A wide area of the Central West and the Tablelands did receive some rain in recent days which if nothing else showed that it can produce the goods when conditions are right.

Mick Noonan well known agent and industry commentator got it right recently when commentating on National Radio, he stated that all the hype about the “$300 pens” of lambs was only a small part of the overall lamb story currently taking place across our marketing system.

We as agents and commentators and market analyst are failing to tell the full story about lambs and mutton which are not presented in prime condition.

The success of the $300 heavy export lambs and the $200 plus new season suckers and the heavy mutton selling for $180 to $200 are great stories and well worth the telling for those clients who receive these tallies.

Read more:  Lamb prices hit $300 per head, Bill Tatt discusses

The other side to that story is that some agents see pen after pen of little plain lambs sell with very few of these sales receiving over $70.00 per head and the odd sale down to $12 to $15.00 per head.

The same scenario is beginning to be witnessed throughout the mutton process with many pens of old, very plain ewes off shears barely covering costs.

Has been a long time since the industry saw this type of situation arise and as the drought continues to bite, there could be more pain to come.

We as agents strongly suggest that it is in all client’s best interest to attend a market prior to trucking to appreciate what their sheep and lambs may be worth.

The same suggestion applies to graziers thinking of unloading cattle. Many young cattle are selling for much less than they did some months ago. So please physically check out the sales and make an honest comparison with your stock at home so that everybody has a rough idea of what to expect.

Dubbo agents for the cattle sale on August, 9, have seen a draw of 5200 head and if everything holds to form we will probably scan some 47/4800 in total.

Read more: Producers receive some joy at Dubbo sheep and cattle sales​

Cattle markets throughout the early part of the week showed continuing softer trends.

Prime cattle suitable for the domestic butcher shop are becoming a rarity in many markets across the state. Back to the early part of this column regarding the opportunities which the low prices for plain lambs, mutton and young cattle may provide for graziers wishing to have a punt on the future outcomes of the weather.

All droughts have broken at some stage in the past.

We are currently well and truly past the half way mark of winter with spring only three weeks away.

If a grazier has sold some big fat lambs, mutton or cattle as many have done and you do have some source of fodder available why not invest some of your returns in some plain inexpensive replacement stock.

Keep your numbers up and your feed costs down.