Prices firm and yard drops off

Yarding numbers at Baw Baw Livestock Exchange, Warragul, dropped back to 290 head last Wednesday for the Fat Sale.
Some welcome rain vendors may have either felt safer holding stock or cannot get in to the wet paddocks to yard up cattle.
Alternatively numbers may be dropping due to the extra cattle yarded over the recent months.
Prices remained firm to stronger across all categories as processors and feedlots competed for available head.
This week there was some very good condition noticed among the pens with the vealer section containing the least percentage of well finished animals, with several pen lots of store types on offer, as well as some very light secondary head penned.
Bullock numbers were light but good.
Heavy weights kept bullock values up.
Heifers numbered only 12 but demand forced the average up 22 cents.
A reasonable number of steers gave buyers some choice and finished the day firm.
The yard average was up 13 cents to 285.5 cents.
Eighteen bullocks made to 317.6 cents, up 22.6 cents, and averaged 283.5 cents, up three cents; 12 heifers made to 305.63 cents, back 14 cents, and averaged 263.3 cents, up 22 cents; 44 steers made to 310 cents, back seven cents, and averaged 266.5 cents firm, and 215 veal made to 344.2 cents, up five cents, and averaged 293.2 cents, up 14 cents.
It was the opposite number wise on Thursday with an extra 118 head yarded. Twenty five bulls topped at 278.6 cents to average 221.5 cents, back 12 cents, with several very light bulls in attendance.
Eighteen bullocks reached 277.2 cents to average four cents up at 252.8 cents, and 558 cows topped at 265.2 cents, up 18 cents and averaged 214.6 cents, up 13 cents and the yard average was up 11 cents to 216.2 cents.
The Draw for Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 July is as follows: 1, Gibbon; 2, SEJ; 3, Landmark; 4, Elders; 5, Scotts.
VEALERS
Three, Limo, E. Lissenden, Vesper, 386 kilograms, 344.2 cents per kilogram, $1328; 2, Limo, D. and E. Kelton, Hallora, 392, 340, $1332; 1, Char, J. and V. Williams, Caldermeade, 375, 338.2, $1268; 3, LimoX, N. and D. Renshaw, Lillico, 503, 338, $1701; 3, LimoX, J. and K. Fry, Bunyip, 391, 338, $1323; 1, Limo, T. Lissenden, Vesper, 415, 328, $1361; 1, Simm, B. and A. Pratt, Ellinbank, 390, 328, $1279; 10, Angus, R. Barnacle, Loch, 333, 321.6, $1071.
BULLOCKS
One, LimoX, F. and A. Pisa, Cora Lynn, 570, 317, $1810; 1, Angus, G. and D. Potter, Yallourn North, 610, 310, $1891; 2, Angus, M. and M. Baxter, Drouin South, 663, 305, $2020.
STEERS
One, Angus, C. Best, Cloverlea, 520, 302, $1570; 1, Angus, R. and M. Minichello, Yarragon, 520, 300, $1560; 2, Angus, T. and A. Brown, Cloverlea, 510, 280, $1428.
HEIFERS
Two, Blonde, Jindi Blondes, Jindivick, 600, 305.6, $1833; 6, M/Grey, J. Dyrssen, Neerim South, 438, 260, $1139.
EXPORT HEIFERS AND COWS
Three, Red Angus, E. Lambourne, Tyers, 501, 265.2, $1352; 2, Angus, S. Thomson, Moe, 575, 256, $1472; 3, CharX, J. and C. Fitzpatrick, Catani, 580, 250, $1450; 1, Angus, Sherwood Park, Warragul, 760, 247.6, $1881; 1, Angus, K. and K. Smith, Nilma, 680, 247.6, $1683; 2, Simm, Chapman Farms, Trafalgar, 758, 245.6, $1860.
DAIRY
One, Frie, J. Parker, Willowgrove, 630, 246.2, $1551; 1, Frie, A. Murray, Drouin South, 785, 238, $1892; 3, Frie, Lancey Family, Nyora, 507, 233.2, $1182; 3, Frie, G. and R. Atherton, Drouin, 683, 230, $1571; 8, Frie, DPI, Ellinbank, 503, 226.2, $1137.
BULLOCKS
Three, Angus, G. and R. Deppeler, Darnum, 606, 275, $1666.
BULLS
One, Simm, J. Heatley, Drouin West, 960, 278.6, $2674; 1, Welsh Black, A. Furborough, Tynong, 930, 274.2, $2550; 1, Angus, C. Warencyia, Drouin West, 950, 266.2, $2528; 1, Frie, D. and V. Barry, Labertouche, 915, 257.2, $2353.