Numbers down but prices up

WITH only one combined market to come next week at VLE Pakenham, everybody was expecting a very large sale, but inexplicably numbers fell by 30 per cent.
The smaller yarding included a lot of good to very good quality cattle, including a good percentage of heavy yearlings and grown cattle.
The unexpected smaller yarding influenced stronger demand, and except for a small number of plainer cattle, prices were three cents to 10 cents per kilogram dearer.
Percentage wise, there was a good yarding of 375 vealers penned, and while the top price was lower, a lot more calves made from 170 cents to 192 cents per kilogram.
Prices averages were up to 10 cents per kilogram higher, although there were fewer heavy vealers to soften the average.
Some of the larger increases were seen for sales of good quality heifer calves. Other vealers of reasonable to good quality made between 145 cents to 172 cents per kilogram.
A lot more yearling steers were penned than heifers with a total of 300 yearlings offered.
Prices here were mostly two cents to six cents per kilogram dearer with steers making from 142 cents to 177 cents, and most heifers made between 137 cents and 161 cents per kilogram.
Nearly 200 grown cattle were penned, and these were mostly steers of good to very good quality.
Prime steers made between 148 cents and 158 cents, averaging three cents per kilogram more.
Heifers and cows made from 116 cents to 132 cents per kilogram.
The VLE draw for the week commencing Monday 21 December is as follows (last sale for 2009): 1, Rodwells; 2, Alex Scott; 3, Everitt and Seeley; 4, Mick Hornsby; 5, Nathan Gibbon; 6, SEJ; 7, Landmark; 8, Elders.
The next store sale is Thursday 7 January 2010 commencing at 10am.

Steers

Twelve, Cantwell Livestock, Welshpool, 461, 176.6, $814.57; 7, D. Sowerby and M. Leighton, Nilma North, 480, 158.2, $758.23; 10, R. and B. Weinzierl, Cardinia, 577, 157.6, $910.14; 25, McGrath Rural, Nar Nar Goon, 561, 157.6, $883.82; 6, L. Harris, Tetoora, 572, 157.5, $898.83; 12, J. Blood, Balnarring, 606, 157, $951.81; 8, Frank Kandus, Glenburn, 480, 154.6, $742.00; 24, P. Moore, Balnarring, 618, 151.9, $938.06.

Vealers

Eight, T.G. and L.L. Andrews, Nar Nar Goon, 353 kilograms, 186.5 cents per kilogram, $657.29; 15, J. and M. Wilson, Glen Alvie, 362, 179.2, $650.08; 5, R.B. and P.D. Jones, Archies Creek, 349, 177.6, $619.82; 14, G.G. Muller and Son, Glenburn, 393, 175.4, $690.45; 9, C.J. Haines, Buxton, 405, 174.4, $707.15; 20, P. and L.A. Whiteside, Korumburra South, 356, 174.1, $620.33; 39, G.A. Bett, Yea, 335, 173.4, $581.00; 7, J.S. and S.M. Anderson, Lang Lang, 376, 172, $647.46; 10, T. Holman, Alexandra, 363, 171.9, $624.79; 14, C.R. and B.K. Littlejohn, Leongatha North, 378, 170.3, $644.00; 15, J. Marshall, Somers, 359, 167, $599.00; 10, M. Shaw, Moorooduc, 357, 166.6, $595.40; 15, W. Conn, Merricks, 355, 163.6, $581.00; 9, A.W. S. Cook, Yinnar, 304, 161.9, $492.95.

Bullocks

Twelve, Shoreham Farming, Shoreham, 632, 156.6, $989.84; 37, D. and Y. Pike, Neerim Junction, 597, 156.6, $935.00; 12, J. and J. Grigg, Flinders, 670, 155.2, $1040.49; 10, C. Kiefez, Flinders, 644, 155.2, $999.49; 10, DDC Past. Co., Lang Lang, 730, 154, $1124.20; 10, J. and T. Vogrig, Berwick, 751, 153.6, $1154.30; 9, M.H. and S. Rykers, Lang Lang, 726, 153.6, $1115.31; 8, Naum Dellios and Co., Geelong, 691, 153, $1057.61; 12, G.R. and C.E. Kent, Dayleston, 734, 152.6, $1120.34; 16, Calder Park, Lang Lang, 775, 151.8, $1177.15; 9, A. and P. Vieceli, Keysborough, 611, 151.2, $923.28.