There was a positive feeling at the Naracoorte saleyards on Thursday at the store cattle sale, as prices rose in a good sign for the future.
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In total, 837 steers were yarded, with an average of $1052 achieved, while there were 280 heifers yarded, and sold to a $786 average.
The steer yarding was led by AG&AM Clifford, Penola, in pen one with 15 of their March/April 2022 drop 661 kilogram Angus steers sold for $1441 or $2.18/kg, with the steers bought by RH Woodward & Co.
In the same pen, AG&AM Clifford also sold one steer for $859 or $1.30/kg to the same buyer.
AC Davidson & Co, Penola, sold one of their Angus March/April 2022 drop cross steers, 625kg, for $1375 or $2.20/kg to RH Woodward & Co, while in the same pen they also sold seven Angus steers, 547kg, for $1203 or $2.20/kg to Garrison Cattle Feeders.
Bullen TG Nominees, Keith, sold seven of their August/October 2022 drop Angus steers, 502kg, to Princess Royal Station to $1320 or $2.63/kg, while JH Ryan & Son, Greenways, sold 34 of their March-April 2022 drop 517kg steers to $1320 or $2.55/kg to Garrison Cattle Feeders.
Weigal Park, sold 12 of their 287kg steers to Padthaway Shearing to $3.16/kg or $880, Banning Partners, sold 23 March/April 2023 drop Angus steers, 391kg, for $2.89/kg or $1090 to TDC account Merrett Pastoral, while BJ&KH McElroy, sold 12 of their March/April 2023 drop Angus steers, 351kg, for $2.89/kg or $980.
The heifer yarding was led by Heathdale Pty Ltd, Stewart Range, who sold 16 of their June/July 2022 drop 443kg heifers to Creek Livestock P/L for $1060 or $2.49/kg, while AJ Chaplin, sold 15 January/March 2023 drop heifers, 382kg, to Elders Mildura for $1000 or $2.62/kg.
WE&JM Ludwig, sold 11 of their January/February 2023 drop Angus cross heifers at an average weight of 380kg to $930 or $2.45/kg, while Banning Partners sold four March/April 2023 drop crossbred heifers, 457kg, for $900 or $1.97/kg to Garrison Cattle Feeders.
BJ&KH McElroy sold five March/April 2023 drop Angus 260kg heifers for $620 or $2.48/kg to Nutrien Leongatha account SGL (McKenzie) and Weigal Park sold eight 250kg Angus cross heifers to $610 or $2.44/kg to Nutrien Leongatha account SGL (McKenzie).
At the sale PR Day, also sold 10 cows and calves to Nutrien Kingston for $1060.
Nutrien Naracoorte account manager and auctioneer Brendan Fitzgerald said the sale was promising considering the previous market results.
"We were hoping for a rise and it came our way," he said.
"With the rain and what was happening in other areas we were hoping the prices would follow through and it did.
"There was a couple extra buyers looking which helped the job and overall it was a real positive indicator for change."
Elders Naracoorte livestock manager Joshua Reeves said the sale was a big improvement from the previous store cattle sale held in Naracoorte.
"Steers were probably 20 or 30 cents (a kilogram) better and heifers made the most significant rise," he said.
"Heifers were back over $2/kg and around $2.30/kg was significant and in some cases up to a dollar a kilogram more and the cattle were good quality as well."