Three annual drafts of Hereford steers led the way at the all agents Leongatha fortnightly store cattle market. Agents offered only 1390 head, and except for these three larger drafts of cattle, both steers and heifers, their was a very mixed yarding offered.
Many single, or two pens of steers and heifers were offered, including crossbreds, and the overall presentation of the yarding was not impressive.
Many of the cattle offered for sale came from the LaTrobe valley region. Competition was diversified and included a buyer purchasing for clients in the north east of Victoria, and one as far as Coonamble in NSW.
This added competition aided a very strong yarding, although a lot of the demand came from local producers now that we appear to be experiencing and early autumn break.
Heavily targeted by the local buyers was the 158 Hereford steers of McGauran Pastoral Co, Nambrok. These steers weighed between 256&335 kilograms liveweight, and sold from $750-$1230, to average $1053. After equalling 38c/kg for the second pen of steers, the liveweight price average was 353c/kg.
Also from the LaTrobe valley region, was the 134 Hereford steers of Argyle Enterprises, Traralgon. This property has been sold, and these steers and their sisters was the first part of their herd dispersal. Some of these steers were young and in store condition, selling from $520-$1070.
Another good line of steers were the 61 Herefords of R&V Dowell, Leongatha South. This line was their second and final draft of 2015 drop calves, and they sold to strong local competition making from $1015-$1170.
The strength of this sale can be measured by this line of steers, as their brothers sold one month ago, averaged within $5 of this second draft, but the first draft were nearly 50kg heavier.
F Colaciello, Tyers, sold 24 yearling Angus steers from $1100-$1550, and Hubert & Mountford, Foster, 21 Angus steers from $1480-$1490. “Thimms Hotel”, Calignee, sold 25 yearling Hereford steers from $1270-$1370, and these plus most other yearling steers sold from 300-315c/kg lwt.
Younger steers sold mostly between $720 & $960, but there was a big variation in price for the crossbred and dairy breed steers.
A larger than usual percentage of the yarding were 2015 drop heifers. Many of these sold from $700-$980 with isolated sales of yearling heifers to $1160. A small number of heifers were purchased for slaughter.
S Auteri, Traralgon, sold 21 European crossbred heifers from $925-$1045. B&D Harrison, Dumbalk North, sold 27 European cross heifers from $630-$820.
However, strong competition was seen for the larger drafts of Hereford heifers of McGauran Past Co, who sold 103 heifers to $865, av $823, most of these, and other quality lines of well bred heifers sold for the equivalent liveweight price range of 300-320c/kg.
Argyle Enterprises, Traralgon, sold 188 young Hereford heifers from $455-$880. D&D Shandley sold 13 Angus heifers from $795-$860.
A single pen of 10 Angus cows, PTIC with their 2nd 7 3rd calf, sold for $1420, but with the main female sales held last Monday, these were the pick of a very small bunch.
