00:00Continuing dry conditions in the southwest weighed on buyers' minds at the Mort Lake Store cattle sale
00:05on the back of another large yarding, which featured several large drafts.
00:11Agents yarded about 5,000 head of steers and heifers,
00:15saying that prices were 20 to 30 cents a kilogram softer in some places,
00:19particularly on the heavier steers.
00:22Most of the feedlots were operating,
00:24although one agent did remark they were not as aggressive as they had been at previous sales.
00:30A highlight was the heifer portion.
00:32Once processors like Westside had picked up most of the heavier cattle,
00:36restockers stepped in and prices improved.
00:40Competition from Gippsland, Northern Victorian and some New South Wales agents
00:45helped the market from slipping back further than expected.
