Spoke this morning with Peter Baldwin from Australian Livestock & Property Agents (ALPA) with regards to the Young Auctioneers' competition to be held at the Dubbo selling complex on Thursday, September 3 commencing at approximately 2pm following the completion of the Thursdays Prime Cattle Sale.

This has all come about because we will have no Sydney Royal Easter Show this year due to COVID-19 and the Young Auctioneers through the history of the event has become one of the outstanding feature events of the Royal Show.

Ten young auctioneers will be on show testing their skills against each other and a gallery full of professional buyers.

My understanding of Dubbo being selected as the venue are that they are a neutral city with no representatives in this years prestigious showcase and have over many years given great support to the concept through the Dubbo Stock and Station Agents (DSSA) and in actual fact have provided many winners and place-getters over the years.

The young auctioneers are drawn from Wagga, Gundagai, Goulbourn, Forbes, Inverell, Guyra and Crookwell with an even spread being five from pastoral houses and five from private agents.

Ring selling will give way to pen selling with the stock comprising 20 heifers and 10 steers sourced from the Camlot Feedlot at North Richmond and weighing between 460 and 520kg liveweight.

The auctioneer adjudged to be the best on ground shall be awarded the John Weekes Memorial Trophy at a presentation at the conclusion of the auction.

Personally, I would like to thank Mr Baldwin for the above information and he in turn wishes to offer his thanks to the DSSA and the Dubbo Regional Council particularly Ross McCarthy for all their help and advice putting this show piece extravaganza together.

Dubbo Sheep and Lamb sale last Monday on greatly reduced numbers saw the best bounce in prices that we have witnessed for a considerable time.

Most major reported centres have seen a drop in numbers and a lift in prices to varying degrees. Just may be the lamb and mutton market will improve gradually as we move into spring.

Dubbo Agents for the Prime Cattle Sale on Thursday, August 27 have indicated a draw of 3150 cattle.

Numbers appear to be growing slowly as cattle are being finished on early sown crops.