What are they thinking?

They seem to wait until Dublin has a good sale with higher prices then rush in the next week only to be disappointed when prices recede.

Two weeks ago, the lamb sale at Dublin was, shall we say, soft.

Prices for heavy trade and heavyweight crossbred suckers in particular copped a hiding, $4.25 a kilogram to $4.35/kg was a common price for a yarding of 10,058 generally good quality lambs.

The following week there were 2000 fewer lambs and reduced quality, and prices suddenly lifted to $4.80-$5/kg.

Surprise, surprise, this week many producers assumed that because last week was good and prices were up it would be a good time to send lambs to sale.

Wrong again. Lambs dropped $7-$13 and plummeted back to the $4.40-$4.60/kg region.

I understand that it is a difficult decision to make and I can't see too many people saying to themselves, 'oh good, the lamb market was $10 easier today I think I'll take a big mob down next week!'.

In some quarters these sorts of sentiments will almost certainly have people seriously questioning your sanity but, in our world, it seems that what goes down one week will almost certainly recover the next.

I know that sometimes sucker lambs just have to go when they're ready and that, in some areas, grass seeds and feed supplies are becoming issues but, a little bit of canny thinking can put a few more dollars in your pocket.

On another note, Dudley Kemp turns 90!

From Roseworthy, Dudley is a man who has done just about everything that anybody can do in the world of livestock.

He has been a sheep and cattle breeder, dealer, carrier, farmer, colt breaker, rough rider, stuntman for movies, shearer, drover and probably a few other things that I've forgotten.

Despite reaching this landmark birthday, Dud still visits the Dublin cattle market every Monday.

* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.