DROUGHT affected farmers are moving to “greener pastures” in the South East, with the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE) seeing bumper numbers in the last financial year.
According to South Australian Livestock Naracoorte livestock manager Will Nolan the increase in yardings at the facility could be pinned to vendors relocating stock to the region, with the Limestone Coast’s “drought proof” reputation a drawcard.
In 2018/19 the NRLE had 521,657 cattle, sheep and lamb pass through its gates compared to 2017/18’s 486,378.
This was an increase of more than $10m in sales from $141m to $152.4m.
The figures also show sheep and lamb numbers were the highest in seven years, with cattle numbers topping the past two financial years as well.
“Producers are probably sending their stock down here due to drier conditions up north,” Mr Nolan said.
“Through autumn and winter prices were as high as they have ever been, so that has probably been a factor as well.
“People who would normally sell direct to the processor were probably going through the saleyards to get that higher price as well.”
With an increase of around 30,000 head of sheep and lamb and 14,000 cattle through the facility, the future is looking bright for the saleyards facility.
Despite promising numbers in the north, Mount Gambier and District Saleyards has experienced a downturn.
The Glenburnie facility recorded a decrease of 25,000 sheep and lamb yarding in 2018/19 compared to the previous year, with numbers dropping consistently over the past year.
The Millicent Stock Saleyards is also facing challenges, with Wattle Range Council last year voting it would close the facility in June 2020 if numbers did not improve dramatically.
Mr Nolan said the Naracorote and Mount Gambier saleyards numbers could not be directly connected.
“We mostly draw out of the Upper South East and West Wimmera areas instead of further south towards Mount Gambier,” he said.
“But we do have every category of stock covered and the saleyards draw a lot of buyers, so that is obviously something vendors look for when selling.
“I think Naracoorte is relatively central for transporting after sales and such, plus it is centrally located to the sheep and lamb producing areas and we have a good reputation for quality and value.
“But I do not think Naracoorte is doing anything any better than Mount Gambier. Mount Gambier is great in its own right and has good stock through the facility.”
In recent years, on-farm sales have become more prominent and although he said this does impact livestock facilities, Mr Nolan believed we would “never see the death” of saleyards.
“Saleyards still determine the price processors will pay for the stock,” he said.
“There are a number of paddock sales and the like, but that comes down to the vendor and the agent determining what the best course of action is for them.
“But that baseline price still needs to be set and that is done through the saleyards.”
