Despite recent rains, confidence in the cattle job didn't improve at Strathalbyn on Friday.
Elders Strathalbyn branch manager Danny Reynolds said the steer job "took a bit of a hit" to be cheaper by 10 cents to 20c in the middle weights, while lighter types compared to last sale were back around 30c a kilogram.
"Weights topped out at about 380kg, which sold for $2.60-$2.75/kg," he said.
"Once again, quality declined with weights as light as 193kg on offer. These lighter, lesser quality cattle were cheaper compared to last sale by as much as 10-30c.
"But the sale was far from doom and gloom, with the top pen of the sale belonging to P&MP Rumbold (Fleurieu) for their 10 Angus steers, which sold for $1060 or $2.73/kg."
The top per head steer price of $1060 also went to the first pen of the day from AP Manning & GM Shallow, Woodside, who sold 20 March/April-drop Angus steers weighing 377kg ($2.81/kg).
The top per kilogram steer price of $2.94/kg ($750) went to 12 April/May-drop weaned Angus, Boonarkm and Blackstone bloods, weighing 255kg, from Crawford Cattle Co, Mount Torrens.
Nutrien Ag Solutions livestock sales' Andrew Wilson said Nutrien's heavier steers 360-400kg sold from $2.61-$2.88/kg; 300-360kg steers made $2.71-$2.90/kg; while 250-300kg lots sold between $2.44-$2.89/kg.
Also selling well were four February/March-drop Angus steers weighing 264kg from Diano & Chalmers, Brukunga, which sold at $760 or $2.88/kg, while a second pen of 11 weighing 277kg made $780 or $2.82/kg.
A few steer pens made $2.83/kg including for D&R Furnell, Ashbourne, who received $1030 from Princess Royal for 16 February/March-drop Glatz Angus-bld weaners weighing 364kg, plus $920 for another 12 weighing 325kg; PJ Dawson, Dingabledinga, sold 18 March/April-drop Newlyn Park-bld Angus and Angus-crosses at $950 or $2.83/kg to Bruce Creek; while Caralma Pastoral Co, Macclesfield, sold two April/May-drop Angus weighing 276kg at $780 or $2.83/kg.
Kosareff Land & Cattle, Ashbourne, also received a good price of $1050 from Princess Royal for 14 March/April-drop Pathfinder and Glatz-bld Angus weighing 373kg ($2.81/kg); a second pen of 12 weighing 315kg made $890 or $2.82/kg; while a third pen of six at 281kg made $790 or $2.81/kg.
Mr Reynolds said the heifer job was back about 10 cents in the medium to light weights, while the heavier heifers remained firm.
"The vendor bred cattle that were weaned and in good condition generally sold quite well," he said.
"The quality of the yarding varied quite a bit with some good quality in the top lines of heifers with weights up to 420kg, however, the quality fell away quickly, with heifer weights reaching a low of 175kg."
Mr Wilson said Nutrien's 300-350kg heifer lots sold from $1.91-$2.48/kg; while 250-300kg lots made $2.28-$2.55/kg.
Diano & Chalmers received $2.55/kg or $600 for 11 February/March-drop Angus weaners weighing 235kg; while a second pen of four at 284kg made $700 or $2.46/kg.
Kosareff Land & Cattle sold eight March/April-drop Pathfinder and Glatz-bld Angus weaners weighing 283kg at $700 or $2.47/kg, while a second pen of 14 weighing 307kg made $740 or $2.41/kg.
The top heifer per head price of $910 went to CD&J Bonsor, Tintinara, for their 11 November/December 2022-drop Arki-bld Murray Greys weighing 392kg ($2.32/kg); while BD&CA Hughes, Highbury, received $900 for 27 2022-drop Angus weaners weighing 368kg ($2.45/kg).
BD&CA Hughes also sold the sole cow and calf pen of the sale - a unit of Angus at $870.
The next Strathalbyn cattle market is on January 5.
