Big numbers at Leongatha store cattle sale boost prices
Cattle feedlots have continued to dominate in a once-again elevated Leongatha store market. See prices fetched here.
A huge winter yarding of almost 2800 cattle managed to boost prices once again at Leongatha today.
“It was dearer on a fortnight ago through the heavier cattle, and the lighter cattle stepped up a little notch too,” Elders Leongatha branch manager Rohan McRae said.
The buying power behind the market was still 90-per-cent dominated by feedlots, Mr McRae said, but local graziers were keeping a keen eye on the prices.
“We had a feel of spring here today with some sunshine and wind and there was a bigger crowd of onlookers just trying to get a gauge of the market,” he said.
“I don’t think the graziers have really got going yet. It’s still very feedlot dominated but you could just see that little bit more interest from onlookers today.”
Heavy steers above 400kg made 470c/kg-550c/kg while quality lightweight weaner steers weighing less than 300kg returned 600c/kg-700c/kg.
Peterson Pastoral, from Yarram, offered a standout run of 70 heavy Angus steers, which topped at $3090 or 471c/kg for 19 Angus at 655kg. His second pen of 18 Angus at 635kg returned $3040 or 479c/kg and another 17 Angus at 600kg made $2860 or 476kg.
Mr McRae said with store sale numbers still strong over winter, typically a seasonal lull, prices over spring showed no signs of slowing down.
“We don’t think there’s going to be any huge spike numbers over spring to deter prices. We think a lot of the cattle have gone early,” Mr McRae said.
“But there’s no doubt that this kind of money is going to make people think, ‘Are they going to buy these cattle closer to $2000 than $1000?’ It’s quite a bit of money.”
The heifer market was “really strong again” with most well-bred Angus heifer types making about 500c/kg for 300kg-350kg cattle, according to Mr McRae.
Mr McRae said the price is still the main driving factor behind the yarding but the wet conditions in East Gippsland were also pushing cattle towards the sales for some producers.
“The further you head west, to say the Bass Coast shire, it’s perfect; the paddocks are firm and the cattle are hardly marking them but as you push east towards Yarram it’s quite wet. It’s odd because that’s normally the reverse,” Mr McRae said.
MORE
Seasonal turnaround boosts prices at Wodonga
Recent rain helped to boost sentiment on light cattle at Wodonga, in one of the plainest yardings seen at the centre for some time. See the full report.
Renewed confidence bolsters prices at Leongatha
Cattle consistently sold for $4/kg at the Leongatha store cattle sale today, where 3000 cattle were yarded. See the sale recap.