10 minute read
Rural
RECENT CATTLE MARKET REPORTS
CASINO
NRLX MARKET REPORT WEEK ENDING FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER
Agents yarded a total of 406 head at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange regular prime sale on Wednesday 14 December. Young cattle dominated the yarding while there was a small sample of cows and bulls. The yarding of young cattle consisted of light weight vealer steers and heifers. Cow prices saw a slight increase this week averaging 290c/kg and reaching a top price of 326c/ kg. Lighter heifer prices stronger with those up to 250kg averaging 508c/kg and topping their category at 600c/kg. Heavier heifers over 250kg were easier averaging 363c/kg and reaching a top of 504c/kg. Bull prices remained steady this week with 12 head sold averaging 267c/kg and 500kg. Steer prices saw an increase with lighter stock up to 250kg averaging 549c/kg and reaching a top of 680c/kg. Heavier steers over 250kg averaged 452c/kg and topped their market at 506c/kg. A small number of bullocks sold on the day averaged 293c/kg and reached a top of 326c/kg. Vealer prices were softer averaging 490c/kg and 208kg and reaching a top of 686c/kg. George & Fuhrmann held a store sale at the NRLX on Monday 12 December with 596 head going under the hammer. Steers topped their category at 680c/kg and averaged 550c/kg and 258kg whilst heifers reached a top of 618c/kg and averaged 524c/kg and 232kg. Cows reached a top price of $1,580 whilst Cows & Calves topped their market at $3,850.
The Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange will be closed for the Christmas break from Wednesday 21 December and will re-open on Monday 9 January. The frst sale back for 2023 will be Wednesday 11 January. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year from the NRLX team!
WARWICK
MC DOUGALL & SONS LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT WEEK ENDING 16/12/2022
Agents and vendors got together to present the fnal livestock sales for 2022. The tale was told in 3 stages, cattle, with a smaller yarding saw the cattle frm across most types, sheep and lambs saw the market stretched, with the better heavy end types frm with all other types signifcantly cheaper. Pork was at great rates as processors look to fulfll orders in a consumer market that seems convinced this is the year for pork to be the main foods across the break. Vealer steers averaged 551.6c/kg topping at 612.2c/ kg or $1554.14 to $1689.92
Feeder heifers averaged 364.3c/kg topping at
WARWICK
MC DOUGALL & SONS SHEEP & LAMB REPORT
Agents and vendors combined to present 1796 head of sheep and lambs for the last sale in 2022. The market was varied as was the stock up for sale. The buying panel were looking for some heavy end stock to carry over the sale breaks, and the store buyers weren’t looking to part too much money for the feed on lambs. Lambs topped at $211 to average $143.80 ($8down), hoggets topped at $210 to average $99.51($10up), ewes topped at $106 to average $70.93($22 up), wethers topped at $110 to average $47.05($37down), rams topped at $70 to average $56.35($1down), lamb rams topped at $166 to average $52.20($38down), ewe lambs topped at $210 to average $172.74($32up). The staff and workers at Mc Dougall & Sons hope you all have a great relaxing time over the break in sales and look forward to many more highlights in the New Year. Tom & Tracie Cooper sold Xbred lambs 53kg to Eversons for $190, 52.6kg to Thomas Foods for $188, 54kg hoggets to Eversons for $120 Glenlea Farming sold Dorper lambs off feed 55.64kg to Ashtons Butchery for $206, 52.5kg to Thomas Foods for $188 Richardson Rural P/L sold Suffolk ewe lambs 70.8kg to restockers for $210, 70.8kg wether lambs to Thomas Foods for $205, 37.5kg to restockers for $121, 45kg ram lamb to restockers for $92, rams to Whites Tading for $60 Lawrence & Linda Springborg sold Dorper lambs 51.4kg to Eversons for $198 Warren & Wendy Schelbach sold Dorper ewe lambs 47kg to restockers for $185 Cathy Jackson sold Xbred lambs 42.5kg to GR
403.2c/kg or $1482.34 to $1748.00
Yearling steers averaged 509.5c/kg topping at 576.2c/kg or $1818.82 to $2289.00 Yearling heifers averaged 468.4c/kg topping at 552.2c/kg or $1679.76 to $2268.00 Steers averaged 382.8c/kg topping at 408.2c/kg or $1887.10 to $2325.33 Heifers averaged 294c/kg topping at 350c/kg or $1034.50 to $1470.00 Cows averaged 275.1c/kg topping at 314.2c/kg or $1980.59 to $2200.00 Bulls averaged 293.3c/kg topping at 485.2c/kg or $1283.81 to $1794.00 Sale total of 368 head averaged $1661.36/ head Lambs topped at $211 to average $143.80, $8 down/head Hoggets topped at $210 to average $99.51, $10 up/ head Ewes topped at $106 to average $70.93, $22up/head Wethers topped at $110 to average $47.05, $37down/head Rams topped at $70 to average $56.35, par on last sale Lamb rams topped at $166 to average $52.20, $38 down/head Ewe lambs topped at $210 to average $171.74, $32 up/head Sale total of 1796 head averaged $120.34 down $2/ head Baconers sold from $238 to $265, Pork sold from $196 to $221, Stores sold from $28 to $178 Ducks sold to $55, Chicks sold to $25, Guinea Fowl sold to $35, Roosters sold to $27.50, Hens sold to $17.50
All the people at Mc Dougall & Sons would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you and your families a very happy and safe holiday season and look forward to commencing sales again in the New Year, commencing 10/1/2023 for Cattle, Sheep, lambs, pigs and poultry on the 11/01/2023.
Prime for $126 Catherine Dyson sold Dorper lambs 47.1kg to Gr Prime for $179, 40kg to Leslie Lamb for $155, hoggets 50kg to Warwick Meats for $110 Robinson & Hill sold Xbred lambs 80kg to Thomas Foods for $211, 50kg to Eversons for $191, 40kg to GR Prime for $90 Lyal Farming sold Dorper lambs 40.9kg to GR Prime for $118, 37.9kg to restockers for $99, 36.1kg to Highchester Meats for $82, 65kg and 48kg hoggets to Eversons for $125 and $90, 41kg hoggets to Whites Trading for $70, rams to Whites Trading for $60 Candice & Aaron Learoyd sold Dorper lambs 21.5kg to restockers for $43, 23.9kg ram lambs to JD Rural for $32 George Moore sold Xbred lambs 35kg to restockers for $55 and $45, 31kg to restockers for $39, Merino ewes to Eversons for $81 and $50
CONTACT US - The Northern Rivers Times Rural Edition ✆ 1300 679 787
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CANE GROWERS PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE
Front page picture: MB quad tipping This page: Cane Hauling Broadwater The NSW sugar industry is putting out a call for truck drivers, in a race to fnalise the harvest and crushing of this years’ northern rivers sugarcane crop.
Thousands of tonnes of sugarcane remain unharvested due to a shortage of truck drivers. Sunshine Sugar Chief Executive Offcer, Mr Chris Connors said; “The situation is dire. Our farming community has endured so much this year, and now they are worried about the effect a prolonged season will have on the crops that remain in the paddocks unharvested. And of course, an unharvested crop means no income.”
The cane crushing season is scheduled to run into late January following a late start due to the fooding earlier in the year and protracted wet conditions.
Whilst a couple of weeks may not seem like much to people outside of the industry, it means a lot to the productivity of cane growers and the effciency of the local sugar milling operations.
“With the festive season upon us, we’re hoping there are some capable truck drivers out there with capacity to help fll the gap;” remarked My Connors.
Anyone out there with the skills and availability are encouraged to contact SCT by calling 02 6620 8223.
Bins at BWR
A decade-long project to completely seal 153 kilometres of the Silver City Highway has been achieved, providing safer and more resilient road for motorists in the state’s Far West.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said NSW is one step closer to a fully sealed highway network with the completion of works on the Silver City Highway.
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is building the infrastructure that matters to make daily life easier for regional communities and our $195 million investment to seal this vitally important highway is just one example of how we’re doing that,” Mr Farraway said.
“The completion of construction and sealing on the Silver City Highway is an incredible milestone for people living in the Far West of NSW, not to mention the many freight operators and tourists who use the road every year.
“About 840,000 tonnes of locally-sourced crushed gravel and 50,000 tonnes of aggregate was used to build and seal the highway and the result is a legacy project that will beneft the people and businesses of the state’s Far West for generations to come.
“The Highway is a vital north-south connection between Victoria and Queensland with sections closed for up to 70 days a year due to poor weather – and often for weeks at a time - directly impacting local residents and businesses, essential services and interstate road users.
“A sealed highway not only means quicker, safer journeys for all road users but will also mean it can stay open more often when the region experiences extreme weather.
“Sealing the Cobb Highway remains the fnal piece in the puzzle for a fully-sealed highway network, which is due to be completed mid-2023.”
For more information go to nswroads.work/ farwestseals.
FARMERS WELCOME SHEEP AND GOAT TIMELINE
The state’s peak farming body has welcomed a ‘common sense’ timeline for electronic sheep and goat tags in NSW.
The NSW Government announced all sheep and farmed goats born after January 1, 2025 would require an electronic tag before leaving a property, and from January 1, 2027 all farmed sheep and goats would require an eID tag.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin welcomed the announcement, which was made in consultation with producers and industry groups.
“We’ve heard from some farmers about issues around timeframes and harvested rangeland goats, and from the outset we have said producers need enough time to implement eID properly,” Mr Martin said.
“Farmers shouldn’t have to put tags in ears until they can be scanned at the saleyard and the processor, and this implementation plan will ensure the supply chain is ready to accept animals with eID devices. “It’s important that any reforms are manageable and able to be rolled out practically, and that’s the approach we’re seeing from the NSW Government.”
Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said he was committed to providing NSW producers with the smoothest possible transition, while maintaining a strong focus on biosecurity, and work would continue across all sectors to determine what critical infrastructure was needed and how it would be funded.
Mr Martin said that while the timeline answered some important questions, it was important to ensure costs were managed – especially for tags – so that producers did not end up paying for this reform.
“There’s no point setting arbitrary timelines that can’t be met, the transition to electronic tags must be done simply and effciently to avoid potential problems,” Mr Martin said.
“It looks like the Minister wants to set us up for success here in NSW, and we’ll continue to work through the NSW Sheep and Goat Traceability Reference Group to make sure we plan around potential obstacles.
“At the end of the day we want an affordable system that works for everyone.”
