Store cattle values bounced back strongly at the Ballarat monthly market on Friday where a 2400-strong yarding carried the bloom of the promising local season.
Heavy and feeder pens of steers and heifers were, in fact, the least affected in the strong lift in prices ranging from $50-$80 a head better than the depressed rates of the month earlier market.
Lighter backgrounder cattle prices, which saw few penned of less than 300kg, enjoyed the strongest lift in rates to sell from $120 to $150 a head resulting in very few steer penlots selling for less than $1100 a head.
A modest interest from South Australia remained to contest the strong bidding of the local Western District inquiry while an active from South Gippsland made a welcome return after a long absence of attending Ballarat sales.
