MOST of the Glen Innes district is having an excellent start to the spring, although the further east you travel, the drier it gets.
The springs in the tablelands are generally a bit mixed and if we can get away to a reasonable start it extends the growing season considerably.
The current spring in the New England has had very mild daytime temperatures and some would say quite cold nights with a few late frosts right through October. Everyone is craving for some warmer weather which no doubt will come in due time.
This time of year is generally very quiet for marketing of livestock and this year is no exception. Our selling season is very different to the slopes and plains which are heading into their main sell off time, whereas the tablelands doesn’t crank up until the late summer, autumn period. As a result all the tablelands centres are back to fortnightly sales for both cattle and sheep due to lack of numbers after the big sell-off during last autumn’s drought conditions, where the tablelands had a big clean out.
A lot of yearling cattle from the tablelands went west during the winter and now producers are weighing their options up whether to sell or bring them back for the summer period in the hills. As always the western season runs its course as it warms up and the focus shifts to the cooler areas.
The markets have tapered back from the highs of the winter months. This is to be expected as the spring is generally a time of increased numbers from the warmer areas off-loading prior to the harvest. This adjustment should not be too dramatic if the seasonal conditions into the summer months remain favourable.
Producers will have enough feed that they won’t be under too much pressure to offload.
Processors and lotfeeders will be welcoming the increase in numbers after a prolonged period of tight supply. Lotfeeders in particular will be entering a busy time of year as they fill their yards again and secure their share of the grain and hay harvests.
One sector of the market which shouldn’t get too much cheaper is the light store cattle market.
As the warmer areas go from being buyers to sellers, all the tablelands will kick into gear and with a big quantity of quality feed they will be very strong heading into the summer months.
The only real issue in the short term for tablelands producers with improved pastures will be the risk of bloat and the clostridial diseases such as pulpy kidney. Producers should keep their vaccinations up to date – it’s very cheap insurance for this time of year.
- Brad Newsome is a member of Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association.
