Leongatha cattle sale attracts bullock fatteners from across South Gippsland

Agents yarded about 3400 cattle at the Victorian Livestock Exchange in South Gippsland, as South and West Gippsland cattle buyers dominated the opening lanes.

Heavy rain greeted buyers as prices remained firm for the feature and vendor-bred lines of the sale.

Among the feature drafts was a consignment of 100 Angus steers, 14 months, from Blackwood Grazing, Trafalgar, including 18 steers, 471 kilograms, which made $1310 a head or 278 cents a kilogram.

The entire draft was bought within six minutes by an undisclosed bullock fattener at Kernot, via Elders Pakenham.

The consignment included 18 steers, 471kg, for $1310 or 279c/kg, 22 steers, 462kg, for $1300 or 281c/kg, and 20 steers, 461kg, for $1300 or 281c/kg.

The same buyer also bought four pens of cattle consigned by A Conisbee & Co, Glengarry, who sold 100 Angus steers, 12-14 months, including a top pen of 20 steers, 466kg, for $1310 or 281c/kg, and 23 steers, 436kg, for $1260 or 289c/kg.

The Conisbee draft included 20 steers, 431kg, for $1260 or 292c/kg, and 20 steers, 424kg, for $1270 or 299c/kg.

Tony and Elizabeth Landy, trading as AG Landy, Walkerville, sold the largest draft of the sale with 293 Angus mixed-sex calves, 10-12 months, including about 160 steers.

The entire steer draft was bought by commission buyer Campbell Ross, Melbourne, for a South Australian finisher.

The Landys' steer portion included 19, 365kg, for $860 or 235c/kg, 17, 350kg, for $860 or 245c/kg, 18, 321kg, for $870 or 271c/kg, and 18, 326kg, for $870 or 266c/kg.

Their Angus heifers included a pen 18 head, 296kg, for $600 or 202c/kg, 16 heifers, 277kg, for $490 or 176c/kg, 21 heifers, 275kg, for $490 or 178c/kg and 16 Black Baldy heifers, 262kg, made $500 or 190c/kg.

SEJ Leongatha auctioneer Neil Park said the sale gained momentum as the market progressed.

"The Landy cattle this year were a bit lighter than what they have been in the past," he said.

"Obviously it's a hell of a lot cheaper than what they were last year, down from $2000 in 2023, but it's pleasing to see that Campbell was happy with the cattle and knows they will do well."

The Castello family, Castello Farms, Thorpdale, sold their annual draft of 72 Angus steers, 13-15 months, including 17 steers, 541kg, for $1480 or 273c/kg, 20 steers, 509kg, for $1400 or 275c/kg, and 17 steers, 489kg, for $1390 or 284c/kg.

The family also sold 13 Angus and Angus/Simmental-cross heifers, 411kg, for $970 or 236c/kg.

South Gippsland agent Don Bowman, Elders Korumburra and Leongatha, was another agent out in force, buying eight consecutive pens of black cattle in the first hour of the sale.

The draft weighed between 526-581kg, comprised 120 steers and was bought for a handful of South Gippsland bullock fatteners.

Among his purchases was a pen of 13 steers, 561kg, consigned by W & C Underhill, Bega, NSW, which made $1390 or 247c/kg.

Mr Bowman bought two pens from K & V Northcott, Bega, including 11 steers, 581kg, for $1460 or 251c/kg, and 11 steers, 545kg, for $1430 or 262c/kg, plus 14 steers from Cobana Pastoral, Bombala, NSW, 560kg, which made $1530.

Cobana Pastoral sold seven Charolais heifers, 522kg, for $950 or 270c/kg and 17 heifers for $860.

In total, Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock sold about 350 cattle from the Bega and Bombala districts during the fortnightly sale.

Mondamic Pastoral, Mirboo North, sold 15 steers, 574kg, for $1550 or 270c/kg, and 30 steers, 526kg, for $1390 or 264c/kg.

G & J Tuckett, Woodside, sold 90 Angus steers, 12-14 months, to several local bullock fatteners, including 13 steers, 511kg, for $1240 or 242c/kg, 15 steers, 449kg, for $1100 or 244c/kg, and 18 steers, 382kg, for $1060 or 277c/kg.

Elders Leongatha and Korumburra branch manager Rohan McRae said prices were "on par with expectations".

"Our season is assured, we've had rain, we're going to have a harvest and get our cattle fat until at least Christmas," he said.

"I know there is a lot of talk about El Nino, but in a lot of places around South and West Gippsland, and the north-east, our seasons are looking good, so we were able to keep our market steady today."

BJ Buckley, Buffalo, sold 49 Angus heifers, 390kg, for $1050 or 269c/kg.