The first two weeks of spring have seen much needed rain across eastern Australia, with some regions of southern Queensland already receiving close to average falls for the month.

Roma (23mm) and Toowoomba (25mm) also recorded much needed falls.

The best falls were in northern NSW, including Gunnedah (54mm), Tamworth (32mm), Coonabarabran (70mm).

Despite useful rains last week, some parts of southern NSW are still suffering, with more rain urgently required to save crops.

CATTLE:

The rains resulted in a modest 1-2pc rise in national average cattle prices, as yardings fell 6pc and restocker demand strengthened.

The biggest fall in numbers was in Queensland, and in grown cattle, with more producers opting to hold on at current offer prices.

The strongest price rises were for cows and young store cattle.

The EYCI closed the week up 3¢/kg cwt, to 326¢/kg, and the feeder cattle indicator was 3¢/kg lwt higher, to 175¢/kg lwt.

However, beef export processor demand remains particularly weak, with the high A$ and low prices in the key Japanese and Korean markets causing more processors to drop shifts and kill days this week, according to the MLA.

SHEEP AND LAMBS:

In contrast, demand and prices for lambs and sheep remains buoyant.

This, together with the rains, raised restocker and Merino lamb rates by 5-6pc this week, and trade and heavy lamb and mutton categories by 2-3pc..

This was despite a 10pc lift in lamb yardings (to be 12pc higher than last year's equivalent week) and 17pc in sheep numbers.

Lamb numbers yarded remain high in NSW, particularly old lambs, while numbers are well down year-on-year across all other states.

The mild winter has helped lift the quality and weight of new season lambs.