Cows and calves sell to $4400 at monthly Sale store market

Agents yarded about 1200 cattle at the Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange with slight rises reported across heavy and weaner cattle.

Orders by two buyers in Wodonga and north of the border, respectively, intensified demand, agents said, while only a small and average yarding of heifers was offered.

One of a handful of feature runs included a draft of 106 Angus steers, 13-14 months, by David Bates, Munro.

The draft weighed on average between 415-476 kilograms and made from $1900-$2200 or 428-454 cents a kilogram.

"The draft was a credit to David given he presented such an even line which ranged within 50 kilograms from the tops to the bottoms," Nutrien Greenwood director Ben Greenwood said.

"They had been grazed on annual rye grass crops.

"Two pens were bought by a grass fattener at Trafalgar, while another two pens were bought by a feedlotter."

Alex Scott & Staff Sale director Aaron Ralph said there was strong competition for heavy and weaner cattle.

"We had buyers out of the north and plenty of cattle went to Wodonga and further north as well as our regular South Gippsland bullock fatteners and feedlots," Mr Ralph said.

"The quality was very good and similar to last month's yarding, however, we had a few more cross-breds this month but they had plenty of weight and cover."

Mr Ralph said prices for heavier steers were a fraction dearer compared to last month, while weaner cattle were firm-to-dearer.

The sale included a run of Limousin cows and calves and joined and unjoined heifers from the estate of John Brit, Warragul.

Three cows with calves at foot made $4400, two cows with calves at foot made $3800 and two cows with calves at foot made $2300.

The estate's joined heifers sold to $3200, while unjoined heifers made $2300.

Another feature of the sale was a consignment of 80 12-month-old steers by GG and EJ Bates, Maida-Vale, which ranged from 394-453kg.

"The tops of their draft sold from $1900 down to $1750," Nutrien Delaney Livestock & Property director Anthony Delaney said.

"Every agent had a good run of steers but we're not seeing many heifers because for the first time in a while we're having a good season and people are choosing to build up their numbers."

B & A Howard, Bundalaguah, sold 14 Angus steers, 450kg, for $1870 or 415c/kg.

Sally Melbourne, Bushy Park, sold five Angus Shorthorn-cross steers, 464kg, for $1900 or 409c/kg.

Chris Skiba, Stratford, sold three Angus steers, 380kg, for $1680 or 442c/kg.

Heart Dairies, Sale, sold 16 Angus steers, 303kg, for $1310 or 432c/kg.

B & A Ross, Stockdale, sold 14 Angus steers, 379kg, for $1790 or 472c/kg.

Annsfield, Rosedale, sold 30 Angus steers, 404kg, for $1850 or 457c/kg.

Hopfields, Dutson, sold 18 Shorthorn steers, 404kg, for $1780 or 440c/kg.

Elaine Wellins, Bushy Park, sold 10 Hereford Angus-cross cows with calves at foot $2550.

R & J Matthews, Traralgon, sold three Charolais cows with calves at foot for $3000.

Ben Bates, Bundalaguah, sold 11 cows, second and third calvers, with calves at foot $2700.

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