PER kilogram prices for cattle jumped at the Macksville saleyards last Wednesday in response to recent heavy rains in the local area.

“Last week’s rains have given farmers more options and more confidence,” auctioneer Jessie Stanton of G J Stanton and Co. told News Of The Area.

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“On average heifers increased by 50 cents (c) a kilogram (kg) and steers by around 40 cents a kilogram,” he said.

“This was across low numbers.

“We had only about 120 head through the sales, down from 170 in the previous sales.”

According to a Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) statement on 10 November, similar price increases were seen at Dubbo, Wagga and were largest across Queensland, especially in feeder and restocker cattle.

Yardings (numbers of cattle for sale) fell significantly to the lowest seen in five weeks.

Restocker heifer cattle raised on average 44c to $1.94 per kg liveweight.

The largest increases were in Queensland and the MLA attributes this to rain throughout the week in this region.

In the Mid North Coast, 50-100 millimetres (mm) of rain fell across most parts of the Nambucca Valley in the first week of November.

Lesser amounts fell across the inland areas of NSW.

Dubbo received 30-40mm in the first ten days of November.

“The (price) increases we have seen last week, across low numbers (of animals for sale) would seem to indicate local farmers are re-stocking with increasing confidence in the approaching season.

“We need to see rain across the tablelands to see a larger overall price increase,” said Mr Stanton.

Cattle farmers and industry insiders remain hopeful that cattle prices will continue to rise.

By Ned COWIE