PRICES firmed on the back of increased competition at the Ballarat pig market last Wednesday.
An additional buyer attended the sale and supported prices in a slightly larger yarding of 244 which was 56 head more.
Auctioneers Crawford Dowling said with the salami season on the way out trade buyers purchased most of the backfatter yarding which doubled in size.
Prime heavy sows made $260-$340 while medium weights made $200-$250 a head.
In the store and young pig market, and in the absence of smaller spit-type young pigs, processors and restockers competed at prices mostly poised between $70 and $125 a head.
The agency also said prices written for direct consignment lots to processing plants were also held firm of recent improved rates.
Offered prices for pork pigs were held unchanged at 210-245 cents a kilgram live weight while bacon rates were re-written at 245-300c/kg lwt.
The agency said that with good numbers sent over the hooks there were a handful of pork and bacon sales offered during the market that were purchased by the small goods trade.