Livestock prices have recently dropped from their record highs around the South East.

In the last few weeks, prices have declined 10 to 20 cents a kilogram on both fat and store cattle due to the quality and quantity of animals available.

Mount Gambier Combined Agents past chairman Andrew Whan said it was normal for store cattle to drop in price around this time of year.

“Farmers have not got any extra feed, it is cold and they are feeding out a lot of hay, so they are not buying more cattle and New South Wales can only buy so much stock,” he said.

Me Whan also said numbers were low at the fat store sale and did not think the fat cattle would ease off as much as it had.

“Cattle numbers will not pick up now until August which is to be expected as it is traditionally the quiet time of the year now.”

Mr Whan said abattoirs were also feeling the effects of rising living costs, compounded by a lack of workers due to COVID-19 which was affecting the entire industry.

“Their costs have risen exponentially because their power requirements are huge and that has sky-rocketed in the last quarter due to rising costs,” he said.

“It affects everyone the whole way along the trade because the costs cannot be absorbed so it filters all the way down the line.”

Livestock Buyer Jake Taylor said despite the challenges there was still steady demand for the programmed Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grass accredited cattle.

MSA was developed by the Australian red meat industry to improve the eating quality consistency of beef and sheep meat.

“There are successful market channels for them and decent demand for that product,” he explained.