Rain Returns To Shrink Cattle Numbers
AUSTRALIA - Widespread rain across much of Queensland and Northern New South Wales, with very heavy falls across selected regions, saw cattle yardings contract to their lowest level in almost two months, reports Meat and Livestock Australia.
22 November 2010
1 minute read
The tighter numbers had both saleyard cattle and direct to works quotes higher on last week, with young cattle and cows recording the largest jumps.
As has been the case for almost all of 2010, rain and supply constraints throughout the eastern states continue to set the tone for the higher market, offsetting the impact of the very high A$ and somewhat mixed export demand. With numbers offered at MLA’s NLRS reported saleyards back 45 per cent on last week in Queensland and 25 per cent nationally, the EYCI rose 4.25¢ for the week, to finish Thursday at 372¢/kg cwt – 23 per cent, or 70¢ above the same period last year.
While the momentum this week was largely behind young cattle and cows, export categories also edged higher, with Japan steers up 4¢ to 327¢, while nationally, direct to works prices rose 2¢.
The lamb market this week started to show some signs of the numbers expected to come forward in coming weeks, with Victoria recording its largest weekly numbers so far in 2010. Despite the increase in offerings in southern markets, prices continued to show astounding resilience, with light categories moving higher, with light lambs kicking 29¢, to 489¢/kg cwt, as trade and heavy lambs slipped back 1¢ and 8¢, respectively.
TheCattleSite News Desk
