A modest 1200 head yarding kicked off the cattle selling year at Dalby this morning, with not all processors yet back operating.

But the carpark still had more vehicles than might normally be expected for a yarding of limited size as producers and onlookers poked in their heads to gauge opening rates.

As a general guide the market opened in 2024 stronger than it closed in 2023, with feeder steers fetching about 20c more at 350c/kg and cows and bulls also selling to stronger rates in early selling.

“Apprehensive confidence” is how Elders Dalby branch manager Gavin Robinson summed up the general mood during the first sale of the year.

Many in the local region have received rain and have grass in paddocks now, and planted crops are also providing options.

“For those younger cattle they have somewhere to go with them,” he said.

It’s a big difference from the lead-in to summer when widely reported forecasts of a forthcoming El Nino weather pattern triggered panic selling from producers still haunted by the drought conditions of 2018-19.

Cattle were offloaded and market values plunged, fuelled as much by perceptions as paddock realities.

“The thing that indicated that the market wasn’t a true indication of where it was showed when there was talk of rain – even before we got the rain the market kicked 20c,” Mr Robinson said

“So it was more just people’s perception of what was going to happen driving it, suppressing the market below where it actually was.”

Sales at Dalby and Roma closed 2024 with yardings in the 8000 head range as producers sought to capitalise on the higher price levels that closed out the year.

The stronger opening market levels of 2024 suggest yardings will ramp up again in coming weeks as the industry gears back up after the Christmas/New Year break and processing shifts return.

But some producers may be adopting a wait and see attitude before selling, Mr Robinson believes.

“We have had good rain between Christmas and New Year, some blokes may be sitting on them in the belief the market might go up, because there is a lot of positive talk out there.

“That may hold cattle off for a bit, but in a few more weeks should start to see some numbers coming through.”