Naracoorte heifers hit $3.57/kg

Pre-sale, many pundits predicted the best heifers would make $3 a kilogram, but the majority of the heifer weaners in the 1092-head yarding sold in the $3.20-$3.40/kg range.

This was driven by several large orders, with four buyers taking home more than 100 heifers.

The tops of the heifers sold in c/kg made $3.57/kg, just a few c/kg less than the best of the steers at $3.60/kg.

This ensured vendors were $200 or more a head in front of 2014, despite many selling weaners a few weeks earlier.

Phil and Jean Biggins, Biggin Hill Trust, Lochaber topped the sale with two magnificent pens of 46 March/April 2015-drop Pathfinder-blood Angus weighing 328kg and 316kg.

The young females, which made $1173 and $1128 respectively, were bought by Nampara Pastoral Company, Penola, which will sell them later as mated heifers.

Underbidders on the sale toppers Rob and Margaret Patterson, Drysdale, Ballangeich, were also looking for heifers to join.

They bought 65, including 19 black baldies from BJ&KM Staude, Millicent for $1045.

Mr Patterson said prices were 30c/kg above their expectations.

"It was $100 dearer than we thought but they are good cattle here."

The complete dispersal draft of European Union-accredited Angus heifers from Graham, Chris and David Box, Box Hill, Avenue Range, were in the first pens of the day and set the buoyant trend.

Their 179 March/April-drop heifers topped at $1002 and averaged $850, with all going on to be mated.

Gippsland, Vic-based Lou and Rose Maher bought the sale's first five pens - totalling 106 heifers - for between $3.30-$3.32/kg through Rodwells Sale.

The Mahers were determined not to go home without the Pathfinder and Granite Ridge-blood heifers, which they said had outstanding conformation and structure.

"We came specifically for these bloodlines and expected we may have to go past $1000. We had a limit but it was $8/kg," Mr Maher joked.

S&R DiGiorgio & Sons, Lucindale was the sale's largest vendor with 299 well-bred February/March 2015-drop heifers, av $791.

The tops of their Sterita Park-bloods, 271kg, made $3.24/kg or $878.

Also among the high prices were PG McCallum Farm Trust, Stewarts Range with 13 Angus heifers, 337kg, for $3.25/kg or $1095.

The sale's volume buyer was Todd Clements, Bowyer and Livermore, Bathurst, NSW with 280.

He was closely followed by the Ogilvie family, Apsley, Vic through Miller Whan & John with 243.

Only a quarter of the heifers remained in SA with the biggest order from Pinkerton Palm Hamlyn & Steen Penola.

Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson auctioneer Darren Maney quoted both the steer and heifer sale 20-30c/kg better than expected.

"The NSW rains have all helped but I thought three or four major orders set the base for the sale," he said. "The local buying support was minimal with most people in the Lower SE still waiting to sell bullocks.

"The values the cattle were making on Thursday and Friday would be acceptable if we were getting $6/kg but at the hooks rates we are only getting $5.60/kg so I wouldn't like to see it get any dearer."

The Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange's facilities were an added attraction for Vic and NSW buyers, with the soft flooring and roof making it a premier selling venue.

"In the past two to three years we have seen more and more interstate buyers here. They know they can buy the cattle and truck them to the other end of Australia," Mr Maney said.