Greenwald Pastoral Company, Foster, assisted in a large offering of 2,000 cattle at Leongatha store cattle market, Thursday. South Gippsland producers are looking desperately for a large dump of rain to add water to dams, and commence an autumn break.
Many drafts of cattle offered at Leongatha were there due to water problems, and having little to no grass forced many in for sale too.
The 429 Angus heifers, Dunoon blood, of Greenwald Past Co, would normally be fattened and sold to Coles in their grass assured program. However, Malcolm Davies, Greenwald, Past, said they had to go. This quality line of heifers, mostly 276-318 kilograms liveweight, sold to $1105 for an average of $886.
This line of heifers drew strong competition from buyers of feeder heifers with most going only two ways in large drafts. Liveweight price equivalents were mostly 300-310c/kg.
Several other quality consignments of steers and heifers were yarded, although there were equally as many smaller and plain bred cattle penned too.
AB Ware, Wonthaggi, sold 45 yearling Hereford and Angus steers, 2 teeth, 478-540kgs, from $1430 to the market top of $1590. While these good quality bullocks and other yearling steers sold to bullock fatteners and feedlots equalling 276-307c/kg, prices were from $1200 tot he top price.
However, demand was mixed and some heavy steers equalled only 256c/kg lwt.
Madelle Poll Hereford Stud, Yinnar, sold 12 steers for $1430, or 285c/kg.
Yearling steers still with their milk teeth sold to strong competition, particularly Angus steers of very good breeding. A&T Derham, Morwell North, sold 50 Angus steers from $1130-$1245, or 300-344c/kg lwt. Thomas Foods International purchased some of these and other Angus steers going two different ways. They purchased two pens of 54 Angus & Murray Grey steers offered bu I&L Montgomery, Inverloch. These sold from $1075-$1125.
Younger and younger steers, mostly in store condition sold to varied competition, making mostly from $720-$960, or 285-325c/kg lwt.
Competition was weak for many of the dairy and dairy cross steers offered. Friesian steers of reasonable frame, but light weight sold from $450-$890, or 177-210c/kg lwt.
Heifers made up a much larger percentage of the yarding with the Greenwald heifers, and the 108 Angus heifers of L&L Chowan, Trida. This annual autumn draft of heifers sold very well for their weight, 260-320kgs. They sold mostly to feedlots from $735-$980. Malkryst Farms, Woodside, sold 31 young Murray Grey & Angus heifers. These sold to processors from $730-$760.
Cows and calves sold to limited competition. Prices from $1160-$1620 were at best equal to splitting value. J&R Piasente sold 18 Angus cows with autumn drop calves from $1280-$1320.
