It was a handy day for local buyers at the Ballarat monthly store cattle sale on Friday when a larger than expected yarding of almost 2000 cattle arrived.
Having advertised just 1200 head, supply quickly overwhelmed demand, especially for the light and plainer drafts which longed for greater competition.
With most buyers looking for weight to supply the winter markets, the offering of grown steers and the heavier end of the weaner steers traded firm on previous market in a 165-185c/kg price bracket.
Grown steers made $600-$750, while the heavier drafts of weaner steers made $565-$645.
Light weaner steers made $350-$560 or about 175-200c/kg.
Recent strong feeder demand of grown and heavier weaner heifers was continued as these fetched an average of 170c/kg, to make $480-$620.
Light weaner heifers, however, were the bargain of the day, with a good number sold to average 150-160c/kg.
But as Ballarat agent Leo White explains the strong Gippsland support offered at last month's annual feature sales failed to reappear.
