Competition for lighter cattle has been one casualty of the extreme heat conditions that have enveloped Australia, with southern weaner markets this week reflecting weaker levels of demand for lower weight categories.

Rapidly drying paddocks are also increasing the pressure on producers to either provide supplementary feed or to turnoff stock to market to lighten numbers.

Searing temperatures, dry winds and widespread fires in recent days have exacerbated a worsening grass availability problem across large swaths of grazing country across Australia.

The unrelenting heatwave has also had a dramatic impact on surface water supplies, with widespread reports of farm dam levels plunging due to accelerated evaporation which is forcing more stock onto bore-supplied waters where available.

The impact of heat on grass availability was underlined by weaker levels of demand for lighter weight cattle at southern weaner markets this week, according to Elders national livestock manager Chris Howie.

“It is the first time for a very long time we have seen the lighter cattle making less cents per kilogram than the heavier cattle,” Mr Howie told Beef Central after the Hamilton weaner sale in Victoria on Tuesday.

“What we saw was anything 320kg and above was where the majority of the competition came from, and that revolved around processor demand and also backgrounders and feedlots, they’re looking for weight already in hand.

“The current season is resulting in limited competition on those lighter cattle that need to go out on grass to get them up to entry weights into feedlot or processors.”

After becoming used to growing a bulk of feed over the past three wet summers, livestock producers are now seeing grass dry up before their eyes as hot summer seasons return and Australia goes back to, quite simply, being Australia.

“It was the fact that the spring cut off so quick, people just haven’t got the bulk of feed, so what happened is that the feed not only hayed off but with the heat it has gone very dry and powdery a lot of quicker than normal,” Mr Howie said.

Drying conditions in northern areas were having a distinct impact on demand at southern weaner sales, Mr Howie said.

“We just haven’t had any of that seasonal rain in the New England, basically that triangle from Goondiwindi and Glen Innes down to Tamworth which have always been very strong supporters of the southern sales.

“And then you get out to Coonamble, Condobolin, out to that area around Dubbo, they haven’t had any rain, that is normally where the competition comes from for those lighter cattle, because they can put more on a load and can grow them, which works in dollar per head terms.”

Delayed monsoon behind heatwave

Meteorologists say the late onset of the monsoon and subsequent lack of usual rain and cloud cover has allowed extremely hot air masses to form in the north of the continent which are being driven into southern Australia ahead of each cold front.

The delay in the monsoon has led to a three week spell of sunny weather across the interior, which has allowed a very hot, dry air mass to gradually build and exand, according to Weather Channel senior meteorologist Tom Saunders.

"As cold fronts approach the south, northerly winds carry the hot, dry air from the north towards the southeast costs."

On Monday scorching weather delivered the nation’s hottest day since temperature records began more than a century ago, with daily readings across more than 700 weather stations around the country averaging a record 40.33 degrees.

The previous high was 40.17, set on December 21, 1972.

The Weather Channel said this morning that the extreme heat of 2013 is "now unprecedented" since records began.

Residents of Oodnadatta in northern South Australia told ABC radio’s PM program that after 10 consecutive days of temperatures above 40 degrees Celcius, bitumen roads were melting.

"If you look at the weekly forecast, or dwell on the last 10 days you'd get a bit depressed, so I just look at the daily forecast," Lynnie Plate from Oodnadatte roadhouse told the program on Tuesday.

"I looked [for Wednesday] and it's 41; I think beauty – that's a cool change.

A cooler change since Tuesday night has since delivered some relief across southern Australia but temperatures are again building towards the weekend.

Mr Saunders said another round of extreme heat and severe bushfire dangers iex expected over the next few days, with temperatures in NSW expected to climb above 45 degrees during the weekend, and towards 50 degrees in the central interior.

“With the monsoon predicted to remain to the north over the coming week most of Australia can expect oppressive conditions to continue well into the start of 2013,” Mr Saunders said.

Damage assessments underway

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries said staff yesterday began the grim task of assessing bushfire losses.

DPI emergency controller, Kevin Cooper,  said losses of around 10,000 head of livestock across the State were expected, mainly sheep and lambs.

“With many fires still burning, we don’t yet have a handle on the full extent of the damage to fences, pastures, stock and farm infrastructure.

“Areas of major concern currently include Cooma-Monaro, Harden, Shoalhaven and far western NSW.”

With conditions deteriorating again this weekend, authorities are urging landholders to activate their bushfire management plan and protect livestock.

“Landholders need to take extra precautions over the next few days and avoid using machinery especially harvesters, angle grinders and welders,” Mr Cooper said.

“Farmers should check water supplies, ensure water troughs, pumps and other watering equipment are working and that animals have access to shade.”

Bushfire information and fire warnings

Information about bushfires and fire warnings for each state and territory can be found at the following links:

• ACT Rural Fire Service
• NSW Rural Fire Service
• NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services
• Queensland Rural Fire Service
• SA Country Fire Service
• Tasmania Fire Service
• Victoria Country Fire Authority
• WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Meat and Livestock Australia's website also offers information on managing heat stress and drought and disaster management

Banks offer assistance

The Australian Bankers’ Association yesterday advised that banks were offering a range of emergency relief packages to assist people affected by the bushfires in Tasmania, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and other parts of Australia.

Individual banks have announced assistance packages to help families, business people, farmers and individuals in the communities affected by bushfires.

“The banks’ emergency packages provide practical help by giving immediate financial relief to those in most need of assistance,” ABA chief executive Steven Munchenberg said.

“If someone’s home, income or business has been affected by the fires, they should contact their bank as soon as they are able to. Their bank can provide support to help households and businesses get back on their feet.”

Mr Munchenberg said banks could offer a range of support options. The assistance provided to any customer will depend on their individual circumstances and needs, but may include:

• deferring home loan repayments;
• restructuring business loans without incurring fees;
• giving credit card holders an emergency credit limit increase;
• providing payment holidays on credit cards;
• refinancing personal loans at a discounted fixed rate;
• waiving interest rate penalties if term deposits are drawn early; and
• deferring repayments on equipment finance facilities.