It was a buyer’s market at Leongatha cattle sale, as prices were cheaper

Prices were softer at the Leongatha store cattle sale, with heavy steers cheaper.

Paul Chisholm of Archies Creek at Leongatha store sale.

For those wanting to buy quality cattle at a good price, today’s Leongatha store sale was a buyer’s market.

The South Gippsland yards penned a total of 3205 heifers and steers to both local agents and feedlot buyers, with prices across heavy weight and medium-weight cattle softer than price trends in recent weeks.

And with softer bidding action from the usual participating feedlot buyers, coupled with concern from producers of dry weather conditions, there was a subdued tone to the sale.

Opening pens of heavy steers, weighing upwards of 500kg to 600kg made returns in the 380-400c/kg range, down slightly on recent prices for the same weight range.

One pen of Angus steers by producers S Jackson and S Collins, weighing 545kg, sold for $2190, or 401c/kg.

Other pens of heavier steers in the opening lane of the sale made returns between 379c/kg to 396c/kg.

Cattle in the medium-weight range, between 300-500kg, made consistent price returns of 380c/kg, or on par with some of the heavier lines of cattle.

Paul Chisholm of Archies Creek sold a pen of Angus steers, weighing 377kg, for more than 430c/kg.

He said he was surprised but happy with the price his calves made, considering he would usually sell them a month later in the season.

“I didn’t expect much … the season has been a bit unusual and we’ve been growing a lot of grass. You move the cattle out and it almost grows right behind them,” Mr Chisholm said.

The heifer portion of the sale was in line with recent price trends, with opening pens fetching returns from 300c/kg to 395c/kg.

One pen of Bona Vista Angus heifers, weighing 414kg, sold to $1670, or 403c/kg.