Leongatha prices were very, very firm

Prime cattle had been 10-30 cents dearer across all categories.

The 1800-head store cattle sale brought, as Elders Leongatha agent Alex Dixon put it, a "bit of everything here, a true South Gippsland yarding".

Lines and lines of well-bred cattle were penned alongside weaners and rows of dairy steers.

Cattle from East Gippsland, which had bloated Leongatha's string of record yardings just weeks earlier, had disappeared from the market.

South Gippsland has been enjoying near perfect Spring-like weather and Mr Dixon said local sentiment was buoyant.

"The fatteners have money in their pockets from yesterday's prime sale and, whatever happens, the market will be okay for the next six months at least," Mr Dixon said.

"The store sales have gone up because the feedlotters are taking a third of the cattle and setting the pace."

Mr Dixon was particularly enthusiastic about a line of Angus weaner steers and heifers from Belgrano of Glen Alvie.

"These are really well bred cattle with an excellent conformation," Mr Dixon said.

Introducing Belgrano farm manager, Ray Slade, Mr Dixon said the property's breeding and husbandry practices set them apart.

"If Ray sees a cow that's not 9.5 out of ten, it's not on the farm and that's come through in the offspring," Mr Dixon said.

"It's the annual draft, there's no brown in them, each calf is ear tagged to match the mum and they're in lovely condition.

"They'll romp in $3 a kilo and could achieve $3.50."

The 10 to 11-month-old Belgrano calves represented the property's spring drop and Mr Slade said a tough autumn had made it more challenging than usual to turn out stock in top condition.

"I do a lot of multimin, B12, all their 7-in-1 vaccinations and, this season, because the pastures have been closer cropped than usual, extra drenching," he said.

Belgrano cattle, which feature Yankowinna and Te Mania bloodlines, are vendor bred and Mr Slade said conformation was carefully considered.

"They have a straight rear end, good typical Angus heads and square backs," he said.

The Belgrano cattle sold well, too, with 22 steers weighing 256 kilograms making $870 a head or 340 cents a kilogram.

A pen of 15 steers Mr Slade estimated at 210kg made an impressive $850 or 405c/kg.

Among the vendors of heavier steers was John Monteleone of Mount Angus from Trafalgar, who stood next to advisor and Landmark agent, Kevin Morgan.

Mount Angus may be a hobby for Mr Monteleone, who owns a large welding and construction company but there is no mistaking its importance.

Mr Monteleone confesses to spending "something like six hours a day" tending his cattle.

"I don't sleep well at night if my cattle are not well, so I check them daily," he said.

Careful not to "thrash" his land, Mr Monteleone maintains a stocking rate of about one steer to the hectare.

As well as breeding from his own autumn-calving cows, Mr Monteleone smooths cashflow by buying in calves.

"I won't buy any crossbreds, only the top cattle, because I have pride and Mount Angus has a reputation for quality," he said.

Mr Monteleone, who has run Mount Angus for about six years, turns to his advisor, Kevin Morgan for a lifetime of expertise with cattle.

"Kevin's been with me from the start and picked out our first bull from Merlewood, which turned out to be the bull of the sale and had fantastic progeny," Mr Monteleone said.

The pair was happy with the results.

The top pen of 11 Mount Angus steers weighing 438kg made $1520 or 347c/kg.

"It's a very good price," Mr Monteleone said.

"I hope they top the market for their category in cents a kilogram.

"If they don't, I will be really disappointed."