Demand and prices attracts cattle

At Baw Baw Livestock Exchange, Warragul, the improvement in demand and better prices of recent weeks has lifted numbers across southern saleyards, keeping buyers and agents busy.
With the better quality head still on an upward trend, the secondary cattle have started to slip with the extra numbers.
Overall sales are quoted as firm to stronger.
A good range of bullocks were penned on Wednesday last week and although the top sale was back prices were more stable across the top pens, with the absence of one bullock buyer impacting slightly.
Heifers saw demand settle a little and did manage to ease on the previous week.
Extra steers saw feedlots prominent, with the secondary section slipping, pulling the averages back.
The vealer section was firm to stronger in the top pens and finished the day steady on the previous sale.
The yard average eased three cents to 209.7 cents.
Eighty eight bullocks topped at 231.2 cents, back 10 cents, and averaged 206.1 cents, back eight cents; 87 heifers topped at 220 cents, back 11 cents, and averaged 181.2 cents, back 16 cents; 148 steers topped at 236.6 cents, back three cents, and averaged 198.6 cents, back six cents and 640 veal topped at 270 cents, up 10 cents, and averaged 218.8 cents, firm.
On Thursday the Bull and Cow Sale saw a few less bulls on offer, and with strong demand they sold to a top of 247.6 cents, up one cents, and the average was up 14 cents to 201 cents for the 47 head penned.
The cow section offered 452 head with the top pens making to 206.6 cents, up eight cents with the average firm at 168.6 cents.
There were 62 bullocks sold with the top reaching 215.6 cents to average 191.9 cents.
The yard average was eight cents better at 174.7 cents.
The Monday Calf Market yarded 91 head, with Friesian heifers making to $750, Jersey heifers topped at $210, bull calves made to $120, and beef calves sold to a top of $200.
The Draw for Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 February is as follows: 1, Elders; 2, SEJ; 3, Scotts; 4, Landmark; 5, Gibbon.
Vealers
One, Limo, Steadfast Cartage, Pakenham, 380 kilograms, 270 cents per kilogram, $1026; 3, CharX, Ford Davis and Sons, Nayook, 408, 264, $1077; 1, Limo, J. Linn and Son, Childers, 425, 262, $1113; 2, Limo, L. and L. McCrorey, Trafalgar, 400, 262, $1048; 2, Limo, Bedad Pty Ltd, Thorpdale, 385, 262, $1008; 1, LimoX, N. Amaruso, Yinnar, 430, 259.6, $1116.
Bullocks
Two, Angus, C. and E. Burgess, Crossover, 628, 231.2, $1450; 1, H/ford, G. Varsaci, Thorpdale, 570, 225.6, $1286.
Steers
One, Angus, R. Gerlach, Drouin South, 545, 232,, $1264; 7, LimoX, G. and J. Breeden, Buln Buln, 486, 228, $1108; 5, SimmX, R. and J. Pretty, Jindivick, 512, 225, $1152; 7, Angus, G. Gregory, Yallourn North, 535, 225, $1205; 2, Angus, A. Battista, Moe, 510, 224, $1142; 5, Char, B. Reade, Glengarry, 494, 220.6, $1089.
Heifers
Thirteen, Char, J. and S. Heenan, Gainsborough, 459, 238, $1092; 1, Limo, R. and L. Stephens, Drouin South, 475, 220, $1045; 2, H/ford, M. Hourigan, Glengarry West, 465, 204.2, $949; 5, Angus, G. Gregory, Yallourn North, 519, 199.6, $1035.
Export cows and heifers
Three, Simm, Able Agri, Shady Creek, 733, 206.6, $1515; 1, Limo, B. and S. Garrett, Moe, 685, 205, $1404; 1, Angus, J.W.G. and N.E. Webb, Gainsborough, 635, 202.6, $1286; 1, Angus, G. Devine, Warragul, 710, 197.6, $1402; 1, Limo, Pulman Bay, Willowgrove, 645, 196.2, $1265; 2, H/ford, B. Whelan, Glengarry, 603, 196, $1180.
Friesian
Seven, R. Miller, Athlone, 758, 194, $1470; 1, P. and P. Stanfield, Poowong, 665, 190, $1263; 1, B. and J. Elliott, Nilma, 765, 186.6, $1422; 1, J.W.G. and N.E. Webb, Gainsborough, 600, 185, $1110; 2, J. and M. Reid, Garfield, 555, 185, $1026; 2, B. Cunningham, Nar Nar Goon, 725, 182, $1319.
Bullocks
One, Angus, R. Foster, Glengarry, 635, 215.6, $1369; 5, Angus, J.W.G. and N.E. Webb, Gainsborough, 743, 209.6, $1557; 12, Frie, R. and J. O’Brien, Shady Creek, 598, 194, $1160; 2, FrieX, G. and J. Young, Nilma North, 940, 182, $1710.
Bulls
One, Limo, J. and L. Oldham, Neerim South, 835, 247.6, $2067; 1, Limo, G. and N. Parke, Lardner, 875, 246.6, $2152; 1, Limo, A. Evison, Nilma North, 930, 244.2, $2271; 1, Gelb., L. Cutler, Willowgrove, 870, 238.6, $2075; 1, Limo, Farm Check, Yarragon South, 890, 238, $2118; 3, Frie, Cucci Farms, Yarragon, 808, 219.6, $1770.