Leongatha steers pass 790c/kg with signs of grass fever on the way

Agents yarded about 2500 cattle for the fortnightly store sale at the Victorian Livestock Exchange where light Angus steers sold for more than 790 cents a kilogram.

Elders Leongatha and Korumburra livestock manager Rohan McRae said it was one of the dearest sales he had witnessed, despite the very broad yarding of crossbred and Friesian cattle.

"It was dearer on those lighter-weight beef-bred steers and there was a really solid bottom in those steers with anything from 270 kilograms up sold above $2000 a head all day," Mr McRae said.

"There's short supply at the moment and locally our season could not be any better coming out of winter, but those conditions are widespread hence the demand."

Mr McRae said several feedlotters were dominant on the suitable heavy cattle which forced restockers back onto the lighter pens.

JCM Farms sold 12 Angus steers, 279kg, for $1980 or 709c/kg and another 17 Angus steers for $1780.

R Cromb sold 16 Angus steers, 273kg, for $1880 or 688c/kg.

W & S O'Neil had a dispersal of Angus cows and calves including one pen of 15 heifers with six and seven-month-old calves at foot for $4450 and eight heifers with calves for $4250.

The pens were bought by a breeder from East Gippsland.

M Gheller sold seven two-and-a-half-year-old crossbred steers, 502kg, for $2500 or 498c/kg.

Account Waterside sold 100 Fresian steers including 14 steers, 314kg, for $1360 and 16, 295kg, for $1380.

Nutrien Leongatha livestock manager Brian McCormack said young cattle experienced the highest price rise.

"There was about 2000 steers there at the VLE but give or take there would have been close to 1000 Friesians and crossbred cattle, so it was a typical winter yarding.," Mr McCormack said.

"The market was driven by restockers and we saw some competition from grass fatteners who were also buying a few handy cattle."

BFN Developments, Traralgon, sold 75 Hereford steers including 17 steers, two years old, 534kg, for $2950 or 552c/kg.

T & J Keylock, Sale, sold 11 Hereford steers, 492kg, for $2720 or 553c/kg.

SE Murphy, Leongatha, sold 15 Angus steers, two years old, 568kg, for $3050 or 536c/kg and a younger pen of 19 Angus steers, 20 months, 468kg, for $2860 or 611c/kg.

B Stewart, Kernot, sold 14 Angus and Black Baldy steers, 514kg, for $2920 or 568c/kg.

Manuka Ridge, Wonthaggi, sold 10 Angus steers, eight and nine months, 258kg, for $2000 or 775c/kg.

The same vendor also sold 12 heifers, 253kg, for $1720 or 680c/kg.

French Island Pastoral sold seven Angus cows with calves at foot, six to seven months, redepastured to an Angus bull for $3680.

J & E Keogh, Stony Creek, sold 13 Angus-Fresian-cross heifers springing to a Billy Creek Limousin bull for $3020.

Alex Scott & Staff Leongatha branch manager Rob Ould said heavier cattle were also in demand.

"We had some grown Hereford steers consigned by K, P and R Hourigan which weighed 588 kilos and made $3000 and they were bought by a restocker," Mr Ould said.

"The same vendor also had six Angus steers which weighed 589kg and made $3050 and they went to a feedlotters so both them and restockers were very competitive.

"We also saw a bit of grass fever start to emerge which is very promising."

M & L Brunt, Poowong, sold five Angus steers, 396kg, for $2320 or 585c/kg.

Island Bay Ranch, Newhaven, sold seven Angus steers, 330kg, for $2100 or 636c/kg.

C & K Worthy, Korumburra, sold 10 Angus steers, 303kg, for $2080 or 686c/kg.

Rob and Sally Lowe, Kilkunda, sold six Angus steers, 240kg, for $1900 or 791c/kg.

G Cummaudo, Mirboo North, sold eight Charolais-Limousin-cross heifers, 306kg, for $1860 or 607c/kg.