Rain has once again fallen over a vast area of Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
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Dubbo for its prime cattle sale on September 1 had an initial draw of 4150 head. Then the rain arrived and numbers were reduced to about 3400 cattle.
One of the best balanced yardings here at Troy so far this year. The restocker cattle were plentiful and in the main were very well bred. The rest of the yarding was prime and principally carried plenty of weight and finish.
One of the highlights of the day was a line of 250 Poll Hereford Steer and 80 of their sisters sold by Elders Dubbo. These cattle were trucked from Broken Hill on account of Mutooroo Past. Co, which had bred the calves.
The steers were sold in three major drafts with the lead estimated to weigh 320kg realising 394.2 cents/kg. The pen contained 67 head.
The second cut comprising 77 steers reached 402.2 while the third pen reached a day high of 462.2 and were thought to weigh about 230kg. The heifers portion from the same consignment topped at 388.2 and were estimated to weigh from 220-300 kg.
ABARES agricultural report for March 2016 has been released and concludes the sheep and lamb markets in the saleyards will be fuelled by increased demand.
Through the financial years 2016 and 2017 it suggests prime lamb prices may move as much as 15 per cent.
This assessment indicates lamb supply will be tight, we will enjoy increased demand from the US and the Middle East and assumes the Australian dollar will remain low.
For grown sheep it predicts the trend to rise some 15 per cent, but this should be more gradual and will take the industry out to the year 2019/2020.
The focus of the growth in mutton prices will come from an increased demand for breeding ewes as graziers rebuild their flocks. These prices are not expected to wane until turn-off begins to rise after 2020/21. Average farmer incomes are also expected to receive a substantial boost.
While on the subject of meat sales some interesting statistics have emerged on chicken meats, one of the main competitors to beef and lamb producers. Currently chicken accounts for 23.3 per cent of this market.
By 2020/21 it is felt chicken consumption will be 49kg per person while exports of chicken products will continue to rise.
Analysts predict domestic consumption should remain stable at 96 per cent of total production.
Cropping in the north and north west is enjoying an absolute booming time as the correct requirement of rain seem to be falling at just the right time.
The same cannot be said for many parts of the Central West, where plenty of paddocks appear to be suffering from wet feet.