Leongatha steers hit 546c/kg in mega 4000-head 'quality' sale

Well-bred lines of vendor-bred cattle sold to strong demand as eased coronavirus restrictions allowed more prospective buyers and onlookers to enter the Victorian Livestock Exchange.

Agents said it was one of the largest crowds at a Leongatha market since pre-March.

Bullock fatteners and feedlots competed for suitable lines as annual drafts of grown and weaner cattle attracted plenty of interest.

Nutrien Leongatha auctioneer Brian McCormack said steers sold to firm rates, while less competition on heifers meant it took "a bit more work" to get prices paid for female cattle at previous markets.

"A majority of the cattle were vendor-bred and presented in outstanding condition," Mr McCormack said.

"Competition among feeder and grass finishers was strong and something we noticed was there was little difference in quality between the tops and the bottoms of clients' drafts."

An example of this was a draft of 62 Angus European Union-accredited steers sold by D & K Kuch, Darriman, with the third pen making more on a price per head basis than the first pen of cattle sold.

The Kuch's lead pen of 21 steers, 491kg, made $2140 or 435c/kg, their second pen of 21, 475kg, made 442c/kg and their third pen of 20, 471kg, made $2150 or 456c/kg.

In another example, Nalajule Nominees, Mardan, sold 108 Angus steers, 13 to 15 months, where the third pen made more than the top pen.

Its first pen of 22 steers, 462kg, made $2040 or 441c/kg, the second pen of 19, 429kg, made $1990 or 463c/kg and its third pen of 22, 453kg, made $2050 or 452c/kg.

"This showed people were keen to secure these lines of cattle and realised they were very consistent from the tops to the bottoms," Mr McCormack said.

Another feature of the sale was 300 predominately Black Baldy steers and heifers, 13 to 15 months, offered by The Ridge, Rosedale, with the steer portion averaging $1915.

The top pen of 14 steers, 451kg, made $1970 or 436c/kg, the second pen of 24, 431kg, made $1930 or 447c/kg, the third pen of 24, 431kg, made $1930 or 447c/kg and the fourth pen of 25, 434kg, made $1930 or 447c/kg.

The same client also sold 20 heifers, 393kg, for $1690 or 430c/kg, 27 heifers, 363kg, for $1640 or 453c/kg and 20 heifers, 367kg, for $1580 or or 430c/kg.

F and C Cameron, Wild Dog, Phillip Island, sold 18 steers, 326kg, $1780 or 546c/kg.

Elders Leongatha & Korumburra livestock manager Rohan McRae described the sale as "fully firm".

"It was the first sale where the crowd was back in and they certainly attended," Mr McRae said.

"We thought it might have a cheapening trend but it certainly didn't, it was very firm."

P & J Sibly, Archies Creek, sold their annual draft of 75 Angus mixed-sex weaners.

In the steer portion, their first pen of 22, 388kg, made $1910 or 492c/kg and 16 steers, 327kg, made $1740 or 532c/kg.

The same client also sold 20 heifers, 335kg, for $1490 or 444c/kg and 10 heifers, 294kg, for $1420 or 482c/kg.

Another feature of the sale was a draft of 270 Angus and Hereford steers and heifers offered by McGauran Pastoral Co following the sale of its historic property, Nambrok.

Its draft of 216 steers sold to $2020 and averaged $1856.

Jasmel Nominees, Tarwin Lower, sold 18 steers, 412kg, for $1850 or 449c/kg, another 18, 406kg, for $1850 or 455c/kg and 16, 376kg, for $1770 or 470c/kg.

Meanwhile, ME & K Triant Afyllou, Yarram, sold a portion of their annual draft of grown steers, including 11 Charolais Murray Grey-cross steers, 597kg, for $2230 or 373c/kg.

East Gippsland vendor Tablelands Pastoral sold 13 Hereford steers, 396kg, for $1710 or 431c/kg.

M Rowles sold 16 Angus steers, 558kg, for $2280 or 408c/kg and 11 Charolais steers, 540kg, for $2150 or 398c/kg.

SEJ Leongatha livestock manager James Kyle said the quality of the yarding had vastly improved from the November store sale.

"Mainly local bullock restockers were buying cattle along with three or four feedlot buyers including a feedlot buyer from Deniliquin who is not always here but did purchase some cattle," Mr Kyle said.

D Harris, Tarwin Lower, sold 18 steers, 490kg, for $2090 or 426c/kg and 18 steers, 445kg, for $1980 or 444c/kg.

R & J Edwards, Fish Creek, sold 10 steers, 414kg, for $1830 or 442c/kg and another 10, 404kg, for $1750 or 433c/kg.

P Lepage, Mirboo, sold 11 Angus steers, 478kg, for $2000 or 418c/kg.

Fuller Downs, Foster, sold 19 Angus steers, 463kg, for $1950 or 421c/kg.

Clover Cottage, French Island, sold 15 Speckle Park steers, 374kg, for $1700 or 455c/kg.

P Lepage, Mirboo, sold six Angus heifers, 450kg, for $1790 or 398c/kg.

Harmers Haven, Wonthaggi, sold 12 Angus heifers, 393kg, for $1550 or 394c/kg.

Malbar Farm, Tarwin Lower, sold 18 heifers, 366kg, for $1570 or 428c/kg

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