Demand eases back

A 50 per cent fall in numbers last week for the Wednesday fat sale at Baw Baw Livestock Exchange forced some buyers needing numbers to ease back in the bullock, steer and heifer pens, resulting in averages for these pens to slip back on the previous week’s sale.
Vealers bucked the trend as demand remained firm to stronger, bullocks averaged heavier lifting the per head price around $75, although the average eased four cents.
Very few heifers made the trip and with less competition eased the biggest margin on the day, averaging $200 less per head.
Steers saw more interest from re-stockers than processors and with less condition than recent sales in the secondary pens also saw a larger slip in the average price.
The week’s yard average was back four cents to 322.
Sixteen bullocks made to 318.2 cents, up four cents, and averaged 280.5 cents, back four cents, seven heifers made to 309.6 cents, back 20 cents and averaged 263.9 cents, back 21 cents, 33 steers made to 328.6 cents, firm, and averaged 273.8 cents, back 28 cents, and 176 veal made to 381.6 cents, firm, and averaged 347.6 cents, up nine cents.
With the large yardings across the state for the bull and chopper markets, processors hold stocks and this resulted in the Thursday market slipping 20 cents in comparison to the previous week’s market.
Thirty eight bulls sold to a top of 282.6 cents, up 13 cents, and averaged 221.4 cents, back 16 cents, while 425 cows reached a top of 263.2 cents, back 22 cents and the cow average was 22 cents easier at 183.7 cents.
The draw for 1 and 2 March is: 1, Elders; 2, Gibbon; 3, SEJ; 4, Scotts; 5, Landmark.

Vealers
One, Limo, S Failla, Willowgrove, 405 kilograms, 381.6 cents per kilogram, $1545; 1, Limo X, R Roylance, Iona, 330, 375.2, $1238; 2, Limo X, Ross-Lawson, Moe, 360, 375, $1350; 1, Limo X, A Nikolajew, Newry, 330, 374.2, $1234; 1, Limo X, G and J McGrath, Jeetho, 365, 368.2, $1343; 5, Limo X, R and J Buchanan, Bena, 421, 366, $1540.
Bullock
One, Angus, J and J Hatswell, Neerim South, 585, 318.2, $1861; 1, Angus, G Dessent, Darnum, 575, 308, $1771; 4, Angus, R Sutton, Modella, 580, 296, $1716.
Steers
One, Char, S Woodbridge, Cloverlea, 465, 328.6, $1527; 5, Char, J Dyrssen, Neerim South, 514, 308, $1583; 4, Angus, Jones Farms, Hastings, 483, 300, $1447.
Heifers
One, Simm, Sutton and Clarke, Warragul, 575, 309.6, $1780; 1, Angus, Jones Farms, Hastings, 470, 294.6, $1384.
Export Cows and Heifers
One, Simm X, G and H Kestle, Lardner, 545, 263.2, $1434; 1, Angus, N and D Renshaw, Lillico, 740, 247.2, $1829; 1, Blonde, R McKay, Fumina South, 640, 245.6, $1571; 1, Char X, B Stavaggi, Athlone, 535, 239.2, $1279; 1, Hereford, D and S King, Flynn, 645, 238.6, $1538; 4, Angus X, I and G Parkin, Thorpdale, 623, 238.6, $1488.
Dairy Cows
One, Frie X, J and M Meggetto, Warragul Sth, 640, 230, $1472; 1, Frie, G and H Kestle, Lardner, 695, 228, $1584; 1, Frie, D and C Currie, Bona Vista, 585, 225, $1316; 1, Frie, K Matheson, Trafalgar, 885, 224, $1982; 1, Frie, M and J Winter, Warragul Sth, 685, 215, $1472; 2, Frie, S and L Finger, Yannathan, 420, 215, $903.
Bullocks
One, Frie, J and N Webb, Gainsborough, 635, 239.6, $1521; 2, Frie, S and A Kent, Yannathan, 492, 230, $1131.
Bulls
One, Limo, B Stavaggi, Athlone, 840, 262.2, $2202; 2, Hyland, J Cole, Garfield, 610, 234.6, $1431.