But Pat Cleary from ECM Livestock Moss Vale said this was an “unusual reversal of what usually happens”.

Prices have risen between 10 and 20 cents over the past few weeks.

Mr Cleary said the number of cattle yarded at each week’s sales had also increased from 500-600 a week up to between 850-950 a week.

He said this may well have been due to drier conditions, with people holding onto their cattle and waiting for the rain before selling.

Over the past month, cattle being sold through the Moss Vale yards has been 70 per cent local producers and 30 per cent from outside the area. 

Mr Cleary said if the rain continued, there would be more fat cattle which would keep prices high for awhile, with a shortage of fat cattle in northern NSW and Queensland.

Cattle sold at the SRLX has gone interstate as well as being purchased by local wholesalers.

“It’s positive at the moment. But we’ve got to be aware of sudden dry weather and where the dollar sits,” he said.

“The dollar is currently at 76 cents and if it drops, prices will increase.”

With the world trade price of beef still quite high, Mr Cleary said he believed it would stay that way for awhile, which would benefit Highlands producers.