STRATHALBYN
Yarding: 698
Steers to $2620
Heifers to $2250
WITH grass starting to grow underfoot and widespread recent rains, prices at the monthly Strathalbyn store cattle sale held strong on Friday.
Heavyweight steers sold to $2620, with lighter types getting close to $8 a kilogram.
Heifers were generally 70c/kg behind steers across different weights, with the top pen reaching $2250 and lighter types making in excess of $7/kg.
There was generally a premium on Angus over coloured cattle across the whole yarding.
Nutrien Strathalbyn's Andrew Wilson said agents entered the sale thinking there might be a slight slide in prices due to the time of year, but results exceeded their expectations.
"The yarding was quite good in both numbers and quality," he said.
"There were 698 penned and sold, which is really good numbers at this time of year.
"Feedlot buyers and a couple of restockers were strong on the light calves."
Elders Strathalbyn agent Danny Reynolds said, in a surprise, "the heavy steer job got off to a flyer" and prices on steers across the yarding were up 15-20c/kg on May.
"Heifers however, were more in line with expectations, to be 10-15c/kg easier," he said.
"However, there was a base in the heifer job, provided by one regular feedlotter having a big day out, buying 350 weaners on the day."
Mr Reynolds said the average weight of the yarding was much lighter than the previous sale due to the last of the lighter drafts being sold off and cold weather slowing weight gain.
The few pens of 400 plus kg steers sold from $5.70/kg to $6.04/kg, with those weighing 350-400kg generally making $5.95-$6.10/kg.
300-350kg steers sold for $5.65-$6.49/kg, the 250-300kg bracket generally attracted $6.40-$7.40/kg and anything under 250kg generally hit $6.80/kg or more.
Topping the market at $2620 or $5.70/kg were three May/Jun 2021-drop Angus steers, av 460kg, from CA&RM Stoeckel, Swan Reach, while five April/May 2021-drop, Mandayen-blood Angus, av 416kg, from Murray Glen Lee made $2510 or $6.03/kg.
Another pen of Angus, four 334kg steers from Berridale Vineyard sold for $2180 or $6.12/kg.
Notable price curve benders included eighteen commercial steers, av 278kg, from Newlyn Park Angus, Meadows, which were knocked down for $1990 or $7.16/kg.
Koonalunda Graziers, Meningie, made $2000 or $6.49/kg for seven Aug/Sep-drop Raven-bld Angus cross steers, av 308kg.
RJ Venning sold 22 Angus weaner steers, av 286kg, for $1910 or $6.68/kg, while Black Rock Ag, Orroroo, received $1850 or $7.40/kg for 14 Angus/Black Baldys, av 250kg.
Heifers weighing more than 300kg generally made $4.80-$5.40/kg, with those in the 250-300kg range attracting $5.50-$6.30/kg.
The limited number of 200-250kg heifers generally made $6.35-$6.85/kg while anything lighter than that was around the $7/kg mark.
CA&RM Stoeckel also topped the heifer run, receiving $2250 or $5.36/kg for three Jan/Feb 2021-drop Angus, av 420kg.
Ten PTIC rising two-year-old Angus heifers, av 352kg, from Neighbour Vineyards, McLaren Vale, made $2100.
Heifers weaned in March from Newlyn Park, 15 av 293kg, attracted $1760 or $6.01/kg, with 12 May/June 2021-drop Angus heifers, av 234kg, from Graetz Family Trust, Keyneton, selling for $1490 or $6.37/kg.
Eleven lightweight Speckle Park heifers, av 197, from JP Green made $1380 or $7.01/kg.
There was a few pens of cows with calves at foot and it was eight Pathfinder-bld Angus/Limousin cows with their third calves at foot from Hillstream Holdings, Mount Pleasant, which topped the section at $3520.
The next Strathalbyn store sale will be held on August 5.