Cattle yarding numbers are expected to be restricted at Queensland saleyards for the rest of 2017, according to livestock agents.
GDL’s managing director Peter Daniel said the change in seasonal conditions, with some livestock producers receiving rain during October, and a smaller herd size due to culling in previous droughts will limit both store and prime cattle at saleyards.
“Numbers from now until Christmas are going to be slow,” Mr Daniel said.
“It was also a terrible oats growing season across southern Queensland, so not many cattle will be coming off those fodder crops.”
Roma’s PJH Livestock and Property principal Steven Goodhew agrees the flow of cattle into Queensland saleyards will be slow for the rest of 2017.
“We’ve had some good falls across the Maranoa district but follow-up rain is required,” Mr Goodhew said.
He added yarding numbers at Roma Saleyards are expect to be between 2500 to 4500 head for the rest of this year.
“It’s important to remember some of the western producers, especially in the north west part of the state, still haven't received any good rainfall and cattle numbers will continue to flow from that region if there’s no break in the dry weather,” Mr Goodhew said.
“Meanwhile, local numbers will remain fairly quiet because most people want to sit and put weight on cattle after the October rain.”
Roma Saleyards yarded 310,525 head of cattle during last financial year with the selling centre’s store cattle price average climbing 18 per cent from the 2015/16 financial year to $1055/head. Roma Saleyards prime cattle average price lifted 5pc during the 2016/17 financial year to $1401/head.
Dalby Saleyards penned 209,094 head in 2016/17 FY.