Leongatha store cattle sale: Prices continue upward trend
Prices were buoyed at the latest Leongatha store cattle sale by extra competition with a 5000-head strong cattle market.
A huge yarding of 5000 cattle at Leongatha saw buyers and vendors flock to the saleyards where prices were pushed up once again.
Nutrien Ag Solutions kicked off the sale with a large offering, including several lines of quality breeder cattle.
One feature line was offered by Adrian Nethercote, of Nethercote Trading at Flynn.
Mr Nethercote offered a total of 63 Angus steers to average $2200 including 15 Angus at 322kg which returned $2180, or 677c/kg.
Nutrien auctioneer Brain McCormack said the large crowd of bidders, with strong feedlot support down to as low as 330kg, helped push the market up another 5-10 cents.
“When you start talking 400kg animals that’s $40 to $60 dearer so it adds up,” Mr McCormack said.
“Well-bred black calves down to 450kg — you can’t buy them under $2000 which is in the high $7/kg.
“This is around the time we start to get our bigger yardings and the price is so good people are keen to get them in and it’s all feeder driven still.”
One of the top selling lots, in terms of cents-per-kilogram, returned 827c/kg for a pen of 23 Angus steers at 260kg. They were sold by A & T Derham.
About 50mm of rain across South Gippsland in the past week, which has left paddocks wet under foot meant some vendors put cattle forward today.
“It would have been good to get a bit more sunshine but the cattle are ready to go,” Mr McCormack said.
“Yes, it’s wet but we’re heading into spring and the days are getting longer so people are ready to start buying.”
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.