Gippsland livestock exchange strengthens in first half of 2024

Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye says Pakenham’s closure means more than 100,000 cattle have to redistributed to other selling centres in Victoria.

Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange has bucked the downward trend for cattle and sheep sales, with its management reporting a strong start to the calendar year.

Pakenham and Camperdown saleyards have been the most recent casualties to changing trading conditions, both calling time in the past month.

However, Wellington Shire says its Sale-based exchange enjoyed a 25 per cent increase in cattle numbers between January and June.

Exchange management said an influx of new vendors meant sales of sheep and lambs had increased 43 per cent over the same six month period.

Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye said the closure of the Pakenham saleyards presented both a challenge and opportunity, given more than 100,000 cattle had to redistributed to other selling centres in Victoria

“Considering the venue can actually handle multiple times the current throughput, we will continue to engage and support our local producers,” he said.

The schedule for Gippsland’s livestock exchange includes a prime cattle sale every Wednesday at 11.30am; a fortnightly sheep sale every second Monday at 12.30pm; and a cattle store sale every first Friday of the month at 9am.

Cr Bye said the Wellington Shire undertook significant upgrades in 2016 to meet modern animal welfare and environmental standards.