The Echuca and District Livestock Exchange will move from fortnightly sales to weekly sales this year.
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Campaspe Shire Council made the announcement on Thursday, January 9, flagging the change as a significant development for local agriculture.
Council sustainability director Michael Sharp said weekly sales would increase the frequency of transactions, providing more opportunities for cattle sales.
“The change marks a positive step towards a more dynamic and responsive livestock market,” he said.
“(It) underscores Echuca and District Livestock Exchange’s commitment to supporting the agricultural community and adapting to the evolving needs of the industry.”
Nutrien Ag Solutions livestock agent Lachie Collins said it was an opportune moment for the change.
“As a stock agent committee, we think it’s the right time to be going weekly with the future of beef in Australia looking very positive,” he said.
“We’re getting somewhere between 12 and 14 buyers there a fortnight now, so as a committee we thought it was the right way to go.”
Mr Collins said the global market for Australian beef was looking strong this year, and it made sense to make more use of the saleyards.
“We've got a very good selling complex there, and we need to utilise it,” he said.
“The right opportunity was there to go weekly with other saleyards within a 200km radius either closing or losing numbers week by week.”
In the past, the saleyards held prime cattle sales every fortnight, attracting an average yarding of about 1000 head per sale, according to the council.
Last year, that number jumped to nearly 1600 cattle per sale, with multiple at-capacity yardings.
Stock agents in Echuca are now drawing cattle from a larger region, which is bringing in more buyers and competitive prices.
The saleyards are among the top 10 in Victoria by volume, with close to 50,000 cattle passing through per year.
The first weekly sale will be on Wednesday, January 15.