Leongatha store sale: The latest prices and market drivers

Market conditions maintained their recent strength at today’s Leongatha store cattle sale. See what was driving the market.

Both pens and laneways were bursting with buyers and cattle at today’s Leongatha store cattle sale.

There was just shy of 5000 cattle presented at one of the first sales since the closure of the Pakenham saleyards.

The 4800-strong yarding maintained recent strong price trends, with prices for steers sitting at about 400c/kg.

Larger cattle drew the attention of feedlot buyers, with JBS and others active consistently throughout the sale.

While not fetching the same strong prices as the bigger steers, medium-sized and smaller steers were snapped up by local agents for local buyers.

Prices for steers above 450kg were returning prices above 400c/kg, with some pens selling upwards of 450c/kg, a trend in-line with prices recorded at the last Leongatha sale a fortnight ago.

One pen of Angus steers, weighing 375kg, from SJ Conway at Traralgon sold for $1780, or 474c/kg.

Lighter framed cattle at about 330kg sold closer to 400c/kg, while lighter younger cattle less than 300kg made returns around the 250c/kg to 290c/kg mark.

Phelan and Henderson and Co livestock agent and auctioneer David Phelan said the sale presented a strong market with “a good run of cattle”.

Livestock agent David Phelan at the Leongatha store cattle sale August 8 2024. Picture: Madeleine Stuchbery

“Plenty of feeder cattle, and all the feeders were present and active,” Mr Phelan said.

“We had a client Magna Vista, they made from 410c/kg to 430c/kg, bringing them out at $2000 a head.

“All those feeder cattle were very strong, and the heifer sale was also very strong. The best end of those feeder heifers would be close to 400c/kg.”

Mr Phelan said certainty was needed in the market to give producers stability.

“It’d be very nice if it just stayed there for the next six months. The fat market seems to be going strong, and we’re selling a fair bit of meat overseas,” Mr Phelan said.

“Season-wise, South Gippsland is going along well.”

Mardan-based cattle producer Dallas Campbell sold a total of 28 Angus steers, including a pen of 14 weighing in at 355kg and selling for $1540, or 433c/kg.

Mr Campbell said he was happy with the prices he received for his September-October 2023-drop calves.

Cattle producers Heather and Dallas Campbell sold 28 Angus steers at the recent Leongatha store cattle sale. Picture: Madeleine Stuchbery

“I’m optimistic, we’re $400 up on this time last year,” Mr Campbell said.

“The season has been good, it’s tight now but the summer was brilliant.”