Strathalbyn prices lift with active buyers gallery

A yarding of about 900 weaner steers and heifers had prices lift an estimated 50 cents to 70c a kilogram on Friday, compared with the final market of 2023, according to Elders Strathalbyn's Brett Peters.

"There was a very good lineup of cattle and good support," he said.

"There are some very pleased vendors with a lot sold in the $3-$3.40/kg bracket."

He said cattle selling for about $3/kg often worked as a good boost for vendor's confidence.

Nutrien Strathalbyn's Bradley Walker agreed there was a dearer trend with good support.

"It was a pleasure to see a lot of faces I haven't seen in a long time," he said.

He said buyers came from the Upper South East, Yorke Peninsula, West Coast, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island - with all active.

"The rain has provided opportunity for people, I have had people ringing me in the past week," he said.

"It's also the time of the year - we know numbers generally do run out at the end of January and early February.

"We've seen the bottom of the market and, as the market rises, people are looking at opportunities."

The sale topped at $1300 for a run 14, 432kg March/April-drop Angus-Composite steers from D&R Stone, working out to $3.01/kg.

The same vendor had the second highest pen with 21, 373kg steers making $1140 or $3.06/kg.

Also making $1140 was Mt Beare, Mount Compass, for 15, 366kg February/March-drop Angus, and Bowles Nominees, Mount Compass, with 11, 367kg March/April-drop Lancaster-blood Angus-Simmentals, both equating to $3.11/kg.

R Palma & Sons, Hahndorf, had nine, 367kg February/March-drops make $1130 or $3.08/kg.

TF Lawson sold 14, 375kg January/February-drop Angus-Shorthorns at $1120 or $2.98/kg.

Raeburn Rural, Strathalbyn, had 10, 363kg March/April-drop Stoney Point and Glatz's Black Angus-blds make $1100 or $3.03/kg, with $1100 also paid for five, 371kg Angus from HP Wright, making $2.94/kg.

In the dollars a kilogram, the highest price paid was $3.48/kg for 13, 253kg May/June-drop Angus from CWJ&CE Clark at $880, while RD&LP Howard, Penneshaw, sold 10, 238kg July/August-drop Murray Greys at $820 or $3.45/kg.

Broadbent Ag, Macclesfield, had 15, 264kg March/April-drop Newlyn Park and Glenfern-bld Angus make $890 or $3.37/kg.

Another run of 18, 239kg Murray Grey steers from RD&LP Howard made $790 or $3.31/kg.

Corriedale Hills, Inman Valley, sold 15, 235kg May/June-drop Shorthorns at $780 or $3.32/kg.

Seven M Springs sold 10, 290kg April/May-drop Alpine Angus and Binnowie-blds at $940 or $3.24/kg.

The improvements in the heifers were less pronounced, but there was also a rise there.

"Heifers didn't see the rise of the steers but would still have been probably 20-30c/kg up on the last sale," Mr Peters said.

"There was plenty of opportunity to buy good heifers to put out."

D&R Stone had 19, 385kg Angus-Composite heifers make $990 or $2.57/kg,

I&WA Hunt sold five, 401kg Angus at $900 or $2.55/kg.

R Palma & Sons had 17, 385kg February/March-drops make $870 or $2.56/kg.

Corriedale Hills sold 19, 224kg Shorthorns at $570 or $2.54/kg.

The next market will be held at Strathalbyn on January 19 with plans for another two markets in February.