The number of livestock heading south in search of feed and buyers continues to surge as drought conditions worsen in the northern states.
Livestock producers are moving to protect their long term breeders and are quitting young stock.
The jump in stock number, often unscheduled, has kept southern livestock agents on their toes to market and present the stock in the best way.
Transporters have also been busy with travel sometimes from up to 1000 kilometres away.
Recently the Swan Hill Livestock Exchange yarded about 2300 cattle at its fortnightly sale, an increase of 400 on the previous sale. The yarding included about 600 stores with many of these coming from Cameron’s Corner, Queensland.
Barnawartha experienced a surge in numbers at its recent store sale, with the yarding stretching from an expected 2500 to nearly 4000 on the day. Many of these were from north of the Murray.
At Mortlake this week, agents have advised that due to late inclusions the yarding has risen from an original advertised yarding of 1500 to around 2550.
The yarding has been boosted by the consignments of around 800 weaners steers and heifers from various stations.
Stock from northern drought affected regions traveled as far as Gippsland yards, at Bairnsdale and Pakenham, which have featured large numbers of northern cattle.
At Bendigo Monday, the yarding included 17,000 store lambs, offloaded from the Riverina.
