Minimal rain since January and disappearing paddock feed resulted in reduced prices at the Strathalbyn cattle sale on Friday.
Elders Strathalbyn branch manager Danny Reynolds said the market had "all the hallmarks of being much tougher than it actually was".
He quoted steers 200-280kg at $3.15/kg or $825; 280-330kg at $2.90/kg or $885; 330-400kg at $3/kg or $1100; and 400-plus at $3.05/kg or $1330.
"The cattle have once again presented in very good order with plenty of weight for this time of the year," he said.
Steers averaged around $3 a kilogram, he said.
"Steers were generally 15-20c/kg easier than last time around, with the top price reaching $3.40/kg for a line of very well-bred blacks," he said.
J William sold 13 March/April 2023-drop Allandale-blood Angus weaners, 293kg, at $1000 or $3.41/kg; while Koolah Trust sold 18 Angus weaners, 288kg, at $950 or $3.30/kg.
Ball Pastoral Group sold 12 July/August 2023-drop Angus, 268kg, at $870 or $3.25/kg; while LBP Versteegh & B Decker sold seven April/May 2023-drop Angus, 386kg, at $1250 or $3.24/kg.
The sale's top steer price per head of $1390 went to Coorain Farm for their six June/July 2023-drop Tooperangus-blds, 452kg, equating to $3.08/kg; while the next highest of $1330 went to the first pen of the day from Follett Vineyard, whose 10 Angus weighing 435kg made $3.05/kg.
Manyara Wines, Harrogate, sold 10 April/May 2023-drop Angus, 397kg, at $1280 or $3.22/kg; while IR Rothe sold six May 2023-drop Simmental-Limousin steers, 419kg, at $1270 or $3.03/kg.
In the heifer section, Mr Reynolds quoted 200-280kg lots at $2.25/kg or $600; 280-330kg at $2.25/kg or $710; 330-400kg at $2.20/kg or $770.
"Heavy weights 330kg-plus were 20c/kg easier, but lighter heifers were 5-10c/kg dearer," he said.
"Lightweight heifers topped at $2.50/kg. This was due to a large pastoral order operating today, which helped proceedings."
Crawford Cattle Co sold 14 Sept/October 2023-drop Angus-cross heifer weaners, 251kg, at $630 or $2.50/kg, plus another four Murray Grey-crosses, 259kg, at $620 or $2.39/kg.
Broadbent Ag, Macclesfield, sold 18 Newlyn Park and Glenfern-bld April/May 2023-drop Angus heifers, 279kg, at $690 or $2.47/kg; while Peter Crafter sold 20 Pathfinder-bld May-July 2023-drop Angus, 299kg, at $740 or $2.47/kg, plus another 12 at $570.
J McHugh sold 10 April/May 2023-drop Angus heifers, 317kg, at $770 or $2.43/kg; while MG&SJ Zacher sold 17 May 2023-drop Murray Grey weaners, 328kg, at $780 or $2.38/kg.
The top heifer per head price of $840 went to K Fryar, Watipinga, for seven Feb/March 2023-drop Pathfinder/Stoney Creek/Bulloak Well-bld Angus heifers, 389kg, equating to $2.16/kg, who also sold 14 at 353kg at $780 or $2.21/kg.
Strangway Falls sold 19 April/May 2023-drop Ferndale Park-bld Red Angus heifers at $800 or $2.29/kg; while A Coles sold eight Nov/Dec 2022-drop Angus weaners at $760 or $2.30/kg.
Light heifers with calves at foot ranged from $1260 to $1360.
The tops were four first-calvers with four 4-6 week-old calves at-foot from Chona Pastoral; while S Squires sold two Angus heifers, run back with an Angus bull, and their two Angus CAF at $1260.
The next Strathalbyn sale will be held on May 5, with agents emphasising the new start time of 11am.
Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
