DRY WINTER AHEAD

Stock agents say it will be a tough season ahead with reduced cattle prices due to no rain and lack of grass in grazing paddocks

WITH cattle prices dropping dramatically in Toowoomba this week, stock agents have said it will be a “tough winter” ahead.

The supply of stock was reduced by 31 per cent at the saleyards.

“It hasn’t rained in a while and coming into winter people are weaning straight into the yard,” Elders stock agent Mark Gersekowski said.

“And with minimal restocker competition, prices have just dropped.

“It’s good for those who are fortunate enough to have a bit of grass and water.

“A lot of people are going to have a hard winter just because there’s no grass.”

Mr Gersekowski said prices dropped up to 30 cents a kilo in some places.

“In the export cattle not as much, maybe about 10 cents per kilo, but these young trade cattle could have been up to 30 cents, just because of the condition of the cattle,” he said.

Meanwhile, Landmark stock agent Simon Booth predicted prices would stay the same for the coming weeks.

“There are a lot of cattle for sale in NSW because it’s very dry,” he said.

“There’s a lot of southern cattle coming up here to be sold because the Queensland market is still stronger than the NSW market.

“Although it’s probably not much stronger now after this week’s sale.”

Mr Booth agreed the prices dropped due to the ongoing dry conditions.

For more information see this week’s livestock report on Page 22.