AN UNEXPECTED smaller penning of cattle at VLE Pakenham saw a few more young cattle and a lot less grown cattle.
This may have been due to poor prices but equally there was a lot of rain over the weekend which may have deterred some producers from venturing outside.
All the regular buyers were present but not all made purchases, although this was mostly seen in the grown steer and bullocks sales.
The market opened cheaper but firmed up later for the 500 vealers and some of the 480 yearlings which saw price averages vary between firm and nine cents per kilogram cheaper.
The first major flush of vealers saw some excellent quality penned but prices were only between 228 cents and 245 cents per kilogram.
Other vealers made from 178 cents to 235 cents with restockers paying some of the higher prices.
There was good competition for lighter to medium weight yearlings, particularly heifers weighing up to 460 kilograms liveweight.
The steers sold mostly from 185 cents to 212 cents but restockers paid to 221 cents, and averages were mostly four cents per kilogram lower with plainer quality affecting the outcome at times.
Heifers best suiting the supermarket trade sold from 190 cents to 195 cents but a lot of heifers were D muscle grades and made from 165 cents to 188 cents per kilogram.
Despite this the quality was better and some averages were three cents to four cents per kilogram higher.
Only around 200 grown cattle were penned, which created its own demand.
Prices were mostly unchanged, and saw steers make to 196 cents and bullocks 175 cents to 188 cents per kilogram.
The next Store Sale is Thursday 8 December commencing at 10am.
Last sale for 2011 is Tuesday Export Sale 20 December.
First sale for 2012 is a Store Sale on Thursday 5 January. The next Prime Sale is Monday 9 January.
The VLE Draw for the week commencing Monday 5 December is as follows: 1, Everitt, Seeley and Bennetts; 2, Rodwells; 3, Alex Scott; 4, Landmark; 5, Nathan Gibbon; 6, SEJ; 7, Elders; 8, Mick Hornsby.
Vealers
Nine, Formbuild Pty Ltd, Phillip Island, 381 kilograms, 236.6 cents per kilogram, $901.57; 14, P. and R. Morley, Murchison, 372, 234, $870.48; 25, B. and L. Seebeck, Berwick, 390, 230, $897.00; 6, J.S. Anderson, Lang Lang, 340, 226.8, $773.15; 4, A.T., C.E., G.A. and C. Fraser, Seville, 374, 223.4, $834.97; 21, T. and S. Holman, Alexandra, 369, 222.1, $819.07; 18, W. Conn, Balnarring, 379, 221, $840.55; 7, A. Whitefield, Yuroke, 368, 220.6, $813.07; 18, G. Haworth, Tuerong, 358, 219, $785.00; 15, G. and S. Williames, Drouin South, 340, 218.4, $743.42; 17, G. Moore, Thorpedale, 347, 217.3, $754.23; 11, R.J. Young, Pearcedale, 315, 217.1, $683.00; 15, T.A. and E.R. Hart, Corinella, 363, 214.5, $779.23; 14, R.J. and C.M. Pearson, Gelliondale, 387, 212.5, $824.10; 16, K.R. and L.A. Bryant, Limestone, 362, 209.4, $758.03; 7, H. and L. Thompson, Hazelwood North, 364, 203.3, $740.48.
Steers
Nine, Linga Longa, Officer, 448, 199.5, $894.59; 48, Preswon P/L, Buffalo, 598, 194.8, $1164.90; 14, Temsi P/L, Ferndale, 481, 194.6, $937.70; 20, McGrath Rural, Nar Nar Goon, 589, 191.2, $1125.44; 4, K. Wickenden, Shoreham, 602, 190, $1145.00; 16, D.E. Kent, Lang Lang, 574, 184.7, $1061.06.
Heifers
Twelve, Graniflora Nursery, Lyndhurst, 427, 197, $840.58; 8, D. and P. Whiteside, Korumburra South, 423, 191.6, $810.70; 20, Blackmore Pastoral, Grantville, 444, 190, $842.44; 14, J. Raskatos, Nar Nar Goon, 419, 189.1, $792.17; 12, T. and J. McRae, Buffalo, 452, 188.2, $850.00; 14, Nutfield Pastoral, Molesworth, 465, 184.9, $860.24; 10, M.V. and D.R. Dunn, Kernot, 474, 178.6, $847.46.
Bullocks
Eight, L.L. and R.L. Jeffery, Healesville, 704, 184, $1296.00.
