MOUNT GAMBIER CATTLE – SEPTEMBER 30
Numbers eased slightly as agents yarded 597 head of live-weight and open auction cattle.

These sold to another large field of trade and processor buyers with feeders again active with a small number of restockers also operating.

Quality was generally good with more finish on offer this week as the market mainly ranged from firm to slightly dearer in places.

A small offering of vealers came forward as both steers and heifers sold to a high of 410c/head.

Yearling steers to the trade ranged from 384c to 403c to lift 10c on a limited supply as similar heifers returned from 348c to 399c/kg.

Feeder steers made from 356c to 412c as feeder heifers sold from 350c to 398c/kg.

Grown steers and bullocks were of better quality this week as the trade operated from 330c to 394c to remain unchanged in price as feeders were active here from 346c to 392c and a small number of extra heavy bullocks sold to 325c/kg.

Grown heifers to the trade ranged from 302c to 350c as feeders sought supply from 322c to 354c and manufacturing steers returned from 312c to 328c/kg.

Heavy cows lifted up to 8c as they ranged from 280c to 309c with the lighter types selling from 190c to 272c as feeders operated from 244c to 289c/kg.

Bulls ranged from 230c to 290c/kg.

NARACOORTE CATTLE – SEPTEMBER 29

Numbers lifted as agents yarded 963 head of live weight and open auction cattle.

These sold to a larger field of trade, restocker and feeder buyers who all competed for supply.

Quality was mixed with less of the heavy cattle this week with this being balanced by a better line up of cows as the market ranged in price from firm to slightly better in places.

A small offering of vealers came forward with both the trade and feeders active here as steers made from 410c to 434c, with the heifers returning from 312c to also 434c/kg.

Yearling steers to the trade sold from 368c to 420c with similar heifers making from 340c to 410c/kg.

Feeder steers were again sought after as they made from 355c to 423c with feeder heifers selling from 280c to 412c/kg.

Restockers operated here on steers from 401c to 427c and on heifers from 356c to 398c/kg.

Grown steers and bullocks were small in number as they ranged from 340c to 385c to the trade with feeder interest from 370c to 408c as grown heifers returned from 302c to 388c and manufacturing steers sold to 254c/kg.

Heavy cows remained firm in price as they ranged from mainly 278c to 305c with a high of 324c in an isolated sale as the lighter selection ranged from 240c to 265c to the trade with feeder support from 265c to 289c/kg.

Heavy bulls returned from 235c to 285c with light weights to a restocker selling to 358c/kg.

NARACOORTE SHEEP – SEPTEMBER 29

Numbers continue to climb as new season lambs start to dominate the pens with 9,092 mostly new season lambs and 3,476 sheep combined to total 12,568 head overall with a lift of over 5,000 head today at Naracoorte.

These sold to the usual array of trade and processor buyers with more active restockers this week. Quality was good with the offering showing some good weights and being very fresh in the skin in a buoyant market that spiked in price in line with other markets.

The sale had a lift of $10 to $20 on the lambs, with sheep lifting as well by $5 to $8/head as processors competed strongly for supply.

Light new season lambs ranged from $93 to $139, with the light-weight trade types returning from $136 to $148/head.

Restockers were active this week in greater numbers as they sourced light lambs from $55 to $99 and from $107 to $144/head for those with more conditioning.

Trade weight 3 score lambs peaked at around the 800c area as they ranged from $141 to $180/ head as most lambs ranged from 720c to 780c/kg cwt.

Heavy lambs were well supplied as they sold from $164 to $208 as the extra heavy pens made from $196 to the market high of $235/head.

Light old lambs ranged from $80 to $132 with the trade weight selection returned from $128 to $159 with the heavy pens ranging from $160 to a high of $213/head.

Hoggets sold from $128 to $167 as the light ewes ranged from $55 to $109/head.

Medium weighted ewes made from $113 to $139 as most ewes ranged from 520c to 580c/kg cwt, heavy pens returning from $125 to a high of $203 as a line of merino ewes with a large skin returned to the paddock from $201 to $222/ head to a restocker.

Wethers sold from $112 to $192 as rams ranged from $105 to $130/head.