IN some of the highest prices paid in the current run of weaner sales, heavy Angus weaners sold to $905 at Leongatha today.
Rates of 220-239c/kg were paid on many pens weighing more than 330kg.
The Elders feature sale attracted a yarding 2400 head divided equally between yearling and autumn-drop weaners.
Kevin and Libby Heggenspen, of 20 Red Angus, February-March drop 379kg steers sold locally for the top weaner rate of $905 or 239c/kg.Vendors Greenwald, T&C Hulls and F&C Cameron shared the price honors for the black Angus steers.
The heaviest of the Hulls weaners at 422kg sold for $900 or 213c/kg.
Malcolm Davies Greenwald 18 398kg steers from Foster topped his pens at $845 or 221c/kg, while the Cameron pen of 17 392kg steers sold to $850.
Bill Davies, father of Malcolm, noted that weaners of similar weight which they bred on their Western District Dartmoor property and sold at Hamilton averaged $750 while their Foster steers would have averaged $30-$40 more.
Kevin Heggen said he went to today’s sale hoping for a top price of $850, after selling steers this time last year for $900.
As it emerged he was one of the rare vendors to achieve better prices this year.
But while South Gippsland bullock finishers scrambled to secure the local weaners, it was a different situation in the big yarding of the older steers,15-20months.
Following a sharp cut to bullock prices in the last fortnight, the heavier steers sold at rates from 172-190c/kg.
It was only when the weights fell under 420kg that 200c/kg was achieved.
Most of the heavier steers went to local grass finishers who paid from $850 to a top of $975.
Landmark Leongatha agent Eddie Hams bid $975 equal to 172c/kg for the heaviest pen of 559kg Angus steers sold on account of Adval from Anderson.
One vendor caught in the price falls was Stan Reilly from Bengworden who had 75 Angus, black baldy and Friesian steers.
These were steers he bought as weaners from East Gippsland a year ago at prices from $600-$700.
Today his top pen of 13 544kg Angus sold for $960.
"It was all a bit ordinary. There is just no margin in it," he said.
Rod Draper of the Elders Leongatha agency LKD conceded that it was a sale of contrasting prices.
"The bullock job came back a bit, which affected the grown cattle prices.
"But the excellent season down here certainly helped push the weaner market," he said.
