Leongatha steer and heifer prices ease as buyers exercise caution

Agents yarded about 2600 cattle at the Victorian Livestock Exchange where prices fell by $50-$100 a head compared to the first February sale two weeks ago.

South Gippsland agency Phelan & Henderson & Co hosted its annual feature grown and weaner steer market which featured a cluster of vendor-bred cattle from across the region.

Phelan & Henderson & Co director David Phelan said the sale was "very tough".

"The sale was back a fair way and could have been back $800 on the overall average for several vendor-bred lines throughout the sale today compared to our sale last year," he said.

"I thought our cattle might have made a whisker more, but all of a sudden South Gippsland has become very dry and we haven't had rain for a week or two."

Many cattle sold during the sale were absorbed by buyers from across Gippsland, while the feature lines were bought mainly by return buyers.

P, N, D & M Moore, Yarram, were among the lead drafts with 100 Angus steers, nine to 11 months, which included 22 steers, 392 kilograms, that sold for $1600 or 408 cents a kilogram.

Twenty-two steers, 360kg, made $1440 or 400c/kg, 23 steers, 345kg, sold for $1430 or 414c/kg and 24 steers, 319kg, made $1260 or 394c/kg.

Kevin Opray, Hedley, sold 75 Angus steers, 10-12 months, including 16 steers, 437kg, for $1800 or 422c/kg, 16 steers, 414kg, for $1680 or 405c/kg and 17 steers, 390kg, for $1650 or 423c/kg.

Don and Kay Belcher, Wonga Park, Woodside, sold 42 Hereford steers, 10-12 months, including 18 steers, 375kg, for $1660 or 442c/kg and 24 steers, 341kg, for $1520 or 445c/kg.

George and Lorraine Simmons, Woodside, sold 43 Hereford steers, 10-12 months, including a pen of 20 steers, 397kg, for $1600 or 403c/kg.

DM Phelan, Billy Creek Station, Staceys Bridge, sold 142 Hereford steers, 10-12 months and 14 months, including 19 steers, 429kg, for $1740 or 405c/kg and 15 steers, 375kg, for $1520 or 405c/kg.

M & J Chafield, Toora, sold 10 Hereford steers, 473kg, for $1890 or 399c/kg and 15 steers, 380kg, for $1580 or 415c/kg.

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The Estate of L Dignan, Bundalaguah, sold 35 Hereford steers, 474kg, for $1850 or 390c/kg.

The sale started with four steers consigned by Moyarra Farms, Moyarra, 578kg, for $2200 or 380c/kg.

RF, VM & RJ Dowel, Leongatha South, sold 60 Hereford steers including 20 steers, 369kg, for $1600 or 433c/kg and 20 steers, 344kg, for $1460 or 424c/kg.

Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock started their auction with the sale of a charity steer to raise money for six-year-old Darcy Sutton who remains in hospital in a critical condition after a vehicle collision at Glengarry earlier this year.

His father, Adam Sutton, was killed during the incident.

The steer was donated by G & H Little, Glengarry, and bought by Ron Goff, Yarragon, for $3000.

Mr Goff re-donated the steer which was bought for second time by Stuart Jenkins, Nutrien SGL, for $2700, raising $5700 in total.

Jasmel, Tarwin Lower, sold 22 steers, 438kg, for $1820 or 415c/kg.

Lorstan Nominees, Bengworden, sold 12 steers, 394kg, for $1710 or 434c/kg and 14 steers, 366kg, for $1700 or 464c/kg.

Von Pace, Giffard West, sold 21 steers, 486kg, for $2100 or 432c/kg and 14 steers, 490kg, for $2100 or 428c/kg.

Brookville Angus, Benambra, sold 20 steers, 366kg, for $1500 or 409c/kg.

The same vendor also sold 16 heifers, 396kg, for $1500 or 378c/kg, 22 heifers, 371kg, for $1380 or 371c/kg, 28 heifers, 358kg, for $1370 or 382c/kg and 28 heifers, 355kg, for $1310 or 391c/kg.

A & C O'Mara, Glengarry, sold 25 steers, 392kg, for $1800 or 459c/kg.

J & P Fleming, Mertonvale, Willung, sold 22 steers, 380kg, for $1580 or 415c/kg.

M & K Breen, Buffalo, sold 20 steers, 360kg, for $1600 or 444c/kg and 28 steers, 329kg, for $1500 or 455c/kg.

Macaulay sold 15 steers, 680kg, for $2640 or 388c/kg, 15 steers, 677kg, for $2620 or 387c/kg, 15 steers, 665kg, for $2620 or 399c/kg and 15 steers, 636kg, for $2540 or 399c/kg.

White Pastures sold 18 steers, 658kg, for $2700 or 410c/kg.

D & G Hunter sold 20 steers, 484kg, for $2100 or 433c/kg and 10 steers, 417kg, for $1580 or 378c/kg.

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