The livestock industry is still in limbo as to when all people can return to saleyards and for many graziers the ability to be able to see their stock sold is so important as they show case their expertisecin presenting an acceptable product.

We all as we self-isolate hope that this scenario ends sooner rather than later.

Older people are possibly handling the isolation better than the young, this certainly appears to be the case with respect to stock agents.

The outbreak of Coronavirus in a Victorian abattoir in recent days has certainly caused a revaluation of that section of the industry.

There is some discussion that the first employee who tested positive has in recent times worked as an employee at another abattoir located in Victoria.

No confirmation of this theory has been forth coming so we all hope that there is no truth in the rumour.

When the Australian government suggested an enquiry into the origin in China of Coronavirus the idea was met with a firestorm of threats from the Chinese Government including amongst other things an embargo on wine and beef.

One of our mainstream newspapers had their Beijing based representative travel through the city to assess the level of resentment to our agricultural products.

Certainly, this spat is in its early days, but nowhere could the journalist find any sign of a downturn in the consumption of Australian beef and wine.

The year 2020 may see some downturn but in 2019 Australian exports to China at 150.4 billion was the highest figure ever achieved.

A Dubbo and Dunedoo agent combined last week to hold a very successful sale at the Dunedoo complex with some 1300 head of store cattle on offer.

With a good run of cattle, well presented and a huge crowd on hand the people involved enjoyed a hugely successful outing.

On the subject of store cattle sales at least three of my own clients have approached the writer about the possibility of conducting a store cattle sale at the end of May or the first week of June in the Dubbo Troy complex.

To do this successfully the firm involved would need approval from the council almost immediately to allow enough time to gather numbers and details of the stock and leave enough time to advise the sale.