Livestock market report – March 15, 2018

WITH no decent rain in sight until sometime in April, we are seeing an autumn of old, dry and dusty.

With feed low and rabbits hungry, it has been a great time to take action on this environmental pest, and locally, the dedicated team behind Surf Coast Rabbit Action Network have been hard at work.

Supported by Barongarook Weed and Pest control, 16 tonnes of carrots have been laid over the past month for all the baiting programs, from Maude, Bannockburn, Barrabool, Freshwater Creek and Modewarre, which was a massive effort for all those involved.

Landowners still need to keep up the fight by complementing this effort with other methods like collapsing warrens, habitat weed removal programs and regular shooting.

There were around 20,000 lambs and 8,000 sheep yarded at Ballarat Tuesday with heavy export lambs firm to $5 per head cheaper with trade lambs firm.

Market Highlights Ballarat Sheep & Lamb:
Heavy export lambs to $228
Heavy trade lambs to $170
Store shorn lambs to $122
Light processor lambs to $115
Heavy mutton to $140

Mortlake Store Sale:
There was just shy of 3,000 head of cattle presented at the second ‘all-agents’ store sale held at the WVLX saleyards in Mortlake, where another quality yarding of cattle came forward.

These consisted of very good quality grown steers, grown heifers and weaner steer and heifer calves, which included a line of Angus cows that were sold as split outfits.

The cows were in light condition and sold to very good competition with the tops going to South Australia and the balance were bought locally.

The calves that were weaned off these cows sold to a keen group of buyers and made more than the agent’s expectations.

All the grown steers and heifers met strong feedlot demand, proving that the soft-flooring is a major feature of the WVLX complex, with buyers confident that their cattle will travel well and show no signs of footsoreness.

Once again, competition came from Northern Victoria, South Australia and local areas, without any Gippsland competition.

The best presented pen of steers offered on the day came from the Harlock Family for their Hereford Steers, and Kilkenny of Hawkesdale (the Roache family) were awarded the best presented pen of Heifers.

Market Highlights Mortlake:
Steers topped at $1,451.84 and averaged $1,149.33
Heifers topped at $1,330.07 and averaged $1,054.05
Cows and calves topped at $1,800.00 and averaged $1,636.76
PTIC Heifers topped at $1,590.00 and averaged $1,480.00