Numbers increased to 120 head yarded at Ballarat, with cows making up over 50 per cent of the yarding. The usual buying group attended and operated in a firm to dearer market in places. The quality was mixed, with heavy cows reaching 250c/kg, holding firm to last week's prices. Vealers and yearlings sold to 260c and well finished grown heifers reached 290c/kg. Numbers comprised 70 cows, 18 steers, 28 heifers and some open auction young cattle. Vealers and yearlings sold to the trade to 250c, with feeders and restockers paying from 196c to 260c/kg. Grown Heifers going to the trade made to 290c for C muscle types and to 240c/kg for D muscle types. Feeders and restockers paid from 168c to 262c/kg. Grown steers sold to the trade from 204c to 254c/kg. Heavy C and D muscle cows sold to the trade from 204c to 250c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows sold to the trade from 184c to 217c and restockers paid from 181c to 224c/kg. Heavy beef bull sold to 224c/kg.

July 23. Yarding: 17,139. Change: down 1995. Lambs: 12,677. Change: down 677. Sheep: 4462. Change: down 1318.

Lamb supply eased to 12,677 and sheep numbers also decreased to 4,462 head this week at Ballarat. Quality was more mixed and there was not as much weight on offer. Most of the usual buying group attended and operated in a firm to dearer market in places. Heavy lambs sold to $314/head, with the better covered lambs averaging over 1,050c/kg cwt at times. Feeders paid from $110 to $235/head for lambs. Light weight 2 score lambs weighing 12-18kg sold from $110 to $188/head. Light trade 2 and 3 score lambs weighing 18-22kg made from $172 to $230/head to average 965c/kg. Medium trade weight 3 and 4 score lambs weighing 22-24kg sold from $215 to $257/head, varying from 935c to 1,070c to average 1,000c/kg cwt. Merino lambs weighing 16-20kg sold from $170 to $175 and those weighing 20kg plus made from $186 to $207/head. Hoggets sold from $122 to $210/head for crossbreds. Sheep quality varied from average to good, as heavy crossbred ewes sold to $220/head, while sheep primarily sold close to last week's levels. Light weight 1 and 2 score sheep made from $81 to $116/head to average 580c/kg cwt. Medium weight 2 and 3 score sheep made from $109 to $155/head, varying from 500c to 630c, with Merino mutton averaging approximately 575c/kg cwt. Heavy Merino ewes sold from $166 to $180, as heavy Merino wethers made to $148/head. Medium weights sold from $124 to $161/head. Heavy Merino sheep varied from 590c to 640c/kg cwt. Heavy 3 to 5 score crossbred sheep sold from $138 to $220/head. Rams sold from $70 to $130/head.

SHORN LAMBS

53 AJ & MG Gordon, Dunluce $314

42 Eldamead P/L, Lexton $304

43 PA & DA Marshman, Leslie Manor $285

10 Willfield P/L, Moriac $283

41 Glendonald P/L, Creswick $282

64 WJ & EJ Mulcahy, Mt Emu $280

100 RG & MF Evans, Natte Yallock $279

33 Leo Blood, Springbank $277

69 Thomas Ag, Ascot $275

106 Zimmer Partners, Rathscar $274

35 Burnside Ag P/L, Lismore $274

55 Porcupine Lane Pastoral Co, Avoca $273

89 W & Z Chiveic, Beulah $271

18 AR & MJ Stephens, Rokewood $269

75 Strathbrae Equity, Inverloch $268

30 EF Rowe, Sutherlands $264

58 PA & JA Morcombe, Mena Park $263

60 Precision Ag, Dean $260

14 Brookvale, Moolort $260

13 Sherhill P/L, Little River $256

39 JW Gray, Darlington $255

34 A & K Tucker Excavation, Bamganie $255

34 Grills & Beaumont, Dunnstown $252

51 James Sobey, Blowhard $250

45 RE & AR Wadlaw, Avoca $250

51 AJ Cheeseman, Cardigan $248

18 Rumler & Trainer, Lismore $245

35 AJ & N Caithness, Koonwarra $240

13 CG Pickup, Apollo Bay $238

55 AG Weir P/L, Dunluce $235

22 PS Rendell, Bamganie $235

13 V & M Hope, Nerrin Nerrin $235

59 PM & RM Dooley, Warncoort $226

13 Marquand Partnership, Lismore $226

12 Cashmore Farming, Bellbrae $226

107 AN Gervasoni Ag, Kooroocheang $222

30 MR & LM Horne, Cressy $222

49 Bunwarren, Yendon $220

54 David Muir, Myrniong $217

16 G & F Hives, Kingston $215

12 Nerremen Pastoral, Barrabool $215

48 Tall Tree Enterprises P/L, Meredith $212

13 M Summerfield, Moonambel $209

33 P & R Jenkinson, Shelford $207

54 SJ Mullane, Ballan $203

13 LC & SE Marriott, Tarwin Lower $198

68 Z Redpath, Waratah Nth $192

90 RJC Gilmore, Myuna $188

44 AJ & VM Jolly, Avoca $184

74 PB & JL McIntyre, Wickliffe $172

MERINO LAMBS

63 P & D Remfry, Stavelly $170

XBRED SHEEP

15 AC & JR Dean, Eurambeen $220

28 C Wright, Trawalla $200

30 MJ & DJ Stewart, Hillside $190

18 Narrawong Pastoral, Moriac $182

74 JD & ME Nelson, Weering $180

14 V & M Hope, Nerrin Nerrin $172

MERINO EWES

111 AJ & MG Gordon, Dunluce $180

38 JD Milne, Bet Bet $174

65 MJ & DJ Stewart, Hillside $148

74 Mount Hesse P/L, Winchelsea $146

57 PA Salmon & JA MacIntire, Ombersley $145

22 KD & G Fagg, Mt Mercer $126

38 MJ Banks, Meredith $123

44 BP & JA Lanfranchi, Mt Hooghly $120

MERINO WETHERS

32 DR Barrie, Elaine $166

182 Tottington P/L St Arnaud $161

52 PA Salmon & JA MacIntire, Ombersley $160

55 R Wardlaw, Avoca $134

61 Ross Grant, Beaufort $127

35 SE & RD Wardlaw, Avoca $122

For week ending August 3.

Cattle, Monday

1 Elders Ltd

2 HF Richardson

3 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

4 Landmark

5 Charles Stewart

Sheep, Tuesday

1 Elders Ltd

2 HF Richardson

3 TB White & Sons Pty Ltd

4 Landmark

5 Charles Stewart

Cattle numbers from Queensland rose by just under 1000 head last week to see 2560 cattle offered. Strong buyer confidence continued online with national average of 90 per cent online, while the Queensland state average was 91pc. Light restocker heifers under 280kg saw strong demand last week, selling from 220c to 280c, averaging 245c, holding firm on the previous week. The top priced line was a mob of 9 to 11-month-old 241kg Angus heifers from Goondiwindi, which sold to a buyer in Yarrawonga, Vic. Heifers over 280kg were topped by a line of 338kg 10 to 14-month-old Angus heifers from Rathdowney, selling for 275c/$930. Steers under 280kg saw strong buyer demand, selling from 264c to 328c, to average 302c, up 5c. The heaviest line of steers was topped by a mob of 10 to 14 month old Ultra Black/Angus Cross feeder steers selling for 300c/$968. Joined and PTIC cows sold from $660 to $1820 to average $1192. Several lines of joined Santa Gertrudis cows from Winton had three different states competing on them, with a mob of 2 to 11-year-old cows selling for $1720 heading to SA, while a line of 3 to 11-year-old cows which sold for $1820, heading to Blackall.