This will be another temporary setback for northern beef processors who were (they thought) finally getting somewhere near a normalised tally for the next few weeks.

In recent weeks some of the major sheds had only managed three-quarter shifts a week. The next few weeks had promised eight to 10 shifts with somewhat of a surge in numbers coming forth.

Sadly for the processors this will no longer be the short-term case. Rain also  curtailed numbers here in Dubbo.

The previous two weeks saw yardings of 4700 to 5300 head scanned. This Thursday we will be lucky to scan 2000 head.

Rarely does the column touch on the passing of people in our industry. One exception should be the recent death at 91 of legendary landowner and stock trader Stan Stan Henwood, from Wagga Wagga. At the height of his success, he and his family owned country from their original base at Wagga to major holdings in the Gulf.

When his empire was dispersed to the family some years ago it was estimated he owned some 26 properties and 70,000 head of cattle.

As the grid prices continue to ease some analysts suggest we have seen the best of the money for the time being.

Latest quotes for grass-fed ox stand at  560/570 cents per kg back from 590 cents per kg three to four weeks ago.

Best offers for cows have retreated a similar amount. Early slaughter figures for August show clearly the decline in the number of cattle handled by processors.

The latest eastern state figure of 11,600 for a week is the lowest statistic since the kill numbers of early January, when most processors had not fully returned to work.

When you think slaughter numbers stood at 150,000 in mid-May 2015, the latest figure is startling. Some processors say they are 40,000 head behind compared to this time last year and suggest by the end of calendar 2016 the tally may be 60,000 or more.

There seems to be little correlation between the prices paid for slaughter stock and those offered for feeder cattle. The only obvious answer is cereal grain is so cheap the high price paid for feeders is offset by the relatively low cost for grain.

One major feedlotter recently suggested it may now be better value to buy lighter feeders and continue the feeding process for 30 to 40 days longer.

Recent stats on cattle kills in  the last six months suggest there is certainly some slack to be taken up: Qld down 20 per cent at 1,698,000 head,  NSW down 15 per cent to 846,000, Victoria down 19 percent at 766,000. SA down 16 per cent at 199,000, WA down 5 per cent at 189,000 and Tasmania down 5 per cent at 113,000 head.