Yea spring 2020-drop steers hit $1950 in blue ribbon weaner sale

Agents yarded 3300 cattle, consigned from the local Yea and surrounding districts, one day after Victoria entered its fourth coronavirus-related lockdown.

Competition among buyers was fierce with Gippsland agents and restockers underpinning the much-anticipated market.

A handful of commission buyers and northern operators representing backgrounders and restockers added strength to the auction where heifers sold to $1630.

Nutrien Yea auctioneer Tyson Bush said a majority of buyers were return clients.

"It's good to see a lot of repeat buyers because no matter the season, the buyers still come back knowing the same quality of breeding are in these cattle," Mr Bush said.

Southern agencies including Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock and Phelan & Henderson & Co and Western District firm Southern Grampians Livestock were among the main cohort of buyers.

P Throwbridge, The Brilliant, sold 290 Angus and Black Baldy weaners, August and September 2020-drop, including a sale-topping pen of 24 Angus steers, 365kg, for $1950 or 534c/kg and 19 heifers, 299kg, for $1610 or 538c/kg.

Account Black on Green sold 150 Angus steers, eight to nine months, including 10 Angus steers, 343kg, for $1890 or 551c/kg.

Inverugie Pastoral sold 200 Angus mixed-sex weaners including 28 steers, 321kg, for $1800 or 560c/kg and 31 heifers, 329kg, for $1500 or 455c/kg.

The same vendor also sold a sale-topping pen of 20 Angus heifers, 290kg, for $1630 or 562c/kg.

BM & MM Griffiths, Northwood, Seymour, sold 110 Angus steers, August and September-drop, including a pen of 21 steers, 310kg, for $1820 or 587c/kg.

Cathedral Cherries, Taggerty, sold 120 Angus mixed-sex calves, seven to nine months, including 24 Angus steers, 307kg, for $1780 or 579c/kg.

Campaspe Glen Angus sold 100 steers, nine to 10 months, including 16 Angus steers, 326kg, for $1780 or 546c/kg.

Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock manager Brian McCormack said the cattle on offer showed plenty of potential.

"We bought about 500 cattle to come back down here to the south and another 100 went to Sale," Mr McCormack said.

"The cattle had the frame and the breeding behind them but naturally they didn't have the bloom and that's how we want to buy them."

Larkfield Pastoral Pty Ltd sold 100 calves including a pen of 55 Angus steers, 270kg, for $1640 or 607c/kg.

Ancona Station, Ancona, sold 100 Angus mixed-sex calves, seven to nine months, including 19 steers, 322kg, for $1720 or 534c/kg and 24 heifers, 271kg, for $1500 or 553c/kg.

Ballandry Pastoral Co, Strath Creek, sold 100 Angus weaners including 32 steers, 298kg, for $1710.

M Taylor, Thornton, sold 100 Angus and Black Baldy mixed-sex weaners including 20 steers, 243kg, at $1570 or 646c/kg.

Account Millbrook sold 104 Shorthorn/Hereford-cross heifers including 25 heifers, 294kg, for $1350 or 459c/kg.

WB & VC Webb sold 17 Angus steers, 346kg, for $1920 or 554c/kg.

Another agent, Phelan & Henderson & Co director Simon Henderson bought about 100 calves.

"A few farmers at the sale were telling me that the season up and around Yea is getting tight but there was some really nice runs of cattle," Mr Henderson said.

"They presented in what you would call typical forward store condition."