There were approximately 440 export and 300 young cattle penned representing a similar overall number week-on-week at Pakenham’s Victorian Livestock Exchange.
Competition strengthened with a grown steer and bullock order returning after a long absence to compete with the usual buying group in a mostly dearer market.
Quality improved with more spring showing in most lots and a larger proportion of export cattle on offer. There was a smaller selection of vealers which sold mostly firm. Yearling trade cattle sold five cents to 10 cents dearer, secondary young cattle to feed or restock improved up to 10 cents, and grown steers and bullocks improved two cents to five cents.
Heavy weight Friesian manufacturing steers sold up to nine cents easier for the better lots and firm for the leaner pens while the crossbred portion held firm.
Vealers suited to butchers sold from 292 cents to 330 cents while yearling trade steers made between 287 cents and 317 cents and yearling heifers to the trade sold between 258 cents and 310 cents.
Grown steers made from 285 cents and 299 cents, bullocks sold from 270 cents to 295 cents, heavy weight Friesian manufacturing steers made between 235 cents and 254 cents with the crossbred portion between 246 cents and 278 cents.
The VLE draw for the week commencing Monday 30 October is: 1, Elders; 2, Rodwells; 3, SEJ; 4, Alex Scott and Staff; 5, Nathan Gibbon Livestock; 6, Landmark; 7, Everitt Seeley and Bennets.
The next store sale is on Thursday 2 November at 10am.
Vealers
Fourteen, RJ Young, Pearcedale, 382 kilograms, 314 cents per kilogram, $1,198.13; 4, Eau De Cale P/L, Glen Forbes, 388, 305.0, $1,183.40; 45, LM, JM & DM Kelly Ullswater, 392, 300.0, $1,176.00.
Steers
Twenty, McGrath Rural, Nar Nar Goon, 590, 290.0, $1,711.00.
Heifers
Twenty eight, B and D Waterfall, Lang Lang, 491, 280.6, $1,378.00; 10, MJS Pastoral, Bunyip, 465, 272.0, $1,264.80; 11, P and A Hansen, Toongabbie, 462, 271.5, $1,256.14.
Bullocks
Ten, Red Gem Packers, Nar Nar Goon, 627, 298.6, $1,870.73; 11, G Rea, Woori Yallock, 623, 294.6, $1,837.00; 16, J Taylor, Yarra Glen, 648, 287.7, $1,865.54; 12, G Cannon, Shoreham, 624, 285.6, $1,782.00; 16, S Chesterton, Doreen, 750, 285.5, $2,143.65; 10, I Read, Shoreham, 692, 282.6, $1,954.00; 10, P Turra, Trafalgar, 758, 279.6, $2,119.11; 20, Linemarg P/L, Modella, 715, 275.4, $1,970.27.
Friesian Bullocks
Twenty, P Row, Yannathan, 573, 251.6, $1,443.11; 17, NR Charman, The Girdies, 690, 243.5, $1,680.53.