The Gippsland region remains very dry, which is reducing local competition. However, there is always someone who needs to restock after having sold fat cattle. Coupled with some processor demand, and a small amount of feedlot competition, prices were reasonable, but up to $100 lower than two weeks prior.
Agents offered 2200 head, which was very mixed, but included some very good breeding throughout the yarding.
Despite the lack of northern competition, prices for yearling steers ranged between $1110 & $1590, or a liveweight range of 275-315c/kg. Some of the Angus steers were purchased to enter a feedlot in NSW to cover the lack of supply of grown steers in future months.
Brant Copelin, Seaview, sold Angus steers he would normally fatten into prime bullocks because of the poor conditions. These sold for $1590, and AG Jorgenson, Tonimbuk, sold 16 Angus steers for $1430.
Larger drafts of steers were penned, although few in number. Bridgewater Park, Wattlebank, sold 64 Angus steers from $1340-$1420, and BJ&JW Dunbar, 34 Angus-Hereford steers from $1280-$1400. H Rawson, Erica, sold 14 Angus steers for $1410, and DW Hasthorpe, Tanjil South, 16 Angus steers of lighter weight for $1100.
Lindsay & Robyn Powney, own property surrounding the saleyard at Koonwarra, and walked 34 Hereford steers across, to sell from $1110-$1210. Lindsay was happy his agent, Damien Minogue, Rodwells, suggested this as their steers old very well.
Light to medium weight steers sold between $700 & $1200. G&K Belcher, Woodside, sold their annual draft of Hereford steers, 10-12 months, from $960-$1200. GJ Wallis, Inverloch, sold 24 Angus & Angus-Hereford steers from $1140-$1190, 320-345/kg lwt. SL&LM Harrison, Giffard West, sold 29 Charolais steers from $990-$1120. Lighter weight steers, 240-300kg, sold well too. H&D Shandley, Buffalo, sold 30 steers from $860-$910, and C&J Moore sold 32 steers, 6-7 months, from $610-$800
Heifers sold to $1410. D&K Kuch, Darriman, sold 17 yearling Angus heifers for $1310. The heifers sale was a little cheaper, but withstood the complexities of the weaker steer market. Northside Past Co, Tarwin Lower, sold 48 Angus heifers from $915-$1010, and Pilkington & Toohey sold 29 Angus weaned heifers from $855-$935.