Steers sold to $3.65 a kilogram at Strathalbyn on Friday, with most categories firm to much better than the previous March sale.
Nutrien Strathalbyn agent Ben Dickenson quoted feeder cattle as firm, while grassfed lots, 250-340 kilograms, were popular and slightly dearer, with hopes among the buying fraternity that it would rain soon.
He said Mid North, Upper SE and EP buyers were particularly evident.
Marble Hill sold the top price steers - 12 Sept/Oct 2023-drop Angus weighing 238kg which made $870 a head.
Also doing well on dollars/head was B Blefari & Son, who sold nine August/Sept 2023-drop Angus steers, 290kg, which made $1010 or $3.48/kg, while D Tucker, Strathalbyn, sold seven Jan/Feb 2023-drop Angus weaned steers, 436kg, at $3.42/kg or $1490 - which was also the top per head price on the day.
West Creek, Langhorne Creek, sold 16 Sept/Oct 2023-drop Angus steers, 243kg, at $850 or $3.50/kg, while their second pen of 17 at 297kg made $1010 or $3.40/kg.
Schofield & Osterman, Woodchester, sold 13 Millah Murrah-blood Oct/Nov 2023-drop Angus steers, 255kg, at $870 or $3.41/kg, while first time vendor West Ella Pastoral, Harrogate, sold 14 yard weaned Aug/Sept 2023-drop Angus steers, 314kg, also at $3.41/kg or $1070.
In the heifer section, M White sold the highest dollar price pen with nine Stoney Point-blood March/April 2023-drop Angus weighing 273kg at $740 or $2.71/kg.
B Blefari & Son, Flaxley, again sold well, with their 10 Aug/Sept 2023-drop Angus, 264kg, making $710 or $2.69/kg, while their second pen of 17 at 248kg made $650 or $2.62/kg.
AM Pecanek, Mount Jagged, sold seven April/May 2023-drop Allendale-blood Angus weaners, 356kg, at $950 or $2.67/kg, while MT Hunt sold 24 May/June 2023-drop empty Angus weaners, 306kg, at $800 or $2.61/kg.
Coorain Farm, Port Elliot, sold 11 June/July 2023-drop Tooperangus-blood weaners, 321kg, at $830 or $2.58/kg, while first time vendor Hotel Project #3, Ashbourne, sold six yard weaned Angus, 350kg, at $900 or $2.57/kg.
A number of cow units were also offered, with RL Carmichael & Son, Weetulta, selling eight Hereford cows with black baldy calves at-foot at $1700, while a second pen of nine Hereford cows which had been running with an Angus bull made $1460.
Oswin, Brukunga, sold PTIC cows, with four 2020-drop Angus making $750, seven 2014-drop Angus making $700 and 12 2018-drop Murray Greys made $930.