FLOODING rain in Queensland and NSW isn't expected to dampen northern demand at next week's Victorian new year weaner calf sales.
Farmers around Roma and Miles in Queensland - many of whom operate at the annual sales - received up to 127mm of rain on the weekend.
Forbes in NSW - another selling hot spot affected by floods in recent months - received a further 50mm.
Northern buyers have provided the mainstay of competition at the calf sales in recent years.
Elders Riverina, northern Victoria and Gippsland manager Ron Rutledge said agents had already been approached to find short-term agistment for weaners destined for the north as it recovered from the drenching.
"We can do it and we have spoken about bridging cattle for three to four weeks to help northern buyers to operate," Mr Rutledge said.
The sales begin in the Western District at Hamilton on Monday and in the North East at Wodonga two days later.
Corcoran Parker principal Trevor Parker expected weaner sales such as Wodonga to be less dependent on northern buyers than they had been in recent years.
"There is so much feed around here that we think the locals will do pretty well," Mr Parker said.
He said calves were expected to have similar weights to normal, as the wet weather meant they had not put on dramatically more weight.
Meanwhile, the high prices are expected to rule out opportunistic weaner buying, as agents predict nothing will sell for less than $600.
Mr Rutledge said while Riverina producers may like to buy weaners, the price would see them excluded.
"Sure a couple of people might have a go, but it is a huge outlay to get into weaners if you haven't cashed anything in," he said.
"Pay $700 for a steer weaner, add $100 for costs, $70 for freight and then hope to sell it for $1000.
"It is a big risk for not a huge return.
"Sometimes the best advice for a good season is to do nothing (not buy) and that is the instruction I am getting from many of my clients."
According to Mr Parker it was a case of supply and demand forces at work.
