Recent rainfall has boosted buyer confidence at Mount Gambier's final Friday cattle market for the year, with keen bidders helping to boost returns by 50-60 cents a kilogram on the previous market.
About 3300 head were yarded, with multiple runs of Angus cattle attracting solid attention from restockers who increased their presence.
A run of 24, 16-18-month-old Angus and Angus-cross Black Rock-blood steers from Pascoe Park, Cape Douglas, made the market's $1520 top price, as well as a further 25, with slightly less weight, at the same return. Its 16-head third draft made $1450.
Carlton Park, Millicent, had 14 Angus steers make $1500 and the same vendor made $1470 for a further 14.
Returns for well-bred Angus cattle continued to underpin the buoyant market, with 15 Angus cross steers averaging 516 kilograms from QE Parker making $1440. The same vendor offered 14, 482kg Angus steers at $1420.
SR&CA Northcott, Merino, Vic, made $1430 for 15, 14-15-month-old Angus steers, and HJ Parker, Kingston SE, made $1420 for its three, 382kg Angus steers. W&LM Ross, Heywood, Vic, made $1400 for 15, Angus steers.
Darren Perry made $1300 for six Angus steers averaging 471kg.
Green Triangle Livestock agent Chris Manser said the sale was dearer compared to the previous market, after widespread rainfall improved market confidence.
"The rain during the past month has stopped a lot of the El Nino panic which was starting to set in," he said.
"There was a lot more confidence in the market and some exceptional cattle attracted strong interest."
In the heifer section, a pen of 17, black baldy females from Holmes Livestock, Mumbannar, Vic, made the $1220 top price.
The weaned heifers were 8-10mths old and Boonaroo, Nampara and Stoney Point-bld.
Roseneath, Millicent, had nine Angus heifers make $1060 and Darren Perry made $1030 for its eight, 455kg Angus heifers.
H E C&C T Crauford had nine, 378kg Angus heifers make $870 and Banboa, Strathdownie, Vic, had a larger run of 27 Angus females make $850.
Paget Contracting offered seven, 384kg Poll Hereford heifers and made $800, while Pepa Hill Pty Ltd had 12, 410kg Angus females make $740.
O'Connor and Graney Mount Gambier stock agent Ben Jones said restockers and local inquiry underpinned the market.
"It was a stronger market across the board, it had a very good lineup of weaners and the confidence was there after the conditions in the past fortnight," he said.
"The previous market was about $2.20 to $2.40 a kilogram and the market has corrected earlier than we anticipated off the back of this rain."
Mount Gambier store cattle sales will recommence on Friday, January 5.
Vanessa Binks
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
I am the Markets Editor and journalist at the Stock Journal. I am based at Nuriootpa in SA's lower north.
