GIVEN how hard processors say it is to sell meat at the moment, it was no surprise that prices fell when a much larger yarding of cattle was penned at VLE Pakenham. Numbers doubled, and there were a lot of good to very good quality cattle.
The yarding consisted of more vealers, some supplementary fed yearlings, grass-fattened steers and heifers, and some grown steers and cows.
Some cattle sold at rates that were equal to two cents cheaper, but plenty were two cents to eight cents per kilogram lower, especially some of the fatter heifers offered. Producers need to be mindful of how much condition heifers put on at this time of year.
While the top quality B muscle vealers did make to 219 cents, and supplementary fed yearlings sold to 205 cents, most made between 186 cents and 200 cents per kilogram.
Prices for good quality C muscle vealers were between 175 cents and 198 cents, but there were plenty of sales noted from 156 cents to 178 cents per kilogram.
Throughout the sale of 500 vealers and 700 yearling cattle numerous sales of D muscle 2 and 3 score cattle made between 129 cents and 155 cents per kilogram.
Demand from lot feeders and restockers was strong enough with their purchases ranging between 138 cents and 170 cents for most cattle with the best quality European breed cattle to 182 cents per kilogram.
Prices were lower for the 160 grown steers, heifers and a small number of cows penned, but they were mostly two cents to three cents per kilogram cheaper.
Steers made from 155 cents to 166.2 cents, heifers 125 cents to 140 cents, and other older cattle between 108 cents and 159 cents per kilogram. Over-fat heifers were heavily discounted by as much as 10 cents to 15 cents per kilogram.
The VLE draw for the week commencing Monday 2 November is as follows: 1, Nathan Gibbon; 2, Mick Hornsby; 3, Everitt and Seeley; 4, Alex Scott; 5, Rodwells; 6, Landmark; 7, SEJ; 8, Elders.
The next store sale is Thursday 29 October, from at 10am.
Vealers
Eight, Formbuild P/L, Phillip Island, 346 kilograms, 210.4 cents per kilogram, $729.84; 10, Richard Ewe, Gembrook, 356, 202, $719; 11, B. H. and L. M. Seebeck, Berwick, 368, 201.2, $739.87; 8, Black Bull P/L, Nilma, 358, 200, $716.25; 6, M. Dell, Five Ways, 332, 198.6, $658.75; 16, B. Free, Lang Lang, 389, 198, $770.43; 6, A. Cardamone, Clyde, 423, 190, $804; 14, A. E. McDonald, Pakenham, 401, 187.3, $751.23; 13, P. and R. Morley, Murchison, 332, 186.3, $620.80; 5, R. M. and V. I. Brown, Ruby, 343, 186, $645; 63, Leighburn Farm, Shelford, 333, 182.7, $608.16; 7, K. and J. Paganoni, Tyabb, 313, 179.8, $563; 25, Patterson and Hutcheson, Clyde, 371, 179.4, $666.05; 7, C. Green, Baxter, 280, 178.8, $500.68; 8, K. L. and K. J. Batchelor, Bunyip, 351, 178.2, $624.82; 8, M. and V. Ryan, Glenburn, 419, 175.6, $736.
Steers
Twelve, H. Middleton, Vesper, 467, 168, $786; 15, D. J. and L. Bentley, Leongatha South, 539, 167.6, $903.36; 10, A. and J. Allan, Caldermeade, 519, 167.6, $870; 21, P. Moore, Balnarring, 569, 159.7, $908.86; 8, M. and D. Towt, Yea, 590, 158.3, $933.94; 10, P. and M. Bernardo, Clyde, 562, 148.8, $836.12.
Heifers
Fifty, Perul P/L, Inverloch, 360, 162.6, $585; 21, P. A. O’Neil, Waratah, 476, 157.4, $749.32; 20, K. M. and J. M. Shea, Leongatha, 419, 155.7, $652.56; 18, J. Raskatos, Nar Nar Goon, 389, 152, $591.82; 34, S. I. and C. A. Harrison, Gifford West, 391, 143.9, $562.87.
Bullocks
Fifteen, D. H. and N. J. Hobkirk, Kooweerup, 593, 170.4, $1009.86; 17, R. and D. Withers, Yarra Glen, 658, 164.2, $1081.31; 8, G. G. Pastoral Co., Caldermeade, 763, 164.2, $1253.05; 8, Est. of A. Swirski, Five Ways, 612, 164.1, $1003.82; 45, Francis Park, Tonimbuk, 672, 160.6, $1079.57; 15, D. and B. Hardy, Dalmore, 717, 155.6, $1117.46.
Friesian bullocks
Five, M. Longmuir, Pakenham, 763, 139.2, $1061.40; 10, G. Murray, Nar Nar Goon, 647, 138.2, $892.90.
Cows
Five, Carbora Nominees, Casey, 609, 142.6, $868.43; 5, L. L. and R. L. Jeffery, Taggerty, 711, 134.8, $958.32.
