Managing the Dubbo saleyard closure
09 September 2021
Key points:
- Dubbo saleyard closure presents producers with excellent opportunity to sell into other regional markets such as Forbes, Cowra and CTLX
- With a strong spring expected, producers may feel inclined to retain stock, continue to rebuild numbers or increase saleable weights
- Eastern young cattle yardings can be expected to soften because of the Dubbo closure, which may impact price movements
Alternative regional selling centres
Although the Dubbo selling complex has closed for a fortnight due to COVID-19, there are several other saleyards within the central west region that can be accessed to market livestock, namely Cowra, Forbes and the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange (CTLX).
These selling centres provide producers an opportunity to market their livestock at locations they have not traditionally sold through (if transportation distance allows).
The saleyards above are also reported on by the MLA’s Livestock Market Officers, so can be benchmarked in the saleyard market reports here.
Management options
With anecdotal evidence of a fantastic spring already beginning in parts of southern NSW, the central west is not expected to be far behind.
For producers impacted by the closure of Dubbo, the opportunity to retain stock and continue to rebuild or grow herd and flock numbers has arisen. If the forecast good season eventuates, quality pasture growth can be expected, which will allow producers to add further saleable weight to their stock.
Impact on indicators
Due to the closure of Dubbo, indicators, yardings and pricing movements may be impacted throughout the time that the saleyard remains shut.
This is relevant to all Eastern States Daily Indicators, national yardings, national indicators for sheep and lambs and the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator.
