Supply halved owing to wild weather

AFTER the deluge, and very cold and windy weather over the weekend, producers were not keen to venture outside, and a very big reduction was seen in the number of young cattle penned at VLE Pakenham.
The supply fell by over 50 per cent, but it did include some good to very good quality. While there was a reasonable selection of vealers yarded, most of the best quality cattle were supplementary fed.
Even though the retail trade remains slow, buyers had to lift their endeavours and prices for most cattle were two cents to 12 cents per kilogram dearer. Some of the grown cattle sold at cheaper rates.
Demand was very strong for the pick of the very best quality vealers and supplementary fed yearlings. Prices were between 220 cents and 240 cents per kilogram for a small but excellent selection of cattle.
The penning of 85 vealers made mostly from 170 cents to 220 cents with some plainer weights, of some that were too heavy made between 162 cents and 185 cents per kilogram.
There was a large range of weights and quality offered in the penning of 300 yearling steers and heifers, and demand varied according to those variations.
Better quality steers made from 170 cents to 191 cents, and similar graded heifers made between 165 cents and 184 cents per kilogram. Plainer condition cattle generally sold at higher rates with feedlots still looking for supply. Prices were mostly between 140 cents and 180 cents per kilogram.
A small number of 50 grown cattle were penned, and included steers, cows, heifers and bulls.
One pen of very good quality bullocks only made 165 cents, while grown steers made 173 cents to 176 cents per kilogram. Plainer condition cattle made from 100 cents to 140 cents per kilogram.
The VLE draw for the week commencing Monday 5 October is as follows:
1, Everett and Seeley; 2, Mick Hornsby; 3, Alex Scott; 4, Elders; 5, SEJ; 6, Nathan Gibbon; 7, Landmark; 8, Rodwells.
The next Store Sale is Thursday 1 October commencing at 10am.

Vealers

Twelve, J. and J. Rowlinson, Boneo, 321 kilograms, 232 cents per kilogram, $744.72; 10, B.H. and L.M. Seebeck, Pakenham, 384, 231.9, $890.64; 5, K. and S. Dalziel, Caldermeade, 322, 224.4, $723.66; 7, C. and D. Beveridge, Flinders, 350, 222.4, $778.56; 10, M. and M. Black, Cardinia, 393, 220.2, $874.18; 8, G. Howorth, Tuerong, 400, 208, $832.00; 16, Findon Past. Pty Ltd, Epping, 391.6, 193.8, $758.94; 6, B.H. and P.A. Freeman, Flinders, 358, 189.8, $678.52.

Feedlot cattle

Thirty seven, P.C. and M.D. Burton, Trentham, 439, 194, $851.56; 36, B. and C. Hayes, Ballarat, 379, 174, $659.66.

Steers

Eleven, R. and P. Wuchatsch, Nar Nar Goon, 473, 183.2, $866.87; 10, Leigh Greing, Bunyip, 562, 176.6, $992.00; 4, M. Benton, Nar Nar Goon, 568, 173, $983.22.

Heifers

Seven, Robinson Grazing P/S, Toomuc Valley, 407, 170.7, $695.16; 12, C.R. Dixon, Kooweerup, 361, 167.1, $603.81.

Bullocks

Ten, J. Simpson and Son, Springbank, 616, 170, $1047.20; 21, C.F.S. Research, Tuerong, 576, 169, $973.00; 6, S. Watts, Buln Buln, 702, 166.6, $1168.98; 13, R.G. Bowman, Keysborough, 644, 164.2, $1057.00; 6, A. and F. Cole, Bunyip, 644, 162.8, $1048.87.

Cows

Seven, Manduramma P/L, Bangholme, 581, 137.3, $797.11; 6, Laurinari Pty Ltd, Hastings, 582, 134.9, $785.33; 12, Mourard Hella, Moe, 510, 130.9, $665.07.