Lambs: 26,000. Change: up 9389.  

Lamb numbers jumped but quality declined with a big percentage of the yarding showing the effects of the patchy season through varied fat cover and skin dryness. All the usual buyers operated and there were only minor price changes to a week ago. 

The heaviest young lambs over 24kg cwt eased by a few dollars after lifting last Monday, while the trade weight lambs were firm to $1 to $5/head dearer. One exporter processor dominated buying on lighter weight lambs for MK processing and these showed a dearer trend. Small restocking lambs also posted another price rise amid dollar per head buying. 

Prices reached a top of $190 for young export weight lambs, and there were only about a dozen pens over $170/head, reflecting the lack of weight coming through the yarding. The better quality drafts of trade weight lambs sold from $136 to $170/head. 

Buyers did match their bidding to quality and numbers in a line, which caused some price fluctuations. On a carcass basis there was a spread of around 570c to 670c across slaughter lambs, however the bulk of sales sat in a fairly tight range of 600c to 630c/kg cwt to be similar to last week. The main run of young crossbred lambs in the 22-24kg category averaged $157/head at an estimated 620c/kg cwt. Plainer and lighter lambs mostly sold from $110 to $132/head. There wasn't the orders for bigger store lambs from Ballarat this week, with most lambs going to the paddock being smaller types under 14kg cwt.

Sheep: 10,000. Change: up 1010.

More sheep were yarded, drawn out by the high spring prices. Quality was plainer with more ewes in leaner fat score 1 and 2 condition presented in various wool lengths. 

The market for heavier mutton was firm to slightly easier on big weighted ewes, however bidding for good trade weight sheep stepped up again. Heavy crossbred ewes made from $110 to $147; Merino ewes in big skins sold to $155 and the general run of ewes made from $90 to $135/head. Light weight sheep sold exceptionally well and were $11 dearer, making up to $99/head. Good runs of Merino mutton sold above 460c, going over 500c/kg cwt at times.

SUCKERS

DT Leahy (62) Tallarook $ 190.00 

D & J McDonald (36) Porcupine ridge $ 188.00 

 G Johnson (38) Kimbolton  $ 182.00 

M & B lloyd (123) Fairy Dell $ 180.50 

Jennison & Sons (23) Thyra $ 177.00 

B Hamblin (14) Toolleen  $ 177.00 

Monmore P/L (127) Woodstock  $ 176.00 

MS & AC Ryan (61) Colbinabbin  $ 174.00 

NF & PJ Wright (53) Charlton  $ 170.00 

B & S McCAhon (99) Terrick Terrick West  $ 170.00 

Glen Cooee (42) Axedale $ 165.00 

EJ & SE Vanston (69) Salisbury West  $ 165.00 

MM Davis (92) Sutton Grange  $ 165.00 

Jennifer Morrison (44) Tandarra  $ 162.00 

AA Jensen & Son (100) Raywood  $ 162.00 

T & K Dobson (15) Echuca  $ 162.00 

E & E Goers (51) Derrinal $ 158.00 

PJ & TI Hamilton (27) Marong $ 158.00 

D & C Palmer (66) Bamawm  $ 158.00 

P & J McRobert (84) Toolleen  $ 158.00 

A & J Wilson (44) Tandarra  $ 153.00 

Milangil Past Co (358) Donald  $ 153.00 

E & W Carmody (17) Calivil  $ 150.00 

E & A Holland (33) Neereman $ 143.00 

SHORN SUCKERS

Bartlett Farming (22) Yeungroon  $ 171.00 

J & L Hooppell (145) Moama  $ 147.00 

 LAMBS 

JM Hiscock (107) Kilmore  $ 184.00 

MJ & WA O'Connor (35) Mangalore  $ 180.00 

J Foot (42) Litchfield  $ 180.00 

M & M Calrke (101) Pyalong  $ 170.50 

Ballandry Past (64) Strath Creek  $ 170.00 

Kilburnie (41) Terip Terip  $ 170.00 

D Ludeman (50) Raywood  $ 170.00 

LK McLean (96) Kyneton  $ 168.00 

J & JB O'Halloran (139) Mansfield $ 166.00 

Merrindoc (127) Tooborac  $ 166.00 

P Ryan (30) Pyalong  $ 165.00 

Chartwell Farms (30) Romsey  $ 165.00 

Heighton P/S (61) Wycheproof  $ 164.50 

AG Ham & JW Neild (63) Moama  $ 164.00 

KF Johnson (46) Eaglehawk  $ 163.00 

C & P Head (54) Whiteheads Creek  $ 162.50 

N & R Comer (128) Woodstock  $ 162.20 

M & G Lane (62) Pyalong  $ 160.00 

DG & JL Polkinghorne (41) Slaty Creek  $ 160.00 

Tantrum Farms (64) Barham  $ 160.00 

I & M Palmer (31) Boort  $ 160.00 

BV & EC Kelly (61) Kilmore East $ 158.20 

Nannys Creek (109) Kilmore  $ 158.00 

 A Coatsworth (60) Wycheproof  $ 158.00 

L Metcalfe (54) Barfold  $ 156.00 

J Phillips (50) Springfield  $ 155.00 

T Oliver (30) Yea  $ 155.00 

G & T Teal (98) Romsey  $ 154.00 

Mantai (55) Costerfield  $ 153.50 

D & J MacDonald (56) Pocupine Ridge  $ 152.00 

C & P Hogan (66) Nullawil  $ 151.50 

W Perry (102) Nagambie  $ 151.00 

Setec P/L (60) Benalla  $ 150.20 

 Ballandry Past (42) Strath Creek  $ 148.00 

SS Barty (75) Sutton Grange  $ 148.00 

JC Douglas (60) Milloo  $ 145.20 

JS & RA Adams (80) Mansfield  $ 145.00 

GT Allen (83) Wycheproof  $ 145.00 

J O'Shea (91) Baringhup  $ 141.00 

P,T & L Tobin (11) Heathcote  $ 138.00 

MERINO LAMBS

Glen Cooee (32) Axedale $ 140.00 

Tantrum Farming (19) Dingee  $ 122.00 

Dunedin Park (652) Wentworth  $ 118.00 

C Hewitt (60) St Arnaud  $ 115.00 

A & N Hocking (20) Dingee  $ 112.00 

 MERINO WETHERS 

G & R Dickinson (303) Heathcote  $ 150.00 

JA & JC Stuart (108) Serpentine $ 146.00 

Buloke Downs (145) Donald  $ 142.00 

A Walters (136) Maldon  $ 138.50 

M & P Steel (117) Wedderburn  $ 132.00 

CROSSBRED EWES

Yentrac Nom(54) Tatura $ 141.00 DJ & ED Lees (21) Rochester $ 141.00 Tyson (97) Pyalong $ 139.50 Lyndoch Farming (258) Macorna $ 138.00 JJ & GT Kennedy (49) Barnadown $ 137.00 Springvale (142) Tooborac $ 137.00 S Ford & Son (146) Baringhup $ 136.00 G Lourie (10) Raywood $ 136.00 A & N Hocking (34) Dingee $ 136.00 The Active Corp (25) Sutton Grange $ 135.00 I &M Palmer (62) Boort $ 134.00 AJ Ham & JW Neild (66) Benalla $ 132.00 S Stribling & M Phelan (50) Euroa $ 132.00 PT & KF Howard (33) Goornong $ 130.00 Eagle Ent (131) Bonnie Doon $ 130.00 HJ Heal (37) Euroa $ 129.00 Boosey Creek (60) Kilmore $ 129.00 Chartwell Farms (37) Romsey $ 126.00 A McAlpine (11) Euroa $ 126.00 Nedna (14) Birchip $ 126.00 Raztans (12) Barham $ 126.00 Killara Past (53) Boort $ 125.00 Verge Past (52) Euroa $ 125.00 RA Caldwell (43) Echuca $ 124.00 G Stewart (22) Colobinabbin $ 121.00 RG & CE Fiedler (24) Diggora $ 120.00 S Barrow (23) Carisbrook $ 114.00 BJ Clay (25) Bagshot $ 112.00

MERINO EWES

P & J McRobert (121) Toolleen  $ 155.00 

A & L Holt (111) Wedderburn  $ 153.00  

N & K Holt (52) Wedderburn  $ 148.00 

Mt View Farm (61) Euroa  $ 147.00 

D Wallace (58) Mitiamo  $ 144.00 

Ravenshoe (117) Ravenswood  $ 142.00 

S & G Wilson (27) Campbells Forest  $ 141.00 

K Tonkin (101) Wedderburn  $ 140.00 

G Stewart (52) Wanalta  $ 138.00 

AJ Ham & JW Neild (99) Benalla $ 132.00 

BD & J McKnight (33) Maldon  $ 128.00 

BA Comer (86) Woodstock $ 128.00 

A Hooper (82) Fosterville $ 128.00 

SH & EK Holschier (50) Womboota $ 128.00 

A & N Hocking (64) Dingee  $ 128.00 

M Lanyon (34) Boort  $ 125.00 

AT & PM Fitzpatrick (30) Maldon $ 112.00 

BJ Clay (28) Bagshot $ 110.00 

A Collins (45) Bridgewater North $ 109.00 

November 14

Cattle numbers increased this week due to the cup holiday with 319 coming forward. The cattle presented for sale were in good condition and prices fluctuated throughout the course of the market. The top vealer reached $3.20 per kilogram, 10 cents cheaper than the last market.

Heavy steers were in good supply this week, the top steer reached $2.68 per kilogram, also dropping 4 to 6 cents from the last sale. Medium to heavy steers were in good supply as well this week, the top steer reached $2.90 remaining firm from the previous market. Cow numbers were better this week, they sold well with the top reaching $2.34 per kilo, remaining firm for the previous week.

QUOTES: Steers Heavy over 500kg sold to $2.68. Steers Med/Heavy 420 – 490kgs sold to $2.90. Steer Veal Heavy over 400kgs sold to $3.20. Steer Veal medium 320 – 390kg sold to $3.20. Heifers Veal 420 to 490kgs sold to $3.19. Heifer Veal 320 – 390kgs sold to $3.18. Beef Cows sold to $ 2.34.

BULLOCKS & STEERS

L Wright - Huntly $ 1,682.75 G Morris - Huntly $ 1,667.50 Laurina P/Ship - Wooroonook $ 1,520.98 Lombardy Ent - Elmore $ 1,478.04 DN Pitson - Bagshot $ 1,464.50 T & K Cambpell - Macorna $ 1,421.28 KE Broad - Sutton Grange $ 1,413.00 DN & ID Lowndes - Emu Creek $ 1,338.84 E & S Stone - Eastville $ 1,291.48 Hazeldene - Newbridge $ 1,246.00 CA,MJ & SR Gifford - St Arnaud $ 1,214.00 J Vrbetic - Hampton $ 1,191.00 W Kriewaldt - Redesdale $ 1,135.68 E & D Kaye - Mitiamo $ 1,050.01

VEALERS

DN Pitson -Bagshot $ 1,413.53 Twin Falls - Eddington $ 1,407.19 G Morris - Huntly $ 1,392.92 Lombardy Ent - Elmore $ 1,376.08 Mark Barri - Heathcote $ 1,352.40 P & M Hird - Heathcote $ 1,330.00 P Gaudion - Lockwood $ 1,316.16 JGC P/L - Rochester $ 1,306.34 C & H Goornong $ 1,294.80 H & S Holmes - Goornong $ 1,287.00 G Mulcair - Goornong $ 1,232.88 KE Broad - Sutton Grange $ 1,230.82 Marke Past - Tatura $ 1,193.40 P Kortum - Elmore $ 1,159.20 T & K Campbell - Macorna $ 1,144.56 W Kreiwaldt - Redesdale $ 1,142.34 M & R Baker - Tennyson $ 1,121.76 L Wright - Huntly $ 1,106.56

COWS

P & M Hird - Heathcote $ 1,773.10 

CJ Bibby - Navarre  $ 1,728.72 

AP & KA Barri - Heathcote  $ 1,728.40 

W Gray - Sutton Grange $ 1,709.63 

HEIFERS

L Wright - Huntly $ 1,500.40 

GA ,MJ & SR Gifford - St Arnaud  $ 1,227.20 

J Vrbetic - Hampton $ 1,212.00 

Hazeldenes - Newbridge $ 1,066.00 

W & R Bransgrove - Nanneella  $ 997.50 

BULLS

HS Holmes - Goornong $ 2,436.98 

KE Broad - Sutton Grange $ 2,326.50 

Week ending, November 18: McKean & McGregor 6 & 4, Ellis Nuttall 5 & 2, FP Nevins 4 & 1, Landmark 2 & 6, Elders 1 & 3, Rodwells 3 & 5.