With more cold weather coming stock agents in southern Australia expect to see a significant drop in numbers of store cattle being offered in the months ahead.
That could mean a price boost for those looking at offloading quality stock before spring, with a drop in numbers at last Friday's Ballarat store sale pushing prices up.
Livestock agent with TB White and Sons in Ballarat Xavier Bourke, described the yarding of 2800 head as outstanding.
"Last sale we had 4700 cattle here, and this sale it's 2800 so a big difference," he said.
"We had plenty of good heavy Angus steers 400 to 550 kilograms, making $3.20 to 3.45 per kg. The next run down were making $3.10 to $3.20 per kg. That's probably 10 or 15 cents dearer than it's been. Weaner cattle were anything from $3.00 to $3.50 per kg. We had up to $3.05 to $3.10 per kg for 450kg to 480kg heifers. That's very good results. [Since the last sale a month ago] cattle are probably 20 cents per kg dearer. So on average you're looking at $60 to $80 dearer."
Livestock Manager with Landmark Ballarat Xavier Shanahan, was equally as happy.
"I'd say every class of cattle were dearer, except for the very lightest of the heifers," he said.
"The real little cattle there was no movement there, but everything else definitely had more bounce in it. Feeder cattle are selling tremendously well. There'd be cattle there [on Friday] $150 to $200 dearer. Cattle that made $800, some of them were only $600 last month. Heifers were good, there was another $50 to $100 a head in the heifers, and cows and calves were probably a couple of hundred dearer."
Mr Shanahan also noted that for the first time in at least four months there were a number of local and district buyers chasing stock for grass and pasture fattening. But the majority of the offering went to major feedlots and processors in Victoria, southern New South Wales and South Australia.
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Director and livestock agent with Miller, Whan and John Pty Ltd in Mount Gambier, Andrew Whan, said there is still plenty of demand for heavier cattle in South Australia and lighter cattle are still coming into the market. But it's not surprising to see feedlotters there meeting their demands in Victoria.
I think it's normal, [and you] need to be in the market to maintain the numbers," he said.
As winter tightens its grip the forecast is that numbers will drop in the months ahead. Xavier Bourke said that with a little bit of rain in the district a few people are holding on to see what's going to happen in spring and it's already evident there's not as many cattle round.
"I don't think we'll yard any more than this going forward," he said.
"We're right in the depths of winter here, [and] we're wet and cold at Ballarat, so as we get close to spring the numbers will drop off."
Xavier Shanahan from Landmark sees it the same way.
"Most definitely yeah. I'd think we'd have a real back off in numbers now," he said.
"We have been saying it every month, but definitely if there was 2,000 cattle here next month that'd pull it up you'd think."
While numbers are expected to drop and prices for heavier cattle to stay strong Mr Shanahan said lighter cattle may not get that boost.
"I don't know if the little cattle will get much dearer. Everyone's doing it on not much feed," he said.
"The feeder cattle may have a little more movement in them. There's no doubt that by the time we get to August and September and everyone see a bit of spring ahead. If there was a big rain through New South Wales the little cattle would get dearer for sure. But it's really hinging on rain now."
Andrew Whan from Miller, Whan and John Pty Ltd in Mount Gambier said they expect heavy cattle will remain strong and lighter cattle will continue to come to market.
"The southeast of South Australia has had a handy season, but in other areas late rain meant a slower start," he said.
"Lighter cattle will continue to come on the market with feed shortages driving that, [as well] high prices of supplementary feed [is] having an impact."
On Thursday 27 June Naracoorte combined agents will hold their monthly store sale with around 800 head advertised.