![Norman Gilmore, Nangkita, with brother Byron and his wife Tricia Gilmore, Morella, both from Eight Mile Creek, sold steers at Mount Gambier. Pictures by Kylie Nicholls Norman Gilmore, Nangkita, with brother Byron and his wife Tricia Gilmore, Morella, both from Eight Mile Creek, sold steers at Mount Gambier. Pictures by Kylie Nicholls](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/kylie.nicholls/656a5cc1-c531-4a1c-90a8-faea80d8ecea.jpg/r0_996_2268_3508_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
INTERSTATE and local restocker competition, as well as feedlot support on the heavier end, ensured that prices held firm at last Friday's Mount Gambier store cattle market.
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According to Ben Jones from O'Connor and Graney, prices were fully firm on April's store sale, with the quality runs of cattle selling to strong demand.
"Heavy Angus steers made up to $3.70 kilogram," he said.
"While Angus heifers, depending on the weight and quality were $2.70-$2.80/kg.
"The heaviest end of the Hereford steers was about $3.40/kg, while Hereford heifers, which were back in price at last month's sale, were about 20c/kg better across all weight ranges, making $2.20-$2.40/kg.
"The heavier cattle went to feedlots, and there was strong restocker support from northern Vic, including Mildura, and southern NSW, with a number of RMA agents also operating."
Fetching the top price on the day of $1750 or $3.51/kg was 21 Angus steers, averaging 498kg, in from Terra Nostra Farms, Mumbannar, selling to Teys Australia's Charlton feedlot, Vic, while their second draft of steers, av 501kg, also went to Charlton for an equal top of $1750 or $3.49/kg, as well as 24 Nampara-blood Angus steers, av 389kg, from Nangkita, Eight Mile Creek, for $1430 or $3.67/kg.
![Retired livestock agent Dean Hampel, Victor Harbor, with Jeff McCallum, Willochra, Melrose, who sold 60 Hereford steers and heifers on Friday. Retired livestock agent Dean Hampel, Victor Harbor, with Jeff McCallum, Willochra, Melrose, who sold 60 Hereford steers and heifers on Friday.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/kylie.nicholls/13259e10-eef1-46ba-b1fa-3c676507a97f.jpg/r0_323_4032_2267_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Princess Royal was also operating at the heavier end of the Angus steer portion of the yarding, purchasing 15 European Union-accredited steers, av 488kg, from M Maldari, Coonawarra, for $1730 or $3.54/kg, along with 14 Nampara-bld steers, av 425kg, in from Morella, Eight Mile Creek, for $1520 or $3.57/kg, while a second draft of their steers, av 384kg, sold for $1320 or $3.43/kg to Thomas Foods International.
TFI also bought several other lines of heavy steers, including 10 Te Mania-bld Angus steers, av 529kg, from Bellco, Wallacedale, Vic, for $1700 or $3.21/kg.
Larger lines in the sale included Dismal Swamp, Wepar, who offered 100 Keringa-bld 12-13 month-old Angus steers, with the tops av 360kg, making $1250 or $3.47/kg selling to TFI; while Tuscanna, West Avenue, sold 125 Pasturefed Cattle Assurance Scheme-eligible Angus steers, 7-9mo, weighing between 234-274kg, to a top of $910, with most of the draft bought by Creek Livestock.
The tops of the Hereford steers was paid by Teys Australia's Charlton feedlot, for 11 EU steers, av 486kg, from M Maldari making $1540 or $3.16kg; while close behind them was 17, 16-18mo Allendale-bld steers, av 434kg, from Willochra, Melrose, making $1430 or $3.29/kg, and Stoney Rise, Coonawarra, sold 17 12-13mo steers, av 427kg, for $1410 or $3.30/kg.
![Kaye and Geoff Mitchell, Moredun Hills, Sandford, Vic, bought 93 Angus weaners at last Friday's Mount Gambier store sale. Kaye and Geoff Mitchell, Moredun Hills, Sandford, Vic, bought 93 Angus weaners at last Friday's Mount Gambier store sale.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/kylie.nicholls/23c0660f-33b0-4673-a89a-5b3ab6cd64f1.jpg/r0_0_2268_4027_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
In the heifer run, Wando Ponds, Wando Vale, Vic, sold four Angus heifers, av 501kg for the top on the day of $1480 or $2.95/kg, while nine heifers from Muntham, av 465kg, sold for $1290 or $2.70/kg.
Sunnyside, Casterton, Vic, sold 16 Angus heifers, av 473kg, for $1220 or $2.57/kg, while CM James & Son, Port Macdonnell, sold 13 Dollar Angus-bld heifers, av 434kg for $1300 or $2.90/kg to Princess Royal.
Mt Kingcaid, Mt Richmond, Vic, offered 63, 11-1mo Pathfinder and Banquet-bld Angus PCAS heifers, with 16 weaners, av 370kg, selling for $1130 or $3.05/kg to Princess Royal, while their slightly lighter line of 15 heifers, av 364kg, made $1080 or $2.96/kg, heading to Elders Mildura.
In the Hereford line-up, Adhurst Pastoral, Drik Drik, Vic, sold 16 Days Whiteface-bld heifers, av 381kg, for $990 or $2.59/kg, also going to Mildura, while 20 heifers from Stoney Rise, av 365kg, made $930 or $2.54/kg.