Prices rise at Leongatha as NSW producers send cattle south

An influx of steers and heifers from southern New South Wales attracted plenty of interest while a good cross-section of cattle from southern Victoria sold quickly.

A yarding of about 1500 head was presented for sale with more than 1000 steers and 500 heifers snapped up as buyers made the most of the broad selection of cattle on offer.

Landmark Leongatha auctioneer Brian Mccormack, who had about 350 cattle from southern NSW, said prices were up on the previous sale a fortnight ago.

"We're getting consignments of cattle coming down from Bombala, Bega, Delegate and Hay and right through that area now because it's so dry ... and they're trying to send them to where the feed is," he said.

"Our better steers and steers with a bit of weight in them were in that 320 to 350 [cents a kilogram] range and some of the lighter steers were making in that $3 range and I thought that was quite alright.

"The heifers were hit and miss ... breeding and quality and weight was alright but once you got down to the lighter weight cattle they had to be bred properly to go OK."

Competition at the sale was bolstered with drier conditions in the south, with some buyers purchasing cattle after their properties had "firmed up" in the last fortnight, agents said.

Elders Korumburra branch manager Rohan McRae said black Angus steers sold between 320 and 360 cents a kilogram.

"The steers went strong than last sale in general, in all classes of steers," he said.

"It's starting to dry out here in south Gippsland, the sun is starting to shine and a little bit of grass is starting to poke its head up so there's buyers who left empty-handed here today and that's good for future sales.

"The sale was patchy but in general, depending on where you were located, I think the cattle were a little dearer."

Alex Scott & Staff Wonthaggi livestock manager Rob Ould said there was more buyer confidence compared to the first spring sale two weeks ago.

"I would think that today's sale was anywhere between $50 and $80 dearer and it looks like the grass feed is starting to kick in a bit and people are looking like they need to restock," he said.

"I'd say the heavier steers sold for not much more but certainly the lighter steers were a lot dearer and sold between 310 and 330.

"We had a good run of heifers out of ... Wonthaggi and they were 275 a kilo and so the well-bred heifers were making good money but the lighter heifers are still hard to sell."

Latrobe Park Angus, Morwell sold a pen of 14 steers, 398 kilograms for $1320 or 331 cents a kilogram

Northern Pastoral, Hay sold a pen of 16 Angus steers, 411kg for $1570 or 381c/kg.

A and P Chisholm, Archies Creek sold a pen of 12 Angus steers, 272kg for $970 or 356c/kg.

Hollyridge Pastoral Company, Delegate sold a pen of 21 steers, 316kg for $1090 or 344c/kg.

Miralai Pastoral, Bombala sold a pen of 15 Hereford steers, 288kg for $810 or 281c/kg.

Cheryl East, Dollar sold a pen of five Charolais steers, 314kg, for $900 or 286c/kg.

In the heifers, T and S Neesham, French Island sold nine heifers, 362kg for $1010 or 279c/kg.

E Higgins, Sale sold 12 heifers, 336kg for $870 or 258c/kg.

J and B Beale, Carrajung sold six heifers, 271kg for $590 or 217c/kg.

Miralai Pastoral, Bombala sold 21 Hereford heifers, 289kg for $800 or 270c/kg.