Leongatha steers reach $1155

Conducted by Stevens Egan Johnston (SEJ), auctioneer James Kyle said the sale was fully firm on other recent store sales, and had continued the positive trend of solid cattle prices since the start of the year.

"We had a lot of local competition, plus some help from a couple of feedlots," Mr Kyle said.

The yarding comprised about 700 grown steers, 700 steer weaners, 400 heifers and 150 joined females, and cows and calves.

The sale's best price went to volume vendor Adval, Anderson, who cleared 200 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, 450-550kg, that realised a top of $1155 a head to average $1060.

Repeat vendor Andrew Ritchie, Gildonna, Arawata, also fared well on the day, offloading 32 Hereford and Hereford-Shorthorn steers to $1105, and a further 16 at $1000.

Yearling steers were quoted from 220-240c/kg.

B&S Jelbart, of Tarwin Lower, sold 65 Angus steers, 14-15 months, to $1100, av $1030, while local breeders Greenwald Pastoral Company, Foster, cleared a consignment of 305 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, 12 months, to $930, av $822.

There were a limited number of heifers penned, but those in good condition made anywhere from $500-$800 and were snapped up by local restockers.

A run of joined females saw the McNaughton family, Bellview, Kardella, fetch the highest price in this section at $1320 for 18 pregnancy tested in-calf (PTIC) Angus-Friesian heifers.

K&L Heggen, of Binginwarri, received the best price for cows and calves for their 12 Red Angus cows with calves at foot, which made $1475.