Record prices as cattle sale comes back

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1718

p2252-cattle-sale-6By ERWIN CHLANDA
 
Records tumbled at the cattle sale in Alice Springs today when $2.5m worth of stock was sold to buyers from five states.
 
Steers fetched up to $2.94 a kilo and heifers $2.70, both types averaging $2.50.
 
The prices are “well in excess of previous records,” says veteran stockagent Jock McPherson.
 
The yarding was 2898 head at the region’s main sale, traditionally held on the day before the annual show.
 
However, last year drought canceled the sale, making this boomer more than welcome for this outback cattle region.
 
NT Cattlemen’s Association CEO Tracey Hayes said it was a great opportunity for Central Australian pastoralists to showcase their product. The lineup included EU and Organic certified cattle.
 
About 30 vendors were represented from the region of about a million square kilometres.
 
Three agents handled the offering – Territory Rural McPherson, Landmark and Elders.
 
The highest priced steers, 87 milk tootp2252-cattle-sale-2h Hereford Angus cross, came from Lucy Creek and the Brangus heifers from Napperby.
 
Although there is a relatively new rail line – for decades the traditional way cattle were transported to the markets – the current operator, Genesee & Wyoming, does not offer the service any longer.
 
These cattle will be taken to South Australia, NSW and Victoria by roadtrain, mostly to feed lots and fattening up farms.
 
For the first time there were live export buyers present – these cattle will be shipped overseas via Broome in WA, and Darwin.
The transport costs are about $80 a head to SA – more for further destinations.
 
 

4 COMMENTS

  1. You need to read the stock journal record prices for steers at narracorte sa 1615 dollars per head and top heifers 1160 per head

  2. @ Fred the Philistine: You talking per head, and the article is talking kilos.
    Angus and Hereford can weigh as little as 2000 lbs (907 kg) to as much as 3000 lbs (1361 kg).
    Do the maths:)

  3. @ Evelyne: I know exactly what I am talking about. I think you need to do your sums again. The steers brought state record prices, of 33.9 cents/kg. They were purchased by Teys Bros of Naracoorte.
    They were sold by Peter Degarsn and Anthony Brauhn on behalf of Woakwine Station in SE South Australia. 460 kg bullock is not a heavy bullock. Steers here only bought 29.4 cents/kg.
    In saying all this, Coles and Wolworths like their bullocks between 460-480 as the average city family does not like large T-bones. Usually the heavier steers the buyers pay bull price and are killed on the bull line where the chain is heavy duty.
    In the football season, the prices increase as they go into the pies sold at the football finals.
    European breeds will outweigh the Herefords and Angus. McDonald’s beef is totally Angus beef. I have seen years when NT stock have been trucked to Dublin sale yards and the producers received a bill back.

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