Blackall sale cancellation likely to boost numbers for following week

Ray White Livestock Blackall agent Andrew Turner said that would strengthen bookings for the following week, which could be Blackall's last for the year, depending on further rain and supply.

"We've got solid bookings for all lines - PTIC cows, heavy feeders, and heavy fat cows among them," he said.

It's virtually the first breather that the yards at Blackall have had all year, after starting in early February and then calling the sale off the following week because of rain.

Saleyard manager Dave Carter said numbers had tracked along well through the year, finishing the 2020/21 financial year with a throughput of around 209,000 head.

For the 2019/20 financial year, the Blackall yards recorded 220,000 head processed.

Despite last week's rain, a total of 1052 head of cattle were yarded at the weekly fat and store sale on Thursday, where prices remained firm to dearer.

Cattle were sourced from Blackall, Tambo, Aramac, Jericho, Barcaldine and Isisford as well as further north, up to Alice Springs.

As for numbers next year, Mr Carter said a lot of factors were in play.

"We might keep seeing more cattle that are too expensive for the boats," he said.

"Another key will be NSW and the job that Brahman cattle did for them.

"One thing you can say, there's cows out there having plenty of calves."

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