THE fortnightly Pakenham store sale last Thursday started off with very limited competition but improved as the sale progressed, according to Dan Cameron, SEJ Pakenham.
"The quality was, overall, down at this sale but the well-breed cattle sold well. Secondary cattle were cheaper," Mr Cameron said.
The softer competition reflected the downward trend at store and prime markets across much of Victoria, he said.
"Compared to other sale centres we got out alright especially as it is becoming dry enough here - we need follow up rain, especially in South Gippsland."
In the steers, the heavier offering were some $40 to $50 a head cheaper than a fortnight ago, Mr Cameron said.
"However, well-bred weaners up to 250 to 300 kilograms sold firm."
Among the highlights of the heavier steers was a pen of nine Angus steers, average weight 546 kilograms, offered by A&KJ McFarlane, Modella, made $970.
Cocking and Webster, Yoroke, sold 10 Angus steers, 007 blood, 508kg, for $920.
Paterson and Hutchinson, Clyde, sold 40 Angus and Angus cross weaners. Their top-priced pen was six Angus/Belgian Blue steers that sold for $845. Their steers sold for an av of $728, and heifers for $614.
Geralem Services, Woodside North, sold two Angus steers for $835 and 12 for $568, and 23 heifers av $400.
Killarney Park, Warragul, sold five Angus steers, 414kg for $785. Five of their lighter brothers made $475 to $630.
RB&KG Peterson, Lyndhurst, sold 14 Angus steers, 16-18 months, for $780.
Coola Station, Mt Gambier, South Australia, sold 98 Angus and Poll Hereford steers that were well-bred with Western District bloodlines but lacked condition due to the dry conditions in East SA. The 38 Angus steers sold from $625-$715 and the Poll Herefords from $610-$700.
The biggest volume vendor of the sale was Mutooroo Pastoral Company that sold 117 Poll Hereford steers, 7-13 months, 220-260kg, Allendale bld, from its Quinyambie Station, north of Broken Hill, that av $493; and from its Mulyungarie Station, also near Broken Hill, 62 Poll Hereford steers, av $381 and 26 heifers for $234.
Among the top-priced heifers were a pen Morgan family, of Yanakie, sold 11 Angus/Fresian heifers, unjoined, two years old, to $645.
Danny Durik, Woodstock, sold 23 Angus steers, Te Mania bld, forward condition to good competition, with 11 of them, 290kg, making $655 and 12, 264kg, making $630. He also sold 12 heifers of the same breeding, 245kg, for $450.
There was only one commission buyer operating at the sale who provided some competition to the mostly South and West Gippsland buyers.
Cows and calves were "tough enough", according to Mr Cameron, many pens failing to reach their split value.
Among the exceptions were Panoram Limousin stud, Corienella, that sold five registered Limousin cows, mixed ages, with calves, 4-6 weeks to $2200, av $1875.
H Fisher, Jindivick, sold nine Fresian-cross cows with Limousin CAF to $1240, av $1170.