DAIRY cow numbers dropped by more than half last week as the Australia Day public holiday played havoc at Victorian markets.
Only 346 dairy cows were yarded, 23 per cent of the total number of cows yarded in Victoria last week.
National Livestock Reporting service manager Travis Parsci said there was only a small offering of up to 15 head at the combined market at Pakenham, while at Leongatha prices ranged from 106-125c/kg - down 2-3c/kg on the previous week.
Prices were also down by 4-11c/kg at Warrnambool where there were mainly heavy and medium-weight dairy cows offered.
Mr Parsci said medium-weight cows commanded 95-102c/kg, while heavy weights mostly sold between 109c and 115c/kg to a top of 123c/kg.
At Colac, medium-weight cows were "slightly dearer", however, most weights sold for 110-115c/kg.
At Bairnsdale, only 24 dairy cows were yarded and these were mostly heavy and medium weights.
The heavy weights sold from 106-108c/kg.
