688/kg to Hardwicks.

N&N Kerr, Drik Drik, Vic, sold 112 PCAS Hereford-cross and Simmental-cross steers, 9-11mo weighing 320-404kg, for an average of $2406. A draft of Simmental-cross steers av 320kg sold at $1960 or $6.13/kg to Creek Livestock.

Kennion Pastoral Co, Furner, sold six March 2021-drop Woonallee-bld Simmental-cross steers av 556kg at $2700 or $4.86/kg to Creek Livestock.

Avonlea, Strathdownie, Vic, sold 20 PCAS Hereford steers, 10-12mo av 500kg at $2680 or $5.36/kg to Teys Australia, who also bought Avonlea's lighter draft av 423kg at $2350 or $5.56/kg.

Nitschke Baker, Tantanoola, sold 12 PCAS Hereford-cross steers, 20mo av 530kg, at $2700 or $5.09/kg to Teys Australia.

Other than the heaviest drafts, around 450 kilograms-plus which sold from $4.50-$4.66/kg, heifers sold in the mid to high $5/kg range, with only a handful selling just under.

Heifers 360-450kg made from $4.72-$6.06/k; while 320-360kg heifers sold from $4.92-$6.08/kg.

The lighter range 280-320kg sold at $5.16- $6.55/kg; while heifers under 280kg made from $6.42-$6.68/kg.

MB&BM Cameron, Claywells, sold nine PCAS-eligible February/March 2021-drop Woonallee-blood Angus heifers av 411kg for the top female price of the day at $2490 or $6.06/kg to Nampara.

J&E Harris Trading sold 49 PCAS 2021-drop Angus and Limousin-cross heifers, weighing 271-324kg, for an average of $1821.

Their lightest draft av 271kg sold for the top cents/kg heifer price at $6.68/kg or $1810 to Hardwicks.

JBS bought seven Angus and Angus-cross heifers av 519kg at $2400 or $4.62/kg from R McDonald, Winnap, Vic, and 22 PCAS Angus and Angus-cross heifers, 14-16mo av 515kg, at $2400 or $4.66/kg from ET&TM &JC&BI Allen, Kongorong.

Nangwarry Station sold 18 PCAS Lawson-blood Angus steers av 446kg at $2360 or $5.29/kg to Miller Whan &John account Ogilvie and a lighter draft av 408kg to JBS at $2360 or $5.78/kg.

Alvadale, Mount Gambier, sold 46 PCAS Angus heifers, 8-10mo weighing 245-305kg, for an average of $1622. MWJ bought the entire drop, paying $1600-$1700 or $6.53 and $5.57/kg respectively.

Wanbannar Partnership, Dartmoor, Vic, sold 25 Nampara-bld Angus heifers, 8-10mo av 310kg, at $2030 or $6.55/kg to Andrew Lowe and a heavier draft av 334kg at $1940 or $5.81/kg to MWJ account Lindsay.