Leongatha cattle sale: Strong steer prices for huge cattle yarding

Northern competition and feedlot buying power were behind the success of the huge 5500 head South Gippsland sale.

A massive yarding of 5500 cattle at Leongatha drew interstate competition among the horde buyers today.

“With the yarding that we had, it’s sold extremely well and above expectations,” Nutrien auctioneer Brian McCormack said.

While the prices were impressive in their own right, the dispersal of the cattle was largely due to the huge amount of work put in by agents pre-sale to attract large commission and feedlot buyers, particularly from the north.

Rodney and Coral Donat from Mirboo topped the market at 830c/kg for their 21 Angus at 268kg. They are pictured with Nutrien agent Jack Ginnane.

“When you get to this time of year with a big yarding down south you start to think are you going to get enough people to buy the cattle, but you do your homework prior to with a lot of phone calls,” Mr McCormack said.

Charleton, Mort and Co, JBS and Hopkins River Feedlots were all present and with deep pockets, buying up several truck loads.

Heavy steers between 500kg to 600kg made from 500c/kg to 580c/kg while types from 300kg to 400kg returned from 650c/kg to 750c/kg.

Lighter steers below 300kg ranged from 700c/kg and pushed above $8/kg in places.

Cents-per-kilogram wise Rodney and Coral Donat from Mirboo topped the market at 830c/kg for their 21 Angus at 268kg which made $2200.

The Donat’s two pens of vendor-bred steers drew attention for their quality breeding, which have seen Rodney and Coral top the market several times in the past.

“I’m biased but I knew our cattle were going to do well and it get above $8/kg is doing really well,” Rodney said.

Gembrae Ag were another feature vendor of the sale, offering a large line of 200 mixed sex weaners from their spring drop.

Gembrae’s steers topped at $2170 or 740c/kg for 32 Angus at 293kg and another pen achieved 753c/kg for 25 Angus at 271kg.

Their heifers topped at $1900 or 655c/kg for 20 Angus at 290kg.

The crowd had thinned significantly by the time the heifer portion of the sale went under the hammer a little after 2pm.

Just under 1500 heifers were a slim portion of the yarding but they sold well to persistent buyers still holding their spots at the rails.

Six Charolais heifers at 507kg topped at $2600 or 513c/kg for Longford Bodyworks, while another heavyweight pen of 12 Angus heifers at 464kg made $2480 or 534c/kg for A&K Gilbert.

Cents-per-kilogram wise L & K Price’s 24 Angus heifers at 257kg made an impressive 661c/kg or $1700.