Scone Stock Report: July 30

By Stuart Sheldrake

THERE was an increased yarding of 1,500 with the majority of the yarding made up of export cattle, off the back of the very good market during the last couple of weeks and continued dry conditions people are cashing in on the market.

There were increased numbers everywhere, there was 4,000 in Tamworth and 2,600 at Gunnedah, which put a little bit of pressure on this week so it was a little bit softer – the market was firm to cheaper.

We saw a lot of good heavy cows and they were 10 to 15 cents cheaper, secondary cows there were not a lot of them but they firm.

There was a good run of feeder cattle, especially feeder heifers and they sold to very strong rates once again with a couple of orders in the market for those cattle.

Lighter weaner cattle were cheaper, they were easier and that was just on numbers.

Unfortunately, it’s not a great sign penning so many cows, because there are fewer breeding left when the drought does break.

There were close to 500 export cattle this week, most of the buyers were the usual, but in the last couple of weeks there has been a Victorian cow buyer in the market, which we haven’t seen in a long time.

They are trying to feed numbers, because they are worried about sourcing numbers as the drought goes on.