Erratic pricing across the cattle market continued at Naracoorte combined agents' monthly store sale on Thursday last week but demand from feedlotters and northern operators which received rainfall, underpinned the sale's better result.
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Numbers reached about 2900 head and there was a lift in returns for Angus steers with weight, after processors and feedlotters jumped on well-bred runs.
The $2071 or $3.22 a kilogram top price was made by Haven Park for its three, February/March 2022-drop Angus Glatz-blood steers which averaged 643 kilograms. The European Union-Accredited steers were snapped up by Corcoran Parker Pty Ltd.
The same vendor offered a run of 34, August 2022-drop Angus steers and made the $1920 or $3.66/kg second-highest price. The run averaged 524kg and sold to Thomas Foods International, who were also noticeably on the hunt for heavy steers.
KM Jardine made $1920 or $3.21/kg for five steers averaging 598kg, the small offering went to Hopkins River, while the same buyer continued to operate on 500kg plus heavy Angus steers, snapping up a further one 595kg steer from BG&HR Maddern at $1910 or $3.21/kg.
Remaining at the top end of the sale was S Fitzgerald & K Wilbelt which made $1880 or $3.51/kg for 17, 535kg Angus steers to TFI, the same vendor offered a further 16 at 516kg and made $1700 or $3.29/kg to TFI.
HL Robertson made $1880 or $3.25/kg for four, 577kg Angus steers to Hopkins River.
Vendors offering "better" or prime cattle were rewarded according to Nutrien Ag Solutions agent Brendan Fitzgerald, with heavier steers and heifers attracting solid demand.
"This market, vendors had to be in the feedlot weights or black cattle, or 500-600kg cattle for Hopkins River," he said.
"The market is catching up a bit. Prime cows have gone up and down 20 cents a kilogram in a matter of weeks though but for what reason, I am not sure. Returns should not be so erratic."
Demand for quality stock with weight attracted bids as dry conditions prompted producers to sell off cattle earlier, at lower weights.
"Feedlotters and processors are looking for steers and heifers, as the numbers have reduced and quality is certainly becoming an issue," Mr Fitzgerald said.
Steers between 465kg-535kg remained in solid demand, with the top end pens in this weight-range making a top of $1797 or $3.42/kg for 30, Angus crossbred steers from Haven Park to Corcoran Parker. The same vendor offered 21, EU-accredited 480kg steers and made $1787 or $3.72/kg to TFI.
A run of 21, 474kg, March/April 2023-drop Magpie Park-bld Angus steers from Helen Treloar made $1794 or $3.78/kg to Midfield Group, while $1789 or $3.45/kg was made for four, 518kg Angus steers from D Giles to TFI.
JG Schultz had seven, 522kg steers make $1764 or $3.38/kg to active bidder TFI while Gaden Agriculture had 16, April/May 2022-drop 466kg steers make $1720 or $3.69/kg to TFI.
CC Seymour and Co made $1669 or $3.12/kg to Elders Yea, Vic, for its one, 535kg Angus steer.
BK&BJ Hebberman's five, 465kg Yerwal-bld, March/April 2023-drop Angus steers made $1664 or $3.58/kg to Midfield Group and TC&JW Crompton made $1630 or $3.26/kg for one, 500kg Pathfinder-bld, February/March 2023-drop steer to Elders Yea.
There were 1445 heifers presented and IR&JS Ferguson Trading Trust made the section $1430 or $3.14/kg top price. The run of 15, JB Angus-bld October/November 2023-drop heifers averaged 455kg and sold to Miller Whan & John.
Ann Warner made the section's second-highest price of $1360 or $3.06/kg. The 17, JB Angus-bld October/November 2022-drop, 444kg Angus heifers went the same way.
Miller Whan & John operated strongly on top end runs of Angus heifers, after snapping up 18, Granite Ridge and Glazt-bld August/September 2022-drop, 471kg lots from Branson Partners at $1390 or $2.95/kg.
PJ&MS Carling made $1350 or $2.86 for its seven, Bull Oak Well-bld February/March 2023-drop, 471kg Angus heifers which went the same way.
Miller Whan & John continued to compete across most weight ranges of heifers and made the final bid on Lake Ellen's eight, Bull Oak Well-bld February/March 2023-drop 459kg heifers, at $1330 or $2.89/kg.
S Fitzgerald & K Wilbelt offered a further four, Woonallee-bld 475kg, January 2023-drop heifers and made $1300 or $2.73/kg to the same buyer.
IR&JS Ferguson Trading Trust had 17, 412kg heifers make $1300 or $3.15/kg to Bottlejac Trading Company, while Jacdavlyn Pastoral Company made $1270 or $3.30/kg for 19, Granite Ridge-bld, 384kg April/May 2023-drop EU-heifers to Elders Mildura, Vic.
A small offering of 17 cow and calves reached a top of $1440 for six 763kg cows from GC&A Eddy to Jala Olel, while Wroxton Partners made the same return for its seven cows and nine calves to Ray White Rural Albury, NSW.