Mount Pleasant held its March, breeder and weaner sale this week and yarded a strong 500-head of well-presented cattle.
A big representation of local producers in the sale helped to attract competitive bidding and well-presented steers fetched solid returns which were inline with overall market trends.
Steers with a lot of weight made to $1458 or $2.76 a kilogram, for two, 528-kilogram steers from AMP Farms Trust, Tungkillo.
But steers in the 400-500kg weight-range fell away slightly but still held good value, after GE&GK Beaton, Kapunda, made $1303 or $2.80/kg, for a 465kg steer, as well as $1253 or $3.12/kg for four, 400kg steers.
AJ& JI Bowd, Mount Pleasant, made $1219 or $2.84/kg for a 429kg steer, while well-presented types in the 330-400kg range made to $1101 or $2.78/kg, for a 396kg steer from Tara Hills Pastoral, Tungkillo.
NH&DM Kies, Lyndoch, made $1073 or $2.78/kg, for two 386kg steers, while RS&JF Watkins, Monarto, had seven steers make $1050 or $2.78/kg.
In the 280-330kg section, J Pollock, Keyneton, made $895 or $2.88/kg for four, 310kg steers, while MacLachlan Props, Pewsey Vale, had four 311kg steers make $865 or $2.78/kg.
Well-presented lighter types held value when compared to heavier steers which were offered, with the 200-280kg section ranging between $637 and $688 or $2.42/kg to $2.78/kg.
IR&JW Johns, Keyneton, made the top price in this section, after its three, 278kg steers made $688 or $2.78/kg.
In a large yarding of heifers, a pair of 532kg Angus heifers from GC&DC Watts, Brukunga, made the heavy section's top price of $1385 or $2.60/kg.
A group of four 507kg Murray Grey heifers from Ashvell Murray Greys, Maitland, made $1360 or $2.67/kg
M Hurst, Paracombe, had two 597kg heifers make $1200 or $2.00/kg, while in the 400-500kg section, GC&DC Watts made $1246 or $2.60/kg for two 479kg heifers, while AMP Farms Trust made $1232 or $2.46/kg, for one 467kg heifer.
Heading into the lighter types, RS&JF Watkins had four 370kg make $948 or $2.56/kg, while Q Seeliger, Flaxman Valley, had five 377kg heifers make $951 or $2.52/kg, and the 200-280kg section made between $496 or $590.
In the cow and calf run, WR Bellman, Bugle Ranges, had three, 913kg Angus females make $1940 or $2.12, while AR&JK Daniel, Long Plains, made $1800 or $2.16/kg, for 13, 831kg Speckle Park pregnancy tested and in-calf females.
Barossa Lowlines, Mount Crawford, had one 757kg cow with calf make $1440 or $1.90, while GD Wicks & Son, Kenton Valley, had one 789kg cow with calf make $1420 or $1.79/kg.
The cow section certainly held its value, with the section reaching a top of $1580 or $2.03/kg, for a 777kg cow, and the same vendor had a further two, 693kg cows make $1520 or $2.19/kg.
DC Holt, Flaxman Valley, made $1500 or $2.22/kg for two 674kg cows and the same vendor made $1420 or $2.27/kg for five 623kg cows.
Middle-range weight cows reached $814 or $1.92/kg, for GD Wicks & Son's three 424kg cows, while High Eden East, Flaxman Valley, made $720 or $1.70/kg for four 422kg cows.
The remaining lots in this section made between $700 to $720, and 330-400kg cows made $135 to $420 or 40 cents/kg to $1.24/kg.
The next market at Mount Pleasant will be held on March 21.
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.
