SOME rainfall impact has been seen in beef processing operations early this week, with reports of cancellations, substitutions and redirection of slaughter stock to alternate plants happening in parts of Queensland.

Isolated falls of 25-40mm have been recorded in central western Queensland areas like Emerald, Blackall and Isisford, with larger parts of eastern and southern Queensland and northeastern NSW receiving falls of 10-25mm in recent days.

Further falls of 15-50mm are forecast over much the same region over the next four days, which will start to put some sub-soil moisture in the bank for warmer days ahead.

Oats cattle starting to present

Oats crops will be one of the big early beneficiaries of rain, with reports of some very good to excellent crops in parts of southern QLD and well into NSW looking for a drink. Latest rain will deliver an extra grazing, for some.

Early deliveries of oats-finished bullocks and steers have now started, Queensland processors report, and are likely to continue until around mid-October.

However oats does not provide the early spring finished cattle impetus it once did for the beef industry. One large multi-site, multi-state processor suggested up to 75pc of eastern Australia’s oats crops are now used in backgrounding operations to produce feeder steers and heifers, rather than producing heavy cattle for export slaughter.

Grids steady

Queensland processors spoken to for this report said they had made no real headway in booking extra direct consignment cattle for future kills this week, but said that was understandable in a wet week.

Competitive direct consignment quotes from processors in the southern Queensland region this morning suggest prices on good heavy cows are currently at 530-550c/kg, with 590-600c/kg available on four-tooth grass ox, with an implant. Some less competitive grids in the region still have grass Jap ox at around 570c.

Central Queensland plants are currently 10-20c/kg behind those rates, and North Queensland, another 20c behind that.

Reflecting current very tight cattle supply in southern states, eastern regions of South Australia are 600c/kg this week on good boner cows and 650c on four tooth ox, while southern NSW grids seen this morning have four-tooth ox on 650c/kg (no HGP is mostly quoted in southern states) and good heavy cows 590c/kg.

MSA steer grids 0-4 teeth 300-400kg in northern NSW are offering 570c/kg this week.

There’s been some delays in release of last week’s seven day adult cattle slaughter figures normally issued on Tuesday. Results will be added here when they arrive. In the meantime, it’s inevitable that Queensland kills will be down a little this week, with a number of large export beef plants close to Brisbane celebrating show day holidays.

Saleyards channel

Saleyards numbers have been impacted in some areas by rain in recent days.

Roma sale this morning saw numbers crash to 4600, down about 6600 on last week. An interim report issued a few minutes ago had grown steers 500-600kg  improving in price, selling to 374c/kg. Grown steers +600kg made to 328c/kg to processors. Full report tomorrow.

Gunnedah yarded 2100 this morning, up a little on last week. Well finished heavy grown steers were considerably dearer with quality a major contributor. Mediumweight cows saw little but quality related price change. The well finished heavyweight cows sold to a dearer trend of as much as 10c/kg.

Wagga sale yesterday yarded 3515, up marginally on last week, with some very good well finished stock coming out of the Riverina. In the export market, competition was steady with heavy steers and bullocks selling from 320-396/kg. Heavy heifers with shape made from 310-373c/kg, heavy cows numbers declined with the bulk selling from 305-340c/kg. Middle run of leaner types were unchanged selling from 220-306c/kg.

Naracoorte yard 807 head this morning. Among export cattle, grown steers and bullocks attracted trade support from 340-386c. Grown heifers sold from 288-364c. Heavy cows eased 3c selling from 280-345c, with lighter lots making from 195-285c.

Warwick numbers were back this morning, yarding 1324 head. Young bullocks to the meat trade sold to 368c and averaged 358c/kg. Grown heifers to processors made 341c to average 329c/kg. Light cows to processors sold from 170-248c/kg. Good heavy score 3 and 4 cows sold to 289c and averaged from 262-276c up by 7c/kg.