Cows and calves sell to $3000 at Sale

Agents yarded 903 cattle at the Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange where agents said prices for heavier cattle eased slightly, reflecting a softer prime market.

Feedlot competition was limited with only one operator active, while South Gippsland bullock fatteners were active on suitable lines of well-bred cattle.

A feature of the sale was 44 grown steers offered by Max Newnham, Longford.

His first pen of 22 steers, 577 kilograms, made $2210 or 382c/kg and his second pen of 22, 543kg, made $2200 or 405c/kg.

Another line of steers, forwarded by Robyn Kuch, Perry Bridge, weighed between 526kg and 445kg and averaged close to $2100, selling Nutrien Greenwood auctioneer Gordon Conners said.

"The first two lanes of steers we sold weighed between 570 and 460 kilos so that shows you had a good run of grown cattle," Mr Conners said.

"We had five good pens of black heifers and they sold strongly, weighing 360 to 400 kilos, and making up to $1500 to $1600."

Mr Conners said prices for weaner cattle were no dearer than a month ago, while secondary cattle eased "fractionally".

Account Lipman & Jackson, Sale, sold five Angus heifers with calves at foot made $3000.

Alex Scott & Staff director Aaron Ralph estimated heavy and crossbred steers eased anywhere between $50 and $100 a head in the mixed yarding sale.

"Weaner cattle still sold very strongly and there was good demand for weaners," Mr Ralph said.

"The main lot of cattle went to South Gippsland as usual and we also had agents and producers from East Gippsland and locally buying cattle.

"We've noticed a larger number of kill cattle onto the prime market and processors are getting full so it's just harder to book them in and get them killed."

Delaney Livestock & Property director Anthony Delaney said the sale was softer but "still a strong result".

"The sale was being driven by Gippsland restocker competition, especially South Gippsland," he said.

Mark Power, Rosedale, sold four Angus steers, 478kg, for $1870 or 391c/kg.

LT & CR Trading, Maffra, sold six Angus-cross steers, 355kg, for $1480 or 416c/kg.

D & S Field, Longford, sold seven Angus steers, 325kg, for $1520 or 467c/kg.

Pinehill Park, Maffra, sold 12 Angus Friesian-cross steers, 484kg, for $1710 or 353c/kg.

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