NARACOORTE
Yarding: 485
Steers to $1856
Heifers to $1611
NUMBERS were down but the quality was up at the Naracoorte, SA, combined agents’ monthly store cattle sale on Thursday last week, with more heavy weight cattle on offer.
There were 271 steers yarded, which topped at $1856 and averaged $1362. The average dollar a kilogram was $3.85/kg.
In the heifers, there were 214 yarded, making to $1611 and averaging $1132, equating to an average of $3.69/kg.
An outstanding line of April-May 2015-drop Angus steers and heifers from D&V Bator, Keith, topped both the steer and heifer offerings. It was a herd dispersal, as they have sold one of their properties.
Their top pen of 12 Granite Ridge-blood steers weighing 501.7kg made $3.70/kg, or $1856.
These sold to Teys Charlton, who fought it out with Thomas Foods International for the feedlot-weight cattle.
Teys Charlton also bought the Bator’s top 10 heifers, weighing 445kg, for $3.62/kg or $1611. Another pen of 13 heifers made $3.64/kg or $1536.
“We always sell at Naracoorte, but have gone out on a high,” Mr Bator said.
“It’s (These prices are) the best we have done.”
Landmark Keith’s Noel Evans said there was strong competition between grass and grain fatteners, both wanting to secure cattle.
“They were killable cattle but we decided to bring them in for the bullock fatteners to put a few extra kilograms on them,” he said.
Wheal Farms, Beachport, sold 61 Angus-Simmentals in the 430-450kg weight to $1708 and averaged $1681.
The European Union-accredited premium was much less than the July store sale – at about 5c/kg compared to 15-20c/kg. Heathdale, Stewarts Range, had 14 well-bred EU Angus, 401kg, selling to $1520 or $3.79/kg. Their 10 heifers made $1460 or $3.60/kg. BJ&YM Mitchell kicked off the sale with seven 458kg Murray Grey steers making $1700 to Teys Charlton and another nine weighing 444kg to TFI for $1660.
The top price steers per kilogram at $4.21/kg was for 20 Angus, averaging 230.5kg, from Hanson Park.
Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen’s Richard Harvie said it was a solid sale quoting heavy steers at $3.75-$3.85/kg and medium to light weights up to $4.20/kg.
Heifers were particularly strong, only making about 15c/kg less than steers.
“It is where the bar has been set and people know they have to pay it,” he said.
“Those heavy cattle are just not coming into the markets.”
Mr Harvie said a crowd of more than 80 people for such a small yarding highlighted the shortage of cattle.
$1900 at Tumut
ABOUT 1400 cattle were offered at the Tumut, NSW, sale on Wednesday last week. Elders Tumut agents Rob Stubbs and Chris Annetts said it was a strong market for all grades that exceeded expectations. “The sale was a fantastic result and good to see the prices achieved by clients who regularly support this annual early spring sale,” Mr Stubbs said. “A strong lineup of steers created frenzied bidding as restockers, lot feeders and commission buyers tried to fill orders.” There was strong local support competing with buyers from Mount Gambier, Tullibigeal, Cootamundra, and the Riverina. W.J. and J. Robertson sold 50 Angus steers to top $1475, while Kurrajong Grove Pastoral also received $1475 for the top of their Angus draft, and Tangarang Pastoral, Gundagai, sold 20 Hereford steers for $1425.
Shore Pastoral recorded $1020 for young Angus heifers,and other sales included PTIC Angus heifers sold by P.J. Malone for $1900, and Joe and Michelle Roddy realised $2700 for second calf Hereford cows with young Charolais-cross calves.
