Busy times at Koonwarra

FRIDAY’S store sale at Koonwarra’s Victorian Livestock Exchange (VLE) saleyards drew around 5500 head of cattle.

“It’s market driven at the moment with prices bringing cattle out of the paddock and into the saleyards,” SEJ livestock auctioneer James Kyle said.

He was pleased with another successful day, saying that ongoing strong prices are encouraging many farmers to sell rather than have $3,000 steers occupying their paddocks over winter, preferring to look after lighter cattle.

Many of Friday’s available cattle were from the local area, including Korumburra, Leongatha, Tarwin Lower, and Foster.

However, James said that the high quality of VLE’s Koonwarra saleyards makes it a drawcard for people right across Gippsland.

“It runs smoothly with good people in charge, is a good facility and it attracts major buyers,” James said.

He clearly enjoys his work and the banter coming from buyers that keeps it entertaining.

James sold 14 seven-month-old steers for Shannon and Darren Burns of Ryanston.

“It went very well,” Shannon said of the auction result.

Vera Greeley of Kilbar farm in Wooreen, accompanied by young son Oscar, came to inspect cattle, with a view to buying a pen of good quality 350kg steers.

Another huge yarding at Leongatha

By the SGSAA

AGENTS yarded another 5500 head at last Friday’s VLE Leongatha store sale.

Some very good pens of heavy and medium weight feeders steers and good quality weaners but there were more secondary and dairy types than the previous sales.

Prices eased around 10 cents a kg for the better end of cattle and a little more for the off bred and dairy cross types with a couple of orders not operating.

Once again it was the feeders taking a large chunk of the heavy and medium steers with Brookyn Park, Hopkins River, Montrose Beef, JBS, Charlton and TFI getting a large share.

Weaner steers were mainly purchased by the locals with a couple of domestic feeder orders purchasing some of the Euro cross types.

The heifers met steady demand with a couple of orders in play to go to Northern NSW and into the Riverina.

The Xbreds and Friesian steers had mixed results with prices steady for the better quality end but the plainer types attracted less competition .