WITH no decent rain in sight until sometime in April, we are seeing an autumn of old, dry and dusty.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Market Highlights Ballarat Sheep & Lamb:<\/strong> Mortlake Store Sale:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The calves that were weaned off these cows sold to a keen group of buyers and made more than the agent\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Once again, competition came from Northern Victoria, South Australia and local areas, without any Gippsland competition.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
\nHeavy export lambs to $228
\nHeavy trade lambs to $170
\nStore shorn lambs to $122
\nLight processor lambs to $115
\nHeavy mutton to $140<\/p>\n
\nThere was just shy of 3,000 head of cattle presented at the second \u2018all-agents\u2019 store sale held at the WVLX saleyards in Mortlake, where another quality yarding of cattle came forward.<\/p>\n