South Gippsland restockers lead way at Sale

South Gippsland restockers took home a good selection of cattle as two feedlotters struggled to bid on well-bred lines of cattle, agents said.

A yarding of more than 1100 head was presented to the buying gallery from across the Sale and South Gippsland districts.

Landmark Greenwood auctioneer Gordon Conners said the sale was "extremely strong".

"We had an exceptional yarding of cattle along with the right blokes there to buy them," Mr Conners said.

Heavy steers, 400-500 kilograms, made 310 cents a kilogram on average.

Lighter steers between 300-350kg made about 300c/kg, agents said.

Mr Conners said the South Gippsland season had been alright between Traralgon and halfway to Sale.

"But from that point through to East Gippsland is very short on feed and it's drying out very quickly and water supply is our major problem in those areas."

Meanwhile, demand for well-framed and quality-bred heifers was consistent on previous weeks, with 300-340kg heifers making between 280-300c/kg on average.

"People are down to their bare numbers, their bare minimum and we think they will just keep what they have heading into next year, Mr Conners said.

BJ and LE Neumann, Perry Bridge, sold 16 Angus steers at the sale, 458kg, for $1490 or 325c/kg.

RE Kuch, Perry Bridge, sold 67 steers, 490kg, to a top of $1580 and an average of $1455.

A and A Missen, Woodside, sold 17 steers, 397kg, for $1300 or 327c/kg.

AC and RA Bowman, Winnido, sold 13 steers, 386kg, for $1290 or 334c/kg.

In the heifers, P and J Harrison, Stradbroke, sold eight Angus heifers, 386kg, for $1090 or 282c/kg.

P and S Ashdown, Tanjil South, sold six heifers, 408kg, for $1090 or 267c/kg.

Nathan McGowan, Stratford, sold 13 heifers, 335kg, for $930 or 277c/kg.

A pen of 16 Black Baldy heifers, 342kg, owned by AR Chomley, Fulham, were offered for sale and made $1060 or 309c/kg.

Rodwells Sale livestock salesman Graeme McGillivray said cattle presented well considering the dry conditions.

"There were a good few drafts of older cattle with a big selection of yearling and yearling-off cattle which met strong demand from all parts of Gippsland, mainly from west and south," Mr McGillivray said.

"Considering how our season has played out, vendors had some very good lines of cattle."

Mr McGillivray said dry conditions in eastern Victoria, and near Sale, could contribute to a decline in cattle coming through store markets in 2020.

"I don't think the numbers will be there," he said.

"Numbers will be hard to find especially in the store pens because of the dry times, a lot of people have sold some of their autumn cattle to make room for the season which we're enduring through the dry times.

"People have fed out a lot of hay and our way, near Sale and district, hasn't been a good season."

Store cattle sales at Sale will re-commence in the New Year after the Christmas break.