Competition stiff across the board

THE sale at VLE Pakenham on 25 January was a combined sale due to the Australia Day holiday the next day, and numbers reverted back to two weeks ago because of this.
A reasonable to good supply of grown cattle was offered with 55 bullocks and 155 grown heifers, cows and bulls penned. The rest of the yarding were vealers and yearlings, and except for an odd exception, the quality was good through to excellent.
There was strong competition for all classes of cattle. However, it was only some vealers that sold to stronger demand and were four cents to six cents per kilogram higher. Most other cattle sold at unchanged rates.
There were some excellent quality vealers penned in numbers, and stronger demand saw these make up to 194 cents per kilogram. However, it was the number of these that made from 178 cents to the top figure that set the dearer trend. Other good quality vealers made from 165 cents to 178 cents per kilogram with a very strong influence of European breeding throughout the yarding seeing feedlots pay to 174 cents and restockers to 184 cents per kilogram for on feeding. About 440 vealers were penned.
Good quality was a feature of the 230 yearling steers and 120 heifers penned. A small selection of supplementary fed steers made to 177 cents with most of the others between 155 cents and 168 cents per kilogram.
The weight of the steers varied greatly with some 0 to 2 teeth steers weighing up to 600 kilograms liveweight. These heavy steers made up to 161 cents, and averaged one cent per kilogram higher. Heifers sold at unchanged rates with better quality making between 139 cents and 156 cents with one sale of excellent quality supplementary fed heifers to 170 cents per kilogram.
Competition was weaker for grown steers and bullocks, but prices were unchanged with C3 and C4 steers making from 145 cents to 157 cents per kilogram.
The quality of the grown heifers was mostly very good, and prices between 128 cents and 144 cents per kilogram reflected this.
There were some very well finished cows sold between 125 cents and 132 cents with others making between 78 cents and 125 cents per kilogram.
The VLE Draw for the week commencing Monday 1 February is as follows: 1, Elders; 2, Mick Hornsby; 3, Everitt and Seeley; 4, SEJ; 5, Landmark; 6, Nathan Gibbon; 7, Alex Scott; 8, Rodwell.
The next Store Sale is Thursday 4 February commencing at 10am.

VEALERS

Four, J.S. and S.M. Anderson, Lang Lang, 425 kilograms, 186.6 cents per kilogram, $793.05; 8, T.A. and E.R. Hart, Corinella, 385, 180.3, $695.30; 20, Jepson and Clarke, Hallston, 355, 177.8, $630.68; 16, D.R. and J.L. Joyce, Glenburn, 421, 177.8, $750; 18, Sir David Joyce, Glenburn, 394, 177.6, $700; 37, 53rd Mayalda, Bass, 398, 176, $700; 15, Burndale Nominees, Kongwak, 370, 174.7, $647.14; 10, Gordon Vagg, Leongatha South, 360, 173.6, $625.00; 10, G.G. Muller and Son, Glenburn, 385, 173, $666.17; 32, L. Sharples, Fish Creek, 348, 171, $595.00; 8, Willurah Park, Harkaway, 388, 170.5, $662.96; 10, J.W. and R.M. Dixon, Phillip Island, 389, 164, $637.96.

STEERS

Twenty two, D. and J. Smith, Flinders, 600, 162, $972.00; 4, S.T. and M.E. Cannon, Dayleston, 492, 161.9, $796.00; 11, J. Ellis, Bayles, 528, 160.2, $845.58; 9, P.J. Griffin, Strath Creek, 466, 158, $736.42; 7, Coolangatta Past, Catani, 528, 157.1, $829.02; 7. Galvin Winds P/L, Woori Yallock, 496, 156, $773.31.

HEIFERS

Fourteen, Kirben Nominees, Fish Creek, 410, 153.3, $628.89; 13, Ron J. Coates, Kooweerup, 486, 148, $722.42; 33, Lojosa Springs, Glenburn, 611, 135.6, $828.00.

BULLOCKS

Eight, D. and S. Simon, Buln Buln, 565, 155.8, $880; 19, R. White, Yarra Glen, 704, 155.6, $1096.57.

COWS

Ten, Callandoon P/L, Strath Creek, 599, 127, $761.