Abstract: The invention concerns a hydraulic system for supplying a hydrostatic steering system. A central variable capacity hydraulic fluid pump supplies the steering system and a secondary consuming device via separate respective compensated pressure maintaining valves. The steering system and secondary consuming device are controlled by respective load report lines which are brought together at a changeover valve which is operative to permit the higher reported pressure to be delivered to a volume governor for the pump. Upon the secondary consuming device entering a neutral condition or a fluid loss condition, the changeover valve moves to block the load report line to the secondary consuming device; and a control circuit, including a branch line from the feed line to the steering system, maintains a higher pressure in the load report line of the steering hydraulic circuit than in the line of the secondary consuming device.