CVLX Ballarat Cattle Report

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Report Date: 26th March 2025

Total Yarding: 964

Commentary

Cattle numbers increased to 964 penned, cows again represented over half the yarding with a range from very good to plainer lighter weights. Young cattle were mostly plainer secondary types lacking condition which reflected in the result, with very limited better bred cattle offered. Not all the usual buyers were on the rail along with a very small gallery of onlookers, the market opened firm over the heavy cows then dropped away over the lighter weights, the plainer cattle at times struggled to gain interest, as feeders and restockers weren’t keen to enter the market on the secondary cattle in a mostly cheaper market. The better quality young cattle sold 30c cheaper and the plainer secondary types sold 30c to 60c/kg softer and more in places. Grown steers sold firm to 10c cheaper and grown heifers sold 15c softer for the better quality and to 40c/kg cheaper for the plainer heifers. Manufacturing steers sold to 30c cheaper for the crossbreds and to 10c/kg softer for the limited offering of dairy steers. Heavy cows sold mostly firm, while the medium weight cows slipped 20c and light weight cows were 10c to 30c/kg cheaper. Heavy beef bulls slipped 30c and the lighter and younger bulls sold to 40/kg softer.

Young cattle sold to the trade from 314c to 320c for the better and the plainer secondary types made from 230c to 284c/kg. Feeders and restockers paid 280c to 336c/kg for the better bred cattle and 70c to 264c for the plainer types. Grown Steers sold to the trade from 298c to 332c, with 2 steers selling to 368c/kg. Feeders sold from 310c to 338c/kg. Grown heifers sold to the trade from 290c to 338c for the better quality and from 180c to 285c for the secondary types, while feeders and restockers paid 236c to 240c/kg. Manufacturing crossbred steers made from 240c to 290c and the dairy portion made from 200c to 282c/kg.

Heavy cows sold from 265c to 322c/kg. Medium and light weight cows made from 100c to 266c/kg. Dairy cows made from 178c to 265c/kg for a very limited offering. Heavy bulls made from 246c to 303c, the lighter and younger bulls made from 210c to 280c/kg.

Market Reporter: Sheona Lamb