All talk about the weather

THE last weaner sale of the season at Powranna featured some pens of yearlings, cattle came from all over the state and in general quality was good but many more little and split pens than we have seen over the past couple of months.

The market did ease a little with all cattle staying in the state with no interstate competition and it was obvious that some of the big local buyers have filled up and didn’t attend the sale.

Heavy weaner steers (330+ kg) made $1,580 to $1,720 (av. 470c), medium (280-330 kg) $1,440 to $1,760 (520c), light (200-280 kg) $800 to $1,540 (530c) and very small $560 to $700/head.

Heavy heifer weaners made $1,120 to $1,580 (380c), medium $880 to $1,300 (400c), light $820 to $1,220 (415c) and very small $520 to $760/head. Yearling steers made $1,680 to $2,140 and heifers $1,500 to $1,980.

There were only 20 cows and calves with the best making $1,500 to $2,150 and lighter crossbreds $1,000 to $1,450 per unit.

From now on we revert to monthly store cattle sales at Powranna with the next one being on May 14.

A lot of the talk around the yards is on the weather and how dry it has become or in the south still is.

Even a lot of the north of the state where the season is pretty good has suddenly got very dry and as is well documented most of the Southern region is headed in a drought direction.

Weather conditions in lots of Victoria and NSW are very dry and this is causing big numbers of livestock into the saleyards or direct to the works and this in turn has put pressure on prices.

Lamb and mutton prices have eased over the last couple of weeks with bigger numbers coming forward plus the fact the many abattoirs have cut kill space to the extent that kill numbers of mutton and lambs are 20-30 per cent less than this time last year.

Interstate lamb prices are still in good shape with most averages between 1,050c to 1,120c/kg carcass weight which has come off the 1,150-1,200c bracket we saw before Easter.

Mutton prices have also eased but are still at very good levels with most averages sitting around 750c/kg.

Numbers will be the key going forward and of course the season.