Prices at the final Naracoorte steer weaner sale were at least 30 cents a kilogram higher than the opening sale of the year and more in places as buyers from three states jostled for position on the rail.
Overall in the biggest Naracoorte weaner yarding for the season 3796 steers averaged an impressive $1390.
Nutrien auctioneer Brendan Fitzgerald quoted the sale as 20c/kg dearer on coloured cattle and, 30c/kg on blacks than the January 4 sale and "even more in places."
"People were holding through from the first sale of the New Year hoping the rain would keep happening and it put a few bucks in a few people's pockets," he said.
"I didn't think this sale was going to be any worse than the first sale but if it kept rain it was going to be better and it is.
"People were still wary earlier in the year whether the season would keep going but it has and the feed has got some guts in it."
Three feedlots- TFI's Southern Cross feedlot at Tintinara, Princess Royal, Burra and Teys Jindalee were all in the action and proved there was still plenty of feedlot capacity to fill after a big week of western Vic weaner sales last week.
More cattle headed north than in previous sales with NSW commission buyers Jeremy Cummins and Andrew Lowe filling trucks for orders from as far afield as St George, Qld and Inverell, NSW. They went head to head with local buyers including Coola Station, Kongorong.
The sale kicked off with a few pens of older cattle including 18 Angus from SA&RJ Harvey. These 521kg steers which were about 18 months of age topped the market at $1630 selling to Teys Jindalee.
Sharing top price honours were Hilton Rural, Robe, with 28 March/April 2022 drops which weighed 532kg. They sold to TFI.
The annual draft of 290 February and March drops from Old Fairview, Woolumbool, were again some of the heaviest of the true weaner aged cattle on offer.
Their three lead pens of European Union accredited Angus - which were weaned in December and weighed 456kg - made $1560 selling to TFI while the best of the black baldies - 23 weighing 451kg made $1520.
BS&SL Skeer, Kepari, Penola, were also among the high prices with their heaviest calves making $1570. These 20 head which were 457.2kg were Nampara and Wimberina blds.
RM&GM Walter, Bordertown, received $1470 for 14 Angus weighing 429kg. They were bought by Andrew Lowe on behalf of Paraway Pastoral Co.
First time Naracoorte sellers RF&MP Rogers, Mandala sold 23 steers weighing 428.7kg for $3.40/kg and the followjng pen, another 23 which were 411.7kg sold for the same rate.
KP Pastoral, Frances, sold 21 Roseleigh bld Angus for $3.51/kg. The March/April drops were 363.3kg.
Meadowside Estate, also had an impressive pen of 436.04kg Limousin/Angus cross steers. Their 24 February/March drops made $3.35/kg or $1460.
Another volume vendor with an outstanding draft was Neil Engler, Engler Enterprises with 284 Angus from his Penola and Beachport properties.
"We drafted off anything 350kg and above to sell and will keep the lighter ones to grow out and sell in store sales during the year," he said.
Twenty three head in the Englers' first pen made $3.50/kg which at their 404.57kg weight equated to $1416.
Demand was much stronger on the light weight Angus cattle than the early January sale. They made $3.70-$3.80/kg with one pen of 38 from Beniagh Pastoral, Penola, snatching the limelight and making $3.92/kg.
These six to seven month olds were 246.1kg.
Three pens of EU steers, 72 from Boolara Props, Coonawarra, which were close to 300kg made $3.86/kg, or $1154 all selling to TFI.
TDC Livestock & Property auctioneer Matt Treglown estimated some of heavier cattle made 40c/kg more than the previous sale while the lighter cattle could have been 60c/kg to 70c/kg dearer.
"Our lead pen was $3.35/kg to the feedlot and then your bullock blokes stepped in at $3.50/kg to $3.60/kg but some of the coloured cattle were the ones that took the big price rises," he said.
"People who may have missed out on the blacks and baldies then stepped into the coloured cattle."
Mr Treglown said there was a magnificent offering of EU cattle which again commanded the same 10-15c/kg premium seen in other sales this season.
Another 2200 weaner heifers will be on offer in tomorrow's Naracoorte sale which commences at 9am.
