Plenty of competition at Leongatha

Most of the largely weaner livestock were sold earlier than normal, as South Gippsland is prime country to grow out cattle – except when it is in extended drought, as it is now. Many producers, faced with having to buy in feed, chose to send cattle to market and were rewarded with solid and spirited competition.

Topping the market, two Angus steers, 482kg, vendor Len Trease, Outtrim, sold for $1410 each.

E Amoruso, Hazelwood, sold eight Black Baldy and Angus steers, 449kg, at $1400. A Conisbee & Co, Glengarry, sold a line of yard weaned Angus steers – the top pen, 410kg, sold at $1380. Mrs M Wight, Meeniyan, sent in three pens of Hereford steers, to a top average weight of 444kg that sold to $1340.

There were a few annual drafts in the yarding and it was worth selling them early.

Elm Valley Pty Ltd, Tarwin Lower, sent in 300 Angus and Black Baldy steers, 7-8mo, by Kunuma and Barwidgee bulls and yard weaned. Average weights varied 248-319kg, with the top pen sold at $1090.

South Gippsland Livestock’s Terry Ginnane said bullock fatteners bought many of these cattle, return buyers who were prepared to hold onto the steers for two years and grow them out.

Hereford steers, 425kg, $1280, vendor J&K Dell, Kardella South, were bought by Glenys Shandley, Narrena, who said she would fatten them to 650-700kg and return them to market.

Even very plain steers sold well. A mixed pen of Angus weaners, average weight variation 347-420kg, vendors D James, Woodside and WP Coleman, Maffra, sold at $990-$1070.

Heifer prices eased this week but most well bred heifers sold above $700.

Glengarry Plant Farm sold a pen of 13 Angus heifers, 380kg, at $1060. Blackwood Grazing, Trafalgar, sold two pens of Angus heifers – the heavier pen, 369kg, sold at $1055; the lighter, 312kg, $835. N&K Hansford, Yinnar, sold 17 Hereford heifers, 355kg, $960.

The plainer and younger female cattle sold well for their age and weight – a pen of 11 Charolais heifer calves sold to $555; rising-two-year-old Angus heifers sold to $980.

There were few cows and calves offered. D, N, A & I Couper, Dumbalk, received $1520 each for 12 Angus-Friesian third and fourth calving cows with January and February drop Angus calves.