Leongatha cattle sale: Buyers reward quality lines

Bids intensified on the quality lines of cattle at Leongatha today. See how the market unfolded.

A little more vigour was welcomed into the store market at Leongatha today, with grown steers selling to $1900 and Angus steer weaners to $1330.

It was a big winter yarding for the centre with more than 3000 head penned following a three-week break between store markets in the area.

Quality in the lead runs was described by agents as exceptionally good, as some feature lines of older steers and calves were offered.

With the sun shining in South Gippsland after some very wet weather and spring on the horizon, competition for well-bred cattle did pick up, according to selling agents like Jimmy Kyle, SEJ Leongatha.

“Steers were generally a little bit dearer than what we saw here three weeks ago, more so on the lines of well-bred weaners,’’ he said.

The $1900 steers were part of the advertised draft of 60 rising two-year-old Angus from the Hartay Family Trust. Weighing up to 560kg liveweight, they were trending around 330c to 340c/kg.

Livestock agents take the bids from the catwalk at Leongatha. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

In the weaners, local breeder Grant McColl, Glenfinnan, received a top of $1330 for Angus weaners aged 10-12 months that weighed 335kg, working out close to 400c/kg lwt.

Also in this price territory was the lead of the feature run of Coulthard Angus steer calves, which sold to $1300 and also pushed towards 400c.

The quote from agents for the lead pens of quality black steer calves was 380c to 420c/kg lwt.

Mr Kyle said within his agency, there had been some solid over-the-hook trading of bullocks at $2100 to $2300 in recent weeks, and clients were comfortable coming back in for well-bred calves as replacements at $1100 to $1300.

“There is plenty of cattle being traded, and while there is a bit of pain selling heavy grown steers that cost a lot of money last year, the way to look at is if they can sell at $2300 and buy the top weaners at $1300 and put $1000 in their pockets, it’s not too bad,’’ he said.

Talking of pain, there was still some of that evident at today’s Leongatha sale for cattle that didn’t tick all the boxes regarding breed and quality.

Friesian and crossbred steer remained tough to sell, auctioneers reported, at a low rate of 150c to 180c/kg liveweight.

Buyers gather at the rail during the Leongatha cattle sale. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

There were also heavy-grown steers such as Herefords that still struggled at around the 300c/kg mark just to be similar to recent sales.

Heifers were also testing the skills of auctioneers, with early reports suggesting there were a lot of average-type calves in the 250-350kg range that were selling for between $500 to $600 – with breed, muscle shape and quality all determining factors.