Bendigo livestock reports, June 12

Cattle numbers were very similar to last week, the cattle that came forward were well finished and sold very well. Heavy steers were in short supply and sold to a top of $2.62 per kilo.

Medium to heavy steers sold to a top of $2.75 per kilo. A quality run of vealers came through and the better calves sold to a top of $3.44 per kilo, holding fully firm to last week. A very small run of cows sold to a top of $2.05 per kilo, holding firm to slightly dearer.

STEERS

K & L Lanyon - Boort $ 1,394.40

G Seddon - Taradale $ 1,267.50

Hazeldenes - Newbridge $ 1,186.00

JT Stokie - Elmore $ 1,137.12

G Mulcair - Goornong $ 1,080.24

VEALERS

Marke Past - Tatura $ 1,413.75

COWS

G Mulcair - Goornong $ 1,237.25

Hazeldenes - Newbridge $ 1,135.00

HEIFERS

G Mulcair - Goornong $ 1,306.42

JT Stokie - Elmore $ 1,122.40

K & L Lanyon - Boort $ 1,067.76

Heavy steers over 500kg sold to $2.62

Medium to heavy steers 450- 500 kg sold to $2.75

Steer veal heavy over 400kgs sold to 3.40

Steer veal medium 320-390kg sold to 3.40

Heifers veal 420 to 490kg sold to $ 3.43

Heifer veal 320-390kg sold to $3.44

Beef cows-$2.05

June 11. Yarding: 22,216. Change: down 4240. Lambs: 15,688. Change: down 3907. Sheep: 6528. Change: down 333.

Lamb numbers were back by 3907 to 15,688 head at Ballarat this week. Quality was good, with the usual buying group operating in a generally firm market, being a few dollars dearer on the better quality lambs. Heavy lambs sold to $310, as medium trade weights sold from $194 to $228/head to average close to 880c/kg cwt.

Restockers and feeders were active, paying primarily from $139 to $212 for lambs and from $30 to $90/head for light lots. Light weight 2 score lambs weighing 12-18kg sold from $105 to $154/head. Light trade 2 and 3 score lambs weighing 18-22kg received from $151 to $195/head to average approximately 850c/kg cwt. Medium trade weight 3 and 4 score lambs weighing 22-24kg sold from $194 to $228/head, receiving from 840c to 930c to average approximately 880c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 to 4 score lambs weighing 26-30kg sold from $237 to $263/head. Extra heavy export lambs weighing 30kg plus sold from $260 to $310/head to average close to 785c/kg cwt.

Hoggets sold from $123 to $234 for crossbreds and Merinos reached $138.50/head. Sheep numbers were similar at 6,528 and quality was mixed. There were more lighter Merino wethers and ewes penned this week. Not all processors operated fully. Medium and heavy sheep eased from $2 to $10/head, with lighter sheep selling a little dearer. Heavy crossbred ewes sold to $250/head. Rams sold to keen competition for another good result. Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep made from $68 to $110 to average close to 520c/kg cwt, with very light 1 scores making from $54 to $71/head. Medium weight 2 and 3 score sheep received from $96 to $150/head, or from 505c to 620c, with Merino mutton averaging approximately 580c/kg cwt. Heavy Merino ewes sold from $155 to $178, as heavy Merino wethers sold from $159 to $182, while medium weights sold from $101 to $150 and heavy Merino sheep received from 600c to 620c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 to 4 score crossbred sheep sold from $140 to $250/head to average close to 610c/kg cwt.

For week ending June 7.

Sales in Sydney and Melbourne saw falls occur in all Merino Price Guides (MPGs). The EMI fell by 23 cents to 1,864 c/kg clean. The national pass-in rate was 15.5 per cent. This week, all three centres will operate with 29,989 bales currently rostered for sale.

In Sydney on Wednesday 18.5 m and finer lots with Best style and favourable additional measurements attracted strong buyer support. These lots maintained last week's levels, however poorer style lots with low staple strength ( 30 N/ktex) were discounted which pushed most MPGs lower. Thursday's sale saw further reductions in all MPGs with finer microns most affected (down by more than 30 cents). Merino skirtings eased on Wednesday, with 17.0 m and finer lots up to 50 cheaper. On Thursday, best style skirtings with favourable additional measurements maintained Wednesday's levels while those with 3 per cent VM and low strength fell by up to 30 cents.

Crossbred lots eased on Wednesday, with finer lots up to 50 cents cheaper, but no further change occurred on Thursday. Oddment lots were generally unchanged. The Northern Regional Indicator fell by 26 cents to 1,883 c/kg clean. The Northern Merino Carding Indicator dropped 15 cents to 1,021 c/kg clean. The Sydney pass-in rate was 14.0 per cent.

The Melbourne sale started slowly on Wednesday with high early pass-in rates which decreased as the sale progressed. Best style lots with high strength were keenly sought by buyers. The MPGs eased by between 5 and 10 cents. Lower style lots dominated Thursday's selection and dampened the tone of the sale. Merino skirtings followed the same trend as the Merino fleece lots on Wednesday, but a high proportion of poorer style, faulty lots with high VM on Thursday weakened the skirtings market. Well prepared crossbred lots attracted strong demand while oddment lots lost ground.

The Southern Regional Indictor lost 22 cents to 1,852 c/kg clean while the Southern Merino Carding Indicator dropped 54 cents to 992 c/kg clean.

Sheep numbers remained steady last week totalling 59,063, an increase of 1708, and demand remained strong with a 71 per cent clearance.

First-cross ewe lambs averaged $203 a head, $27 up on the previous week. Demand for Merino ewe lambs remains high with an 88pc clearance for the category, selling from $110.5 to $181 to averaged $149, $16 down on the week before. Ewe hoggets sold from $125 to $205, averaging $172, $3 down.

Young breeders averaged $157, and proven breeders averaged $166. Merino wether lambs made up 21pc of the listings last week with buyer demand seeing a 70pc clearing for the category.

Averaging $120, up $7, the lambs sold from $76 to $159. Merino wether hoggets sold from $87 to $135, averaging $119, up $4. Border Leicester/Merino ewe lambs averaged $203, up $27, selling from $143 to $241.

SIL first-cross ewes sold from $151 to $295, averaging $244, up $30. Store lamb listings jumped last week with 8603 head listed, an increase of 3928. Demand from buyers remained with the category seeing a 93pc clearance.

CATTLE

Last week saw cattle numbers buck the trend and spike up to 10,679 head offered, 3309 head up on the week before. Cow and calf units were up by $240, while light steers experienced a drop of 68c/kg. Feeder steers from Molong, NSW, weighing 438kg returned 336c/kg. Prices for young PTIC cows and heifers ranged from $810 to $1260 and averaged $1052, down $150.

Grown and mixed-age PTIC cows sold from $765 to $1300, averaging $1022. Cows and calves sold from $1010 to $1650, and averaged $1397, up $240. Lighter steers under 280kg found an 82pc clearance. Prices ranged from 150-292c/kg to average 228c/kg. Lighter heifers under 280kg sold from 143-280c/kg and averaged 231c/kg.

Stock and Land