Mount Gambier cattle prices head for the sky

Prices for light cattle have exploded at Mount Gambier as locals drive demand, with agent David Creek saying the latest sale there was “as strong a sale as I can recall, and I’ve been in the business for 50 years”.

Elders Mt Gambier livestock manager David Creek says the sale is as strong as any he can recall during his 50 years in the business. Picture: Kate Dowler

LIGHTER cattle made up to 800c/kg at the Mt Gambier store sale on Friday as locals pushed prices skywards.

While heavier lines still made a respectable 420-450c/kg for steers weighing about 450kg, it was at the light end of the market where prices exploded.

Elders Mt Gambier livestock manager David Creek said it was “as strong a sale as I can recall, and I’ve been in the business for 50 years”.

“The prices never dropped below 400c/kg and the lighter steers were more like 500-700c/kg,” Mr Creek said.

“Heifer prices were similar, and I saw one line of heifers under 200kg that made about 800c/kg.

“When you are looking at the lighter cattle, it doesn’t seem to matter whether they are steers or heifers as people are buying on a dollar a head basis.”

The offering of about 1000 cattle was depleted by the weather, with about 400 not able to be trucked in due to rain. Even some of those that did make the sale were in trucks that had to be dragged through mud to leave properties.

Some of the best heavy steers came from a property across the border at Heywood, with the Charolais-cross making $1980.

Other heavy steers sold for 400c/kg and more, while heifer rates were close to matching this for most lines.

Mr Creek said he had spoken to a couple who had bought at Friday’s market, who had been hoping prices would come back.

“They said to me they thought the market had been too dear for the past two or three months, but their feed had kept growing so they bought,” he said.

Mr Creek said some traditional weaner vendors might cash their cattle in early based on the high prices.

“I think I’d be taking the money now and then sitting back for the next six to eight weeks and seeing where the market went,” he said.