Well-bred cattle maintain demand at Leongatha

A yarding of 1655 steers and 950 heifers were presented for sale, including about 400-head from Bombala and Bega in south-eastern New South Wales.

Agents said well-bred cattle sold well, fetching "on par" prices compared to recent sales, but secondary cattle lacked condition and an optimum price.

"I'd say the bigger steers sold for 320 to 325 (cents a kilogram) while some of the lighter calves would be 350c/kg up to $4 on your steers," Landmark Leongatha auctioneer Brian Mccormack said.

"The heifers were a bit tougher but once again any cattle that had a bit of weight in them and a bit of condition on them - that were ideal either to grain feed or to kill straight away still - made their money but after that it came back again, especially the light-end heifers.

"It is wet in South Gippsland but if you look at the market across Victoria in the next two days there's something like 12,000 head of cattle to be sold so...from a buyer's point of view, there's quality numbers coming through so if you can but that at the right price then that's good."

Mr McCormack estimated crossbred steers with a bit of weight sold between 250 to 270c/kg, while bigger Friesian steers made on average between 220 and 230c/kg.

Alex Scott & Staff Wonthaggi livestock manager Rob Ould described the sale as a "tough day" at the office.

"A lot of cattle were showing secondary conditions," Mr Ould said.

"It's tough in this area because a lot of paddocks are still under water and a lot of people don't have a lot of confidence to be putting cattle back into the paddock because it's so wet.

"The very, very good cattle, the well-conditioned, well-bred cattle sold reasonably well but not to the prices they have been and the secondary cattle were a lot harder."

Elders Korumburra branch manager Rohan McRae said prices were down on last fortnight's sale, but expected conditions to improve in the coming weeks.

"Weather holds the key because if the season gets away and gets a bit wet that'll continue to hold a few guys back so once it dries out a bit and grass grows it probably should firm," Mr McRae said.

"The market is retreating, it's a bit wet locally and it's dry in the north.

"They were down on the last sale but it has been easing, it's been easier at Pakenham and it's been easy here so there's a bit of a trend."

GS Knight, Stratford, was among one of the top sellers with a pen of 12 steers, 577kg, which sold for $1830, or 317c/kg.

K Brauman, Buffalo, sold 10 steers, 445kg, for $1460 or 328c/kg.

Gowell Pastoral, Bega, sold 10 steers, 486kg, for $1560, or 320c/kg.

A Brunton sold nine Friesian steers, 293kg, for $460, or 156c/kg.

D Lewis sold nine Hereford steers, 347kg, for $680, or 195c/kg.

W Cridge, Yinnar South, sold four steers, 318kg, for $800, or 251c/kg.

T and C Hulls, Narra Tingha, Leongatha, sold 22 steers, 286kg, for $800, or 279c/kg.

B Treasure, Stratford, sold 15 heifers, 293kg, for $600, for 204c/kg.

M and H Johns, Phillip Island, sold 14 heifers, 238kg, for $620, or 260c/kg.

A and C Gillespie Jones, Bombala, sold 16 heifers, 306kg, for $708, or 231c/kg.