Supply steady as quality slips

WHILE the supply of cattle at VLE Pakenham was unchanged compared to the last market two weeks ago, the quality has slipped in that time.
With the exception of a small number of vealers that sold at unchanged rates, less competition and weaker demand saw prices fall anywhere between four cents and 23 cents per kilogram, remembering that this is a two week comparison.
Most of the regular buyers were present, but not all operated.
A small selection of lighter weight vealers sold at unchanged rates, making between 192 cents and 238 cents, and the best quality B muscle vealers averaged five cents cheaper selling from 220 cents to 261 cents per kilogram.
With feedlots looking to purchase at lower rates, most plainer condition vealers made from 172 cents to 195 cents per kilogram.
There were around 550 vealers sold, and the average price was below 196 cents per kilogram liveweight.
More than 900 yearling steers and heifers were penned with a large percentage being heavy to extra heavy cattle.
These, and the 300 plus grown cattle, suffered the most of the cheaper prices, being 12 cents to 23 cents per kilogram cheaper, although plainer quality did have some influence.
Supplementary fed yearlings sold quite well making from 200 cents to 250 cents, but most of the grass fattened steers made between 162 cents and 192 cents per kilogram.
A good number of reasonable to good quality heifers only sold from 162 cents to 185 cents, averaging 11 cents per kilogram cheaper.
Prime bullocks sold to the best advantage making between 173 cents and 177 cents, which was two cents to three cents per kilogram cheaper.
However, grown steers, and heavy yearling steers only sold between 163 cents and 182 cents per kilogram. Manufacturing steers made mostly from 142 cents to 169 cents, and grown heifers only achieved 145 cents to 158 cents per kilogram. The VLE Draw for the week commencing Monday 27 June is as follows: 1, SEJ; 2, Alex Scott; 3, Elders; 4, Everitt and Seeley; 5, Nathan Gibbon; 6, Mick Hornsby; 7, Landmark; 8, Rodwells.
The next Store Sale is Thursday 23 June at 10am.

Vealers

Eight, R. and M. Knight, Foster, 421 kilograms, 245.1 cents per kilogram, $1032.56; 11, M.J. and P.F. Williams, Dalyston, 347, 239.2, $831.83; 3, J.S. and S.M. Anderson, Lang Lang, 336, 233, $784.59; 8, Tony Ellett, Pakenham South, 341, 231.1, $788.58; 6, R. and E. Penny, Cloverlea, 436, 224, $977.00; 10, R. and B. Carmichael, Dalyston, 359, 217, $779.00; 14, B. and A.J. Cornwall, Thorpedale, 437, 212.3, $928.61; 12, R. and G. Dakin, Glen Forbes, 379, 207.3, $785.90; 18, J. and R. Quilford, Dalyston, 325, 205.9, $669.26; 11, Coolaman, Konwak, 317, 204.3, $647.24; 11, H. and I. Stephenson, Bayles, 348, 203.4, $709.16; 16, A.R. and J.M. Schmidt, Poowong, 429, 202.7, $869.72; 17, T.A. and E.R. Hart, Corinella, 335, 198.3, $665.37; 44, Ellerslie Park, Fish Creek, 435, 185.9, $809.24; 22, D. Smith, Bunyip, 428, 180, $770.32; 14, Reflect Nominees, Cardinia, 537, 177.2, $951.82; 10, F. and N. Monypeney, Westburn, 656, 177, $1165.94.

Steers

Twenty two, M.T. and T.K. Blackwood, Lillico, 540, 182.2, $985.54; 17, C. Reeves, Nilma North, 532, 180, $958.76.

Heifers

Seventeen, R. and R. Findlay, Leongatha, 405, 180.1, $730.14.

Bullocks

Eighteen, P. and S. Gardiner, Warragul, 569.7, 180, $1025.50; 8, W. Schultz, Drouin West, 765, 177.2, $1355.58; 12, G.R. McArthur, Neerim East, 707, 176.9, $1252.36; 7, T. and R. Eacott, Labertouche, 680, 176.6, $1202.14; 11, G. Murray, Nar Nar Goon North, 620, 175.7, $1090.53.