SOUTH Australian buyers on the hunt for feeder and restocker cattle after recent rain - helped to lift prices at Hamilton yesterday.
The additional SA buying strength lifted feeder steer prices by a further 10 cents a kilogram live weight, while lighter restocker values improved $60-$80 a head in a late-autumn yarding of 1800.
Heavy steers, 450-550kg, were sold to the market top of $1453 a head or 289c/kg lwt.
Steers, 360-450kg, which reflected the short spring and tight autumn weather made 280-301c/kg, while 300-360kg steers made a per kilogram high of 310 cents as overall sales averaged 289c/kg.
The value of smaller 200-300kg steers, however, won the largest price gain on the day.
These were sold in a 280-300c/kg price range which saw only a handful of steer sales drift below $630.
The market for all classes of heifers was also as fiercely contested.
Domestic feeders led the bidding, with a solid rate of 240-275c/kg paid for heavier pens to 495kg.
However several yards consigned from quality-bred herds were purchased by breeders and won a reprieve from the lot feeders’ grasp.
Backgrounder lines of restocker heifers made 230-270c/kg.
