It is the end of July, and considered to be the middle of winter, and because of this Leongatha agents offered a small, and mixed quality yarding of 950 head.
This is not unexpected for the time of year, but there was a dynamic change in the structure of the yarding.
A small yarding, mixed quality, and the fact that it was a cold, cold day, with sub-10 degree temperatures, led to less competition, and weaker demand.
While rain and hail pelting the roof, making it difficult to hear at times, producers were happy to have a significant rain period.
Compared to other recent sales, there were few heavier, yearling steers penned. This, plus the mixed offering did not inspire much feedlot competition, leaving most of the bidding to local producers.
Prices were quoted being $50 cheaper than two weeks ago.
To this end, only 120 steers sold for over $1000, and only 57 over $1200 per head. The top price of $1680 was achieved for 14 heavy steers.
The small number of heavier steers equaled from 285-303 cents per kilogram liveweight.
At the bottom end, at least by weight, “Coradel”, Doomburrim, sold 24 Hereford steers,East Gippsland bred, from $1290.00-$1380. CD&SM Potter, Flynn, sold 12 steers for $1240.
In the bigger scheme of things, the younger, good quality, lighter weight steers, again sold to the best demand, equaling around 330-365c/kg lwt.
E&B Walpole, Woodside, sold 17 Poll Hereford steers from $890-$1160, and Katelea Pastoral Co, Bass, 20 Angus steers, Banquet blood, for $1100.
A vendor from the Sale district, which has received very little rain over the past few months, sent 63 Friesian steers to Leongatha. Weighing just 288-360kgs lwt, the sold from $610-$770.
They also sold 10 lighter steers for $480 with no weight displayed. Dairy steer calves sold from a base of $250, a price not seen for some time.
Buying Friesians at this time of year may be cost effective, but they will be a long term project.
A similar story can be told of the heifer portion of the sale. At the top end were 16 older heifers of GA Allott, Woorarra, property sold. These heifers sold from $1300-$1440.
One of the larger vendors was T&C Hulls, Leongatha, selling 57 Angus heifers from $870-$1110.
Malandra Past Co, Stradbroke, sold another draft of yearling Angus heifers with 27 head making from $905-$1010.
D McLaren, Koorooman, sold 42 heifers from $860-$1000.
All of these were at the top end of the younger heifers with many selling between $600&$870.
A small offering of cows and calves sold mostly between $1080&$2280.
