Bairnsdale agents commit to future store markets

Agents yarded about 1200 steers and heifers at the fortnightly sale, opting to push ahead with the market despite the cancellation of several other Victorian store sales last week.

Elders Bairnsdale livestock manager Morgan Davies said the sale was strong considering significant concerns surrounding COVID-19.

"There was a rumour and innuendo that there wasn't going to be another sale but the Bairnsdale Stocks Agents' Association thought we could conduct the sale in a safe environment," Mr Davies said.

"There was a lot of telephone orders and orders left to professional cattle buyers but agents ran the sale really well."

Mr Davies said the April 24 sale would continue as planned, two weeks after Good Friday.

Cattle were bought by South Gippslanders to finish while orders from West Gippsland bolstered prices.

Local restocker competition was limited, agents said, while only a small feedlot was operating.

Sharp Fullgrabe & Co director Graeme Fullgrabe said the sale consisted of 650 steers and 450 heifers.

"We did have a small crowd there but we had the right people and all the local agents had orders for people at South and West Gippsland," he said.

"The quality wasn't as good so it was a fraction cheaper but I take my hat off to the way the yards were ran; everyone had to sign the book as they went in, people were issued with gloves and told to keep their distance and stuck to the rules."

"I had a northern order but couldn't go the rate, it was too dear, but I managed to buy a load of black steers to go to Tasmania for Doug Collins at King Angus."

Adam Dalley, Buchan South, sold 11 steers, 549kg, for $1710 or 311c/kg.

Barry Howard, Kilmany, sold 56 steers including a pen of 13, 522kg, for $1590 or 304c/kg.

B and GH Edlington, Marlo, sold 11 steers, 486kg, for $1600 or 329c/kg.

Sheron Sheean, Swifts Creek, sold 11 steers, 490kg, for $1510 or 308c/kg.

Gannon and Prince, Nicholson, sold seven steers, 471kg, for $1500 or 318c/kg.

M Robinson, Delegate, NSW, sold two steers, 447kg, for $1500 or 335c/kg.

Barnhill Angus, Orbost, sold 16 steers, 415kg, for $1490 or 359c/kg.

ML and CJ Robinson, Orbost, sold nine steers, 411kg, for $1340 or 326c/kg.

Eagleson, Buchan, sold 10 steers, 460kg, for $1380 or 300c/kg.

PC Nixon & Co, Orbost, sold 102 steers including a top of 20 steers, 383kg, for $1320 or 344c/kg.

Finchley Pastoral Pty Ltd, Craigie, NSW, sold 76 steers including 22 steers, 318kg, for $1100 or 345c/kg.

In the heifers, MT and RR Mitchell, Ensay, sold five females for $1055.

R and M Dooley, Orbost, sold seven heifers for $1010.

RW and JC Farley, Orbost, sold eight heifers, 331kg, for $1000 or 302c/kg.

K Bryant, Buchan, sold 16 Heifers, 327kg, for $1100 or 336c/kg.

KH and WR Ingram, Bonang, sold 18 Heifers, 312kg, for $1110 or 355c/kg.