Leongatha store market prices have started to lift, as confidence returns to the market.
Agents yarded 1627 head of cattle last week, largely made up of steers.
SEJ auctioneer James Kyle said confidence was returning to the market.
"Spring is not too far around the corner, and we have had a week or 10 days of pretty good weather and there's a little bit of rain on the way," Mr Kyle said.
"We had a good run of grown cattle and vendor-bred calves and they sold probably $200-$300 a head above expectations right across the board."
He said even the secondary cattle and crossbreds appeared to be dearer.
Keswick, J&F, Bunnaloo and Charlton were the main feedlots, alongside regular commission buyers Campbell Ross, Melbourne, and Duncan Brown, Albury, NSW.
They were supported by local restockers.
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Nutrien Ag Solutions auctioneer Brian McCormack said he estimated prices would have been $50-$100 dearer.
"It definitely kicked up," Mr McCormack said.
'"There were some better-quality cattle as well and probably as big a crowd we have had for two months, if not more."
There were a few consignments of heavier steers, which made up to $3500.
"You had good black steers in that 500-550-kilogram range and they were making around the $3000 mark," he said.
He said better calves, weighing between 330-340kg, "pushed out" to $2440.
"Smaller steers under 300kg, which have been hard to find, were well over 800 cents a kilogram," he said.
C Wanless sold 17 Angus steers, 368kg, for $2160 or 586c/kg.
Huntsdale Pastoral, Tarwin, sold 11 steers, 619kg, for $3160 or 510c/kg.
RE Kuch, Perry Bridge, sold 15 Kunuma-blood steers, 603kg, for $3100 or 514c/kg.
G Buckland and K Prain, Fish Creek, sold 11 steers, 550kg, for $2900 or 527c/kg.
Jackson Pastoral, Cowarr, sold 20 Murdeduke, Lawson and Te Mania-blood steers, 537kg, for $3030 or 564c/kg, and a further 13, 501kg, for $2900 or 578c/kg.
French Enterprises sold nine Kunuma-blood steers, 500kg, for $2900 or 580c/kg.
J Missen, Kilmany, sold 12 Innesdale-blood steers, 350kg, for $2340 or 668c/kg.
AW and CM O'Mara, Glengarry, sold 16 Leawood-blood steers, 339kg, for $2340 or 690c/kg.
Tullaree Pastoral, Middle Tarwin, sold 13 steers, 216kg, for $1700 or 787c/kg.
Callister, Leongatha, sold seven steers, 350kg, for $2120 or 605c/kg.
Among several larger drafts of cattle, R and R Finlay, Leongatha, sold 16 steers, 666kg, for $3480 or 522c/kg.
The Gorge, Loch, sold 13 steers, 663kg, for $3060 or 461c/kg.
Kings Park, Pound Creek, sold nine steers, 340kg, for $2090 or 614c/kg.
T & C Hulls, Narra Tingha, Leongatha, offered Narra Tingha and Sparta-blood steers, starting with a pen of 25, 308kg, for $2160 or 701c/kg.
Their second pen, 23 steers, 264kg, sold for $2120 or 803c/kg.
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
