Cold wintry weather continues with only .5mm of rain last Wednesday and heavy frosts on every second day. Pipes are still blocking and causing some havoc with pumps not running.
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The weather is certainly affecting markets with large numbers being sent to Dubbo in both sheep and cattle. Last Thursday 4105 prime cattle penned in a better quality yarding with far less Western cattle yarded. Trade cattle rose 10 cents, lightweight feeders were down 7-11c, with the heavy end firm, restocker steers reached 334c/kg, heavy steers lost 3-6 cents, heavy heifers fell 1c, plain conditioned cows dropped 16c while the better conditioned cows were 3c easier. Quotations: calves 306-450, steer vealers 250-334, heifer vealers 278-332, steer yearlings 254-331, heifer yearlings 210-332, heavy steers 255-316, bullocks 250-303, heavy heifers 220-291, light cows 150-196, medium cows 140-246, heavy cows 193-252, bulls 225-283.
Only 102 store cattle penned in Dubbo last Friday. It was the smallest yarding for a long time with some fairly good quality steers and heifers along with some good useful PTIC cows. Weaner steers sold from $520-$895 for good quality Angus to avg $670 or 304c/kg, heifer weaners ranged from $460-$580 to avg $515 or 305c/kg. A pen of yearling heifers made $750, a pen of PTIC cows traded at $1050. Cows and calves were limited realising $870-$1480, unjoined cows made from $700-$1380.
36,400 lambs penned on Monday due to the very dry conditions and a run of frosts experienced throughout the central and far western regions. A larger percentage of secondary lambs were yarded along with a top selection of heavy lambs and useful numbers of trade weights. Processor light lambs lost $12-$16, trade lambs also fell the same amount. The few trade weight new season lambs dropped $8-$13, heavy weight lambs up to 30kg were down by $8-$12, while the extra heavies were up to $24 cheaper. Merino lambs were reduced by $9-$16 with trade weights making $92-$133 and the heavies topping at $171, restockers paid to $81 and hoggets reached $130. Quotations: light young lambs $65-$112, medium young lambs $100, heavy young lambs $118-$142, light supermarket young lambs $136-$153, light lambs $62-$104, medium lambs $93-$125, heavy lamb $103-$142, supermarket lamb $130-$174, export lamb $156-$192.
11,050 mutton penned in a mixed quality yarding with light and medium Merino ewes staying around firm however the heavier end dropped up to $13.
Quotations: light ewes $31-$82, medium ewes $60-$112, heavy ewes $81-$148, light wethers $25-$86, medium wethers $81-$118, heavy wethers $95-$148, rams $58-$110, ram lambs $114.
