Top cut: local sale sets record

Agent and auctioneer Randall Grayson from Forbes Livestock and Agency Co said prices were being driven up by demand, with supply starting to slow down due to the ongoing dry conditions.

The top-priced pen of 200 second-cross Dorsets was sold by Matthew and Joanne Randall of Trundle at a sale that saw a solid yarding of 36,100.

The lambs were on lucerne with supplementary oats and lupins, with the agent estimating a carcase weight of 40 to 41kg. 

Despite ongoing dry conditions, Mr Grayson said the Central West Livestock Exchange has had a good run of heavy export lambs as well as lighter, unfinished stock. 

“For such a dry time, the quality is nothing short of fantastic,” Mr Grayson said.

“Forbes has a good reputation for these big, heavy lambs.”

Yarding numbers have been holding at average levels, with Forbes now reaching the end of the selling season for last year’s lambs. 

The agent is expecting a delay in new season lambs due to the drought conditions, which means the local stock are in high demand. 

Several tough seasons have taken their toll.

“A lot of people have been selling pretty hard,” Mr Grayson said.

“The best of our operators put away enough (feed) for two years … aside from two big events last year, we haven’t had much rain since the flood.” 

Dubbo’s market on Monday was also dearer and a line of extra heavy lambs sold for $253.60 a head. 

The Land’s Trade Lamb Indicator was also higher again this week hitting 670 cents a kilogram (carcase weight). 

That’s now dearer than at the same time last year and more than 70c/kg higher than last month.

On the weather front, Wednesday night did yield some much-needed rain, with 12mm at Forbes airport, 18mm at Bedgerabong, 11mm at Garema and 8-10mm in town. 

It brings our rainfall for the year to 104mm – still less than half of the average rainfall to this time of year. 

Around the district, Cowra recorded 3mm, Condobolin 18mm and Parkes 6mm.

The forecast for the rest of this week is mostly sunny.