Stock Report: January 30

By Stuart Sheldrake

THERE was another large yarding, not quite as many as the last couple of weeks, but still there were 2,600 cattle.

Probably not as many cows as we’ve been yarding and they sold to firm rates, in fact store cows could have been a fraction dearer.

There were a few fresh faces for store cattle from the New England and from west.

A large number of calves coming off cows again and the better end of the calves was firm, but the plainer and secondary calves were dearer and cross bred calves were firm to dearer.

There was a large offering of butcher calves which were quite solid, but there were very few yarded.

There were a lot of plainer yearling and a few more feeder types and those cattle sold to firmer rates on last weeks quotes.

Overall the market held up very well.

We are starting to see over the last few weeks cattle in plainer condition, but this week we are starting to notice some cattle there really starting to feel the effects of the dry conditions.

The dry has happened sharply in some areas, while a lot of areas have been dry for a while, but cattle had a lot of condition on them, but we are seeing the weakness now which is to be expected.

Most people are putting pride and feed into their cattle, so they are in strong condition.

We are at the point where our herd number is feeling the effect, when it does rain it will be very quiet cattle wise for a couple of months.

When we do get a good season with a flush of feed and streams are running and dams are full, which will happen at some point then our area will be starting to look for cattle and it will be the reverse role and we’ll be going to other areas trying to find cattle; it’s all a massive cycle.