Leongatha light steers, heifers continue to push higher in price

Agents yarded 2006 head of steers, heifers cows and calves, at a sale supported strongly by local restockers.

SEJ auctioneer James Kyle said the sale was well supported by locals.

"There were a lot of restockers who had been trying to get back in who hadn't got back in," Mr Kyle said.

"You needed $2200-2400 for all those cattle in that 300-350 kilogram weight range.

"Even for the bucket reared ones, you don't get much for under $1000."

The sale was marked by less heavier cattle but agents said that was more than made up for on the lighter steers.

Nutrien Ag Solutions South Gippsland Livestock auctioneer Jack Ginnane said heavier steers softened on the previous fortnight.

"The quality had dropped away from last fortnight's magnificent yarding," Mr Ginnane said.

"There probably wasn't the weight for the feedlots to jump on, they were $100 a head cheaper.'

"But that 300-400 kilogram range sold just as well, if not better, in places

"The restockers were very strong but there probably wasn't that much weight or competition as at the last sale."

Charlton, J&F, Keswick and O'Connors operated on the heavier cattle.

"There were limited numbers of heifers - and they were of good quality."

Elders auctioneer Rohan McCrae said there was one large draft, from G-S Pastoral, which sold up to expectations.

"It was a mixed yarding, but we had a portion of dairy cross cattle

"I think you could quote them dearer, with less cattle and another 20-30 millimetres of rain, people are operating to buy cattle to chew a bit of grass."

He said the prime market had eased, resulting in a slight drop in prices on the heavier stock.

"We have been selling quite a few cattle and it will be interesting to see if any more come forward, or people sit tight and allow their stock to eat the grass."

"The grass is really starting to get cracking now, especially on the coastal, rising country, although some of the lower country is a bit wet, which is still retarding them.

"If it dries out and gets going, maybe it gets stronger, who knows?"

He said the best weaners were "fully firm".

Nerenna bullock fattener Glenys Shandley picked up a pen of heavy steers for $2950.

"I'll put them in the paddock and hope the get fat quickly," Ms Shandley said.

"They were a good buy."

When it was suggested she'd been in the beef game for decades, she responded "absolutely.

"I can remember when Newmarket was operating," she said.

Read more: Leongatha heifers in demand

Gary Anthony, Meenyin, said he usually sold his springing steers at this time of year.

"Last sale, I got 650-702c/kg for some Hereford steers," he said.

He sold a pen of 16 steers, 350kg, for $2310 or 660c/kg.

P & T Dessent sold 23 Angus steers, 571kg, for $3040 or 532c/kg.

Their seconds, 13, av 506kg, sold for $2300 or 454c/kg.

Grassy Spur Farm sold eight Harris-blood steers, 291kg, for $2020 or 694c/kg.

G Steer, Glengarry, sold 22 steers, 332kg, for $2300 or 692c/kg.

Sha-Valley, Krowera, sold 11 steers, 315kg, for $2040 or 647c/kg.

Their seconds, 10, av 293kg, sold for $1970 or 672c/kg.

E&B Jarvis, Mountain View, sold 12 steers, 703kg, for 464c/kg.

Game and Beresford, Bega, sold 15 steers, 624kg, for $2950 or 472c/kg.

Melaleuca Pastoral Trust sold 15 steers, 506kg, for $2980 or 589c/kg.

SJ Conway, Trafalgar, sold 15 Kunuma and Latrobe Park-blood steers 435kg, for $2650 or 609c/kg.

D&H Campbell, Mardan, sold 18 Innesdale and Merlewood-blood steers, 350kg, for $2470 or 705c/kg.

R & S Holt, Leongatha, sold 12 steers, 398kg, for $2520 or 635c/kg.

I&G Robinson, Nerenna, sold 16 steers, 256kg, for $1770 or 691c/kg.

G-S Pastoral was the only vendor with a substantial draft of cattle at the sale.

Their first pen of seven Merlewood-blood bulls, 486kg, sold for $2870 or 590c/kg.

Their second pen of 22, av 326kg, sold for $2480 or 760c/kg.

Their light steers, 279kg, sold for $2240 or 802c/kg.

F Thomas sold 20 steers, 360kg, for $2180 or 605c/kg.

I Savige sold 16 steers, 298kg, for $2300 or 771c/kg.

P Kelly sold 14 steers, 348kg, for $2160 or 620c/kg.

E Wolfe sold six steers, 291kg, for $2000 or 687c/kg.

Their seven seconds, av 253kg, sold for $2040 or 806c/kg.

M Stewart sold seven steers, 270kg, for $2070 or 766c/kg.

TJ, LJ and C Smil sold nine steers, 658kg, for $3220 or 489c/kg.

T Ford sold seven Charolais-cross steers, 510kg, for $2600 or 509c/kg.

P Kelly sold eight steers, 519kg, for $2600 or 501c/kg.

S Hanning sold five steers, 626kg, for $2760 or 440c/kg.

Mr Kyle said some of the good heifers were 'going back to the paddock to try and find a bull, moreso than going back onto grass.

"At $2100-2200 to buy a heifer to put back out in the paddock to try and fatten, there is just not the margin there."

There had been a lot of cows sold, so many producers were taking the opportunity to pick up heifers for a breeding program.

Melaleuca sold 19 heifers, 376kg, for $2350 or 625c/kg.

Campbell sold 14 heifers, 368kg, for $2350 or 638c/kg.

Their seconds, 319kg, sold for $2150 or 673c/kg.

Max Ray Nominees, Meeniyan, sold 12 heifers, 347kg, for $2160 or 622c/kg.

CJ & L Barrett, Trafalgar, sold eight heifers, 290kg, for $1720 or 593c/kg.

F&J Edwards sold 16 Red Angus heifers, 244kg, for $1740 or 713c/kg.

Tullaree Pastoral sold 17 heifers, 243kg, for $1810 or 744c/kg.

G-S Pastoral sold 24 heifers, 309kg, for $2140 or 692c/kg.

They also sold a pen of 24, 286kg, for $1970 or 688c/kg.

L Higgins sold 11 heifers for $1140.

Field sold 11 heifers, 374kg, for $1990 or 532c/kg.

Smil sold one by one Limousin cow and calf for $3850.

E Wolfe sold eight Angus cows for $2200.

P Pearche sold three by three Angus cows and calves for $2800.

Balas Holdings sold one by one cow and calf for $3520.