Prices were above vendors’ expectations on the opening day of the Naracoorte Christmas Calf Sales, with well over half of the yarding heading interstate to buyers from Gippsland, Vic to further into NSW.
Many of the weaners were 40 kilograms or more lighter than a good year with SE producers likely to long remember 2024 as one of the driest seasons on record.
This made the freight bill a more viable proposition for many interstate buyers who are enjoying a much better season.
In the end with the lift in cents-a-kilogram rates many sellers were in front of 2023 per head returns.
The 3093 head yarding included cattle from three agents – TDC Livestock & Property, Nutrien and SAL. Of these, 2321 were steers which averaged 320kg and $1267 while 772 heifers averaged $900.
Nutrien Naracoorte’s Nick Heffernan with clients Nick, Clare and Natalia Harris, Nanni DiGiorgio, Rory Townsend and Lester Lamont, Sterita Park Pastoral, Lucindale, sold 260 Angus steers to $1521, averaging $1301. Picture by Catherine Miller
The annual draft from Sterita Park Pastoral, Lucindale, who are also renowned Angus stud breeders, also sold well. Their 260 February to April-drop steers sold to $4.08/kg and averaged $1301.
The heaviest of these made $1521.
“Last year we had some of the heaviest weaners we had ever seen but we are 50 kilograms down this year but we have averaged $150 a head more and are up more than $1/kg,” Sterita Park’s Nanni DiGiorgio said.
“About a month ago we didn’t think we would see anything near as good as that so to achieve what we did in probably our worst year in who knows how long we have been doing this is fantastic.
“I thought they presented well as a group and we didn’t hold back anything – they were all here.”