MUCH of Gippsland is very wet, and finally this has seen supply reduced at VLE Pakenham..
A drop of 27 per cent, led buyers to lifting demand, and the end result of this was price increases between two cents and six cents per kilogram over most classes of cattle.
Some of the increase was due to prices paid for quality purchased, while some of the top prices were five cents per kilogram higher. The competition was unchanged, but the need for cattle was great, with some buyers wanting cattle back to the abattoirs for immediate slaughter. Around 28 per cent of the 100 vealers sold were very good quality B muscle steers and heifers. These made between 215 cents and 237.2 cents but the highest price cattle were supplementary fed steer yearlings that made 240 cents per kilogram. Generally if cattle were of good to very good quality, both supplementary fed and grass fattened, steers made from 185 cents to 216 cents, and heifers 182 cents to 210 cents per kilogram. The best of the supplementary fed heifers made to 230 cents per kilogram.
Grown cattle were in good supply with around 170 head penned, but their quality varied a lot. Prices for better quality steers and bullocks were between 183 cents and 192 cents, with secondary cattle from 158 cents to 182 cents per kilogram.
VEALERS
Fourteen, B. and L. Seebeck, Berwick, 396 kilograms, 231.9 cents per kilogram, $918.51; 12, M. and S. Reedy, Garfield, 348, 228, $793.73; 15, C. and S. Taylor, Mountain View, 316, 226.6, $717.55; 12, K.R. and A. Couch, Bass, 419, 223.8, $939.08; 20, Ajay Partners, Leongatha, 343, 219.4, $753.02; 11, R. Olsen, Poowong East, 349, 216, $752.89; 10, F. and J. Reedy, Yannathan, 422, 203.1, $858.15; 19, J. and V. Williams, Caldermeade, 492, 196.4, $968.24.
STEERS
Thirteen, Brian S. Cantwell Livestock, Welshpool, 494, 198, $978.00; 10, K. Kitchen, Yannathan, 520, 196, $1019.20; 4, R. Costa, Pakenham, 486, 195.9, $952.49; 10, M.L. and J.R. Ahern, Pakenham, 528, 195, $1029.60; 26, D. and P. Whiteside, Korumburra South, 541, 192.1, $1039.87; 21, D.N. and B.M. Jenkins, Seville, 683, 190.3, $1300.00; 9, R.J. Close, Lang Lang, 626, 190, $1190.67; 22, H. and J. Van Den Broek, Garfield, 593, 189.1, $1121.37.
HEIFERS
Twelve, P.A. and M.A. Dwyer, Leongatha, 433, 196.6, $851.11; 11, Brian S. Cantwell Livestock, Welshpool, 357, 190.6, $680.96; 9, P. Lovett, Lang Lang, 466, 183.6, $855.78.
BULLOCKS
Ten, Primitus Jan Nom., Lang Lang, 598, 192.6, $1152.71; 10, D. and B. Knoxon, Main Ridge, 620, 192, $1191.00; 6, Peter Hansen, Toongabbie, 683, 188.5, $1286.51; 6, G. and R. Turner, Tynong, 687, 182.6, $1255.38.
COWS
Twelve, G. and V. Walker, Kooweerup, 509, 159.1, $809.57; 17, Tobawd Farm, Lang Lang, 594, 158, $938.97; 34, Greenhaven Past., Lilydale, 649, 156, $1012.44.The VLE draw for this week: 1, SEJ; 2, Elders; 3, Alex Scott; 4, Nathan Gibbon; 5 Rodwells; 6, Everitt and Seeley; 7, Mick Hornsby; 8, Landmark. The next store sale is on Thursday 2 September, starting at 10am.
