CATTLE broke through the 300 cents-a-kilogram barrier at Bairnsdale's store cattle sale last Friday for EU-accredited Angus cattle from the high country.
The top 11 steers, weighing an average of 419 kilograms, returned $1265 each or $3.02/kg liveweight; a second pen, 454kg, was sold for $1365 or $3.01/kg.
The vendor was Alpine Maintenance.
Store prices have risen steadily at Bairnsdale since last year and producers are on the front foot, selling weaner and mature animals (including grown steers) to reduce their herds as winter sets in and pasture growth slows.
South Gippsland restockers, speculative buyers, butchers and lotfeeders were not afraid of the strong competition.
Jimmy Matthews, Garrison's Feedlots, Swan Hill, bought 231 head – a mix of 200 steers and 131 heifers – and said the prices reflected the quality of cattle on offer.
"The market was generally dearer for all types of cattle," Mr Matthews said.
"There were a couple of new buyers to compete against.
"The steers were better quality and the heifers were generally dearer."
Colin Scott & Co, Hinnomunjie, sent in 10 Hereford steers, 20 months-old, 515kg, which were sold for $1400 or $2.72/kg.
Neil Henderson, Gelantipy, sold two pens of 16-20mo Hereford steers to a top of $1390.
A pen of 14 weighing 511kg returned $1390 or $2.72/kg; the second pen of 12, 452kg, was sold for $1190 or $2.63/kg.
Darren Vickery, Orbost, sent in 13 Charolais steers, 523kg, that returned $1390 or $2.66/kg.
A Geehman, Meerlieu, sold four grown Hereford steers, 543kg, for $1390 or $2.56/kg.
A pen of nine grown Hereford steers from JW Armstrong, 474kg, made $1345 or $2.84/kg.
A pen of mixed Charolais steers, 9mo, vendors Jack Robertson and Darren Vickery, both Orbost, returned $960 each.
A second pen returned $850.
There were a number of pens of well-covered heifers for sale, with none of the lighter-condition offerings of recent markets.
VC&AJ Wyatt's grown black baldy heifers returned $1070 each.
NG Ashlin put up a mixed pen of Shorthorn, Angus and Hereford heifers that made a top of $1070, average $763 each.
Bemm River Properties sent two pens of Charolais heifers that made a top of $760, av $740.
Summerall & Rogers, Bemboka, sold a line of 10-12mo Charolais heifers to a top of $740, average $724.
Jack Robertson's Charolais heifers were not far short of his steers, returning $730/head.
Glenshiel Pastoral, Butchers Ridge, sold three pens of Hereford heifers to a top of $710, av $615.
There was a line of mature Angus cows, pregnancy-tested in-calf, from Ken and John Alexander, Walpa.
The top pen was sold for $1320, av $1200.
Colin Scott & Co, Hinnomunjie, sold black baldy cows and calves for $1400.
