Storms building over Undoolya Station. Photo: Supplied

SALEYARD prices have kicked this week as a rain band from the red centre in the Northern Territory to New South Wales brings some optimism, and sees numbers decline in some selling centres.

The biggest falls have been recorded around Alice Springs, with the Todd River running through town and vision emerging of it “raining on the rock” at Uluru. More than 150mm has fallen in the past week in the parts of the north-west corner of South Australia and up to 90mm was recorded in parts of NSW.

Speaking on the Week in Beef podcast yesterday, Shannan Hayes from Undoolya Station east of Alice Springs said February rainfall was up to 214mm on Thursday morning.

“We were looking a bit dire, it was very dry, very hot and just the week before we were moving cattle off places where dams have gone dry,” Ms Hayes said.

“Now those dams are so full we can jet ski on them.”

Ms Hayes said the biggest falls were on Wednesday with 116mm, which was some smaller scuds of rain in the days prior. She said the impact was already showing.

“The green grass has already sprung up, that’s why I think all the creeks have flowed and there’s more flooding because everything was already quite damp,” she said.

“It is very much bringing back the season, I think it is going to be a positive one. Hopefully it now eases into winter.”

Further east, Jervois Station on the Plenty Highway towards the Queensland border received 100mm.

Other significant Central Australian falls over the seven days ended this morning included 176mm at Kalamurina in SA’s northeast corner, 107mm at Mt Barry Station in northern SA; 101mm at Orientos Station in Queensland’s southwestern corner;  and 129mm at Tibooburra, just across the border in northwestern NSW.

Saleyard reports talking optimism

While the rain delivered to parts of NSW was quite patchy, saleyard reports say it has brought some optimism into the market – which has been holding up well under big numbers earlier this month.

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator is up 12c week-on-week to open today 854c/kg carcase weight. Other NLRS indicators were firm with the Feeder Steer Indicator at 464c/kg and the processor cow at 357c.

Numbers were down at the Dubbo Saleyards yesterday, which has been hosting some big yardings above 8000 head this year and went above 10,000 head multiple times last year. NLRS reporter David Monk said the rain certainly knocked numbers around this week, with up to 90mm falling in the drawing area prior to the sale.

Yesterday’s sale offered 4650 head, down by 3800 on last week. Feeder steers were 10c dearer while the feeder heifers were up to 25c/kg dearer. Grown steers were around firm, while grown heifers were up to 20c/kg dearer. Cows were 6-8c dearer with the score 2s and 3s selling from 242-372c/kg and prime heavyweights from 365-392c to average 378c/kg.

In sales held earlier this week, numbers were back slightly at Gunnedah, Tamworth and Wagga.

Qld saleyards still had a busy week with more than 8000 at Roma and 5800 at Dalby.

More rain on the forecast this weekend

Qld is forecast to have its turn this weekend after some scattered showers across most of the southern half of the state, including some dry around dry areas north of Roma.

The system is expected to track north-east this weekend, with most of the state forecast to have more than 50mm over the past week.