Beef battle continues

At Leongatha, larger grass finishers were able to secure the cattle they wanted, according to Elders livestock manager Rohan McRae.

"We continue to say it's a bit dearer, and as much as you don't like to say it, it probably was on the better-bred cattle," Mr McRae said.

He said stock in the 4500-head yarding were being drawn from as far away as East Gippsland, which had not been as badly affected by winter rain.

"There was a good portion of nicely-bred cattle," he said.

"There was a full field of feedlot buyers who were clashing with grass finishers and in most cases the feedlots won.

"Some of bigger finishers did take the cattle they wanted but all others dropped back in weight.

"If I had cattle to sell, I think I would sell them, why not?"

Mr McRae said weaner calves went past 750 cents a kilogram, with 600kg steers selling for $3000-3300 a head.

He said numbers at Leongthata continued to rise, and there was a good field of buyers.

J&J Kelly stock agent Jack Kelly, Warrnambool, said feedlots continued to underpin the market.

"They were buying anything from 340-600kg, and then everyone else has to try and run in and get the rest," Mr Kelly said.

He said the promised rain over a widespread area would be an excellent boost for the grain and hay sectors.

"That's going to be enormous for them, which helps with the feedlot industry," he said.

"This will just put a really good finish on the season.

"They have obviously got very good markets ahead to supply."

He said the market for cows and calves and pregnancy-tested-in-calf females had also picked up.

"It's been such a wet and cold winter, up until the last three to four weeks," he said.

"Once people get feed, you can run them on - you have the season ahead.

"Sometimes it's tough to buy them when it's cold and wet, you really have to look after them.

"It's not supposed to get cold, which is enormous for grass growing."

Mr Kelly said feedlots were finding forward cattle, weighing 340kg-plus, which they were "popping straight on the feed".

He said restockers were able to buy because they were "cashed up" from high prime prices.

"We don't normally sell those lighter ones, but they are so valuable now, people are going to offload those young cattle," he said.

"If you have sold for good money, you have to buy back in.

"Our best young beef steers sold for 867c/kg, while the best heifers went for 725c/kg - they would be in that 180-250kg range."

BUR Livestock director Michael Unthank said Barnawartha had seen a reduced supply over the last few months.

"There will be a few more of those drafts of spring-drop calves as things progress," Mr Unthank said.

"It was $50-100 ahead than a fortnight before, especially for lighter cattle."

He said feedlotters were strong on suitable cattle, with Charlton buying the heavier steers and domestic operators buying heifers.