Australian Livestock Auction Action Eases

SYDNEY - Aug 17/07 - SNS -- Livestock sold through online auctions managed by AuctionsPlus Pty Ltd slipped during the past week on a general increase in offerings.

Throughput for the week totalled 26,465 sheep and lambs, versus 29,338 head during the previous week's auctions, and 3,302 head of cattle, compared to 3,451 last week.

"How long do you sit on the knife edge? Growers have confronted this dilemma more in the past few years than is healthy. Its a question which would be tantalizing for grain and livestock growers alike," AuctionsPlus's Dean Lemmich said.

"Do you eat the crop or take a punt? Do you buy coming into spring before it rains to avoid the price surge? In the case of beef producers its particularly vexed, given that we've been busting for the Australian dollar to come off and it has. However the paradox is beef values have gone down as quickly as the dollar."

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here