Colder temperatures have had a distinct impact on the quality and volume of cattle yarded throughout southern Australia in the past week, according to Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service.
The recent onset of cooler conditions, with heavy frost in many regions, has started to hinder growth rates, MLA reported on Friday.
This has contributed to additional numbers entering markets, along with a tempering of restocker demand.
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator has reflected the trend, falling by almost 10c last week to 364c/kg.
The NLRS said many producers in western Victoria and South Australia had offloaded quality stock earlier in the season due to drier than average summer/autumn conditions, leaving mostly secondary lines entering the market now.
However, in contrast to the decline in the quality of stock on offer further south, most northern saleyards continued to yard well-finished cattle – reflecting the benefits of the previous favourable seasons.
Western Australia experienced reasonable rainfall throughout spring and summer, easing drought conditions, with recent falls rejuvenating the season. Heavy and trade weight steers and heifers remained in tight supply in the west, the NLRS said, as producers took advantage of the improved feed base.
Southern areas of Australia are bracing for a deeper plunge into colder temperatures this week, according to The Weather Channel meteorologist Felim Hannify.
The clear and frosty conditions of recent weeks brought by a series of high-pressure systems are expected to give way as a powerful cold-front races through the south-east from around midweek.
Producers in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW are being advised to expect a host of severe weather warnings and wet, wild and windy weather.
Further north, central to eastern parts of Queensland are expected to receive reasonable rainfall as a low pressure trough interacts with the cold front and strong upper level system driving the wintry blast in the south.
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