By Simon McKittrick, Logical Livestock Marketing.
After a series of frosts over the last few weeks, some traditional wintery weather and little or no rain to comment on most markets have softened off the highs producers have been enjoying.
This tricky period poses some questions, sell now or take a punt on a late winter break and hopefully a spring?
Feedlots and processors seem to have comfortable numbers in front of them at the moment, one major feedlotter is booked out until the end of October for EU feeders and up to six weeks for blacks.
Most processors seem to be two, to four weeks out in some cases.
Irrespective of what the weather does I’m not convinced the numbers will keep flowing, for the next two months anyway as some producers seem to be in a hold mode at the moment.
Yearling steers are still making solid rates, while the heifer equivalents are a plenty at the moment, however present good value as a trade option, with the spring joining period not too far away joined with a red tag in autumn could realise a healthy return.
Good commercial breeders of the right age are still making very good money, black baldy cows & calves 160km west of Tibooburra made $1,870 on Auctions Plus last Friday, while closer in cow & calf units ranged from $2,000/2,500 depending on age and breed.