LIVESTOCK sellers are making a return to some SA saleyards, which have been off-limits since COVID-19 hit in March, but other yards are keeping vendors out to ensure social distancing.

Ken Wilcock notes that with the exception of January, beef exports each month have been down on the corresponding month last year.

The accelerating rate of decline in the US beef market is concerning, writes Ken Wilcock.

LARGELY local buyers bid up on a big winter yarding at the Naracoorte combined agents monthly store cattle sale on Thursday, with steers selling for similar rates to last month.

BUYERS and vendors welcomed the chance to return to the cattle market at the SA Livestock Exchange at Dublin after COVID-19 restrictions, with both crowd and livestock numbers up.

Ken Wilcock pays tribute to his old mate Les Clyne.

News this week that the Australian Livestock Markets Association had relaxed its restrictions around vendors being able to attend saleyards and selling centres has been blasted by Blackall-Tambo mayor Andrew Martin.

Ken Wilcock notes that restockers are competing directly with processors in saleyards for medium and heavyweight meatworks-type cows.

Individual Victorian saleyards will have the call on who can attend.

In an unusually-large yarding for June, 2888 store cattle went under the hammer at Mount Gambier on Friday.