SEASONAL conditions in the Central Tablelands have forced the hand of many cattle producers in the past few months with an influx of quality stock on the store cattle market.
For several months now there have been feature lines of young cattle and weaners which traditionally would not be sold until the special annual weaner sales in autumn, instead being offered at the Central Tablelands Livestock Exhange, Carcoar, store sales.
That's prompted the Central Tablelands Livestock Agents Association to run a special Blue Ribbon weaner sale at CTLX on February 7.
Association president Ben Emms said with the season being as tight as it's been on the Central Tablelands in the past six months they decided to pull the sale forward.
"At this stage we are thinking there will be something around 8000 calves principally July/August- and August/September-drop," Mr Emms said.
"There will be a lot of cattle ranging from 200 to 250 kilograms and going on the calves that were offered at CTLX store sale last Friday, they should present in pretty good condition for their age.
"This is really representing a pretty good opportunity for people to step into some great lines of proper bred weaners."
Mr Emms, who is also a director of Ray White Emms Mooney, said further rain was needed across the Central Tablands, but last week's storms were a good start.
The rain late last week and early this week has been a boost to both store and prime cattle prices during recent sales.
Maitland store sale was as much as $200 a head dearer for some lines of breeding females and about $100 more for younger cattle.
Likewise, at CTLX store sale the steers and heifers were at least $100 dearer and even more in places.
At prime sales on Monday and Tuesday the prices were stronger and this was fueled by a significant drop in supply.
On Monday the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator had lifted to 525.25 cents a kilogram (carcase weight), which was nearly 40c/kg higher than at the same time a week ago.
Some prime sales in NSW were as much as 65c/kg (cwt) dearer than a week ago. Much of this was driven by demand from restocker and lotfeeders wanting to shore up supplies.