CATTLE-hungry South Australian buyers grabbed the lion's share of a 2700-head yarding offered at Hay, NSW, last Wednesday.
Trucking some 1400 head across the border, the SA continent forked out rates estimated at 180-190c/kg lwt for a limited penning of grown steers, while the weaner dominated yarding - supplied by just vendors - saw steers make 200-240c/kg lwt and heifers 180-195c/kg lwt.
The yarding reflected the better than average winter grazing conditions, with all consignments presented in ideal store condition.
The market top of $920 was paid for a yard of 15-16 month-old Angus steers offered by Henry Watkins, Killara, Mossgiel, NSW.
Estimated at 540kg, these were purchased by Thomas Foods International SA, while a second pen of the same made $855.
James and Monique Watkins, Wakefield, Booligal, NSW, sold pens of Angus-Hereford steers to a best of $830 a head that were also loaded onto the TFI truck, along with a pen of straight Angus steers sold at $770.
A second yard of Wakefield Angus-Hereford steers was sold at $725 to Gordon Patterson, Hells Gate, Balranald, while alone yard of 36 Hereford steers, offered by Galah went to Mt Gambier agency Miller Whan John at $560.
The entire yarding of weaner cattle was offered by Henwood brothers Trevor, Howling, Carrathool, NSW, and Ray from Yammatree, Ivanhoe, NSW.
The lines were Kenny Creek-blood and aged 6-12 months.
Trevor and Alice Henwood's Howlong Angus steers (480 head) made to $600 and averaged $521.50 per head, while Ray Henwood's Yammatree Angus steers (859 head) made to $670, av $618.70.
The principal buyers of the steer lines were MWJ Mt Gambier buying for the Ogilvie Group, P&L Livestock Mt Gambier for Michael Kirby's Mingbool Station and Landmark Adelaide for Tim Roberts-Thompson Juanbong Station at Oxley.
Landmark auctioneer Marc Braybon said competition was fierce with an amazing amount of inquiry shown, especially for the weaner cattle.
He said all lines sold well considering the sale was held at Hay, as transport costs for the majority of the buyers would be substantial.
"There were some very strong sales achieved," he said.
In the heifer section, sales topped at $650: a price bid by Landmark Global Exports. These were the lead pen of the Yammatree heifers, with a second pen of the same also taken by the live exporter at $585.
The draft of 792 Yammatree heifers made $420-$650, av $531.80, while 435 Howlong heifers made to $450 and $424.70/head.
Gordon Patterson, Hell Gate, paid $600 three times for two yards of Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers sold by Wakefield and a yard of EU Angus offered by Wangara.
Ray White Keatley Mt Gambier secured four drafts of the Yammatree Angus heifers paying $510-$555, while MWJ Mt Gambier for the Ogilvie Group scored four drafts of the Howlong Angus heifers paying $365-$450.
