Scone Stock Report: July 9

By Stuart Sheldrake

THERE were fewer numbers about today, only 600 cattle, but the market was stronger across the board.

Good export cows were 15 to 20 cents dearer, plainer cows were also dearer by 10 or 15 cents.

Bulls were only firm.

There weren’t as many killable cattle compared to previous weeks, however the market was still stronger for all categories, probably 5 to 10 cents.

In the next month or two there won’t be many numbers about, because most people have sold them all by this stage and the market is on the up.

Coming up to breeding season, there are not as many females about compared to previous seasons.

Bull sales are just starting and it is going to be pretty tough for most of the bull sellers, because the female numbers are down.

Calving has just commenced and we need a good spring for those cattle to go into, if we can get some rain over July – August that would get us into spring.

If we don’t get rain, it is going to be a tough road ahead.

The next eight weeks will really make the difference.

The south is getting a bit of rain which is part of their normal weather pattern, they get cold fronts sweep through and get showery weather out of that and if we could jag an inch or two in August that would be ideal, followed by some summer storm rain and some flooding that would be what we need.

Water is becoming a massive issue, not just for dams, but for underground water, most people are pumping very little at the moment as the aquifers are very low and need to be recharged with a good flood.

Hopefully with the mild winter it might mean some rain coming into spring.