A SLIGHT reduction in pork numbers at the Ballarat pig yards last Wednesday resulted in a steadier demand and mostly firmer prices.
A full field of the usual Melbourne and interstate wholesale butchers and curers competed in the sale of 655 which saw 387 weighed and offered by live weight auction.
Selling agent Crawford Dowling said a good number of trade quality pork was offered along with a few pens of plainer types. Values were fully firm to 10 cents easier with the plain and secondary lots the hardest to quit at the lower rates.
Best quality pork gilts made 250- 271c/kg lwt while pork boars made 235- 250c/kg lwt.
Competition offered in the bacon section was keener with values for gilts improved 15c/kg lwt while entire rates were lifted by 5- 10c/kg lwt. This improved demand saw prices recoup a good deal of their previous losses which in the case of the female yarding lost as much as 20c/kg lwt in its last exchange.
Best trade gilts made 210- 229c/kg lwt while trade entires made 200 to 219c/kg lwt.
A much larger in the backfatter section saw supply doubled to 131 sows and three chopping boars. However including in this number and bolstering the supply was a consignment of 70 breeding sows up to two months pregnant.
Competition was steady with values only maintaining the previous fortnight’s rates. Heavy sows made to $300 while medium weights made $190- $240/head.
Prime light sows made $140- $190 while the joined sows made to $360 and averaged $280 meeting good competition from restockers as well as the trade.
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Similar numbers were offered in the store and young pig market where 200 penned. Better quality spit pigs gained best attention in an unchanged market which sold best spit trades lots from $85- $100 while smaller restocker types made $60- $90.
Quotes: Bacon- Over 95kg to 229c/kg l/w, average 214c; 85-94kg to 224/kg l/w, avg 194c; 75-84kg to 230c/kg l/w, avg 216c.
Pork: Over 65-74kg to 271c/kg l/w, avg 256c; 55- 64kg to 235c/kg lwt, avg 228c.
Sows: Heavy $250- $300, medium $190- $240, light $140- $189.
