Bairnsdale light calves sell to 599c/kg as prices, quality soften

Agents drew for 800 cattle and yarded 726 head for the fortnightly store market.

South Gippsland restockers and bullock fatteners were out in force, while competition among East Gippslanders eased after two weeks of warm weather took the "gloss off the season", agents said.

Feedlots were less active than a fortnight ago largely due to fewer suitable cattle on offer.

Elders Bairnsdale livestock manager Morgan Davies said the decline in price was not surprising.

"It might have been 20 cents a kilogram off a fortnight ago and we're starting to see a few more chances now to buy cattle at a cheaper rate but we're clutching at straws to think we've had a rough trot," Mr Davies said.

"Cattle were in and out and there were some good pens of steers and heifers but there was a softer trend coming off an extraordinary trend over the last three or four months."

The sale grossed $950,875 with steers averaging $1348 and heifers averaging $863.

Among the dearest pens on a cents a kilogram basis, AD & MK Reed sold a pen of 15 Hereford steers, 242kg, for $1450 or 599c/kg and a pen of nine heavier steers, 318kg, for $1500 or 471c/kg.

TD & MD Trewin sold five steers, 349kg, for $1600 or 458c/kg, and another pen of 10, 313kg, for $1560 or 498c/kg.

Prices for light cattle under 350 cents a kilogram were mostly firm, agents said, with Marlo Downs selling a pen of 17 steers, 338kg, for $1650 or 498c/kg.

The same vendor sold a pen of 12 heifers, 323kg, for $1530 or 473c/kg, and another 12, 299kg, for $1480 or 499c/kg.

Meanwhile, Simmons & Smith sold 11 steers, 284kg, for $1460 or 514c/kg.

Sharp Fullgrabe & Co director Graeme Fullgrabe said small, light-weight cattle maintained similar prices compared to recent sales.

"It was a small yarding leading up to Christmas but it was very good despite the quality not being there," Mr Fullgrabe said.

"Really it was really the end of the barrel for us and we start our weaners in January but we had little cattle still making enormous money despite the top cattle being a bit cheaper."

M Blenerhasset claimed the gong for the dearest pen of cows and calves with a pen of nine cows with calves at foot, not rejoined, making $3020.

MJ Cattle Co sold two Hereford cows with calves at foot, not rejoined, for $2700 and another 13 cows with calves at foot for $2575.

Peasholm Nominees sold three cows with calves at foot, depastured to a Charolais bull to calve in autumn, for $1900.

James Dan, Swan Reach, sold 10 pregnancy-tested in-calf Hereford cows joined to Fernleigh Angus bulls to calve in January for $2100.

Bill Wyndham & Co livestock manager Colin Jones said he expected more quality cattle to enter the store markets in early 2021.

"In January, our second sale will feature an outstanding run of cattle and we're hoping these prices will carry into next year," Mr Jones said.

"It will depend on what's happening with a lot of abattoirs and with some closing, it's unknown what could happen in terms of store prices."

Auster Lynn sold one bullock, 1005kg, for $2580 or 256c/kg.

Matani Holdings Pty Ltd sold seven seers, 532kg, for $1980 or 372c/kg.

Lakeview Swan Reach sold eight steers, 504kg, for $2000 or 396c/kg.

DK & SL Faithfull sold nine steers, 437kg, for $1950 or 446c/kg.

Mt Raymond sold 10 seers, 379kg, for $1680 or 443c/kg and nine steers, 377kg, for $1710 or 453c/kg.

RW & JC Farley sold two steers, 272kg, for $1110 or 408c/kg and three steers, 301kg, for $1280 or 425c/kg.

M Jonkers sold nine steers, 550kg, for $1720 or 312c/kg.

Megfield sold seven steers, 401kg, for $1650 or 411c/kg.

L & I Janson sold three steers, 336kg, for $1380 or 410c/kg and seven steers, 315kg, for $1350 or 428c/kg.

MJ Cattle Co sold 13 steers, 391kg, for $1730 or 442c/kg and seven steers, 343kg, for $1510 or 440c/kg.

K & L Murphy sold eight Hereford steers, 552kg, for $2070 or 375c/kg.

RW & JC Farley sold four heifers, 273kg, for $1100 or 402c/kg.

L & I Janson sold eight heifers, 290kg, for $1290 or 444c/kg.

FJ & PM O'Donnell sold three heifers, 295kg, for $1210 or 410c/kg.

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