DRY conditions are forcing the hand of producers, who are offloading stock in waves.
As spring rain fails to eventuate, saleyards are being swamped with numbers.
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And it's hitting across the board, with prime, store and even stud stock values all affected by the dry spring.
In Victoria, September's lamb yardings were up 22 per cent on last year.
In its analysis of September statistics, the National Livestock Reporting Service reported a surge in lamb supplies.
"Many producers decided several weeks ago to remove stock from crops, given the improved outlook for grains, and this has tightened available feed supplies and accentuated the increased turnoff throughout September," a spokesman said.
Mutton yardings were also up last month, with an 11 per cent rise in sheep sold through saleyards to kill.
And a spike in producers wanting to clear cattle saw weekly slaughter rates in September jump 39 per cent year on year.
Store markets are also being used by producers to quit numbers of unfinished stock.
Wodonga's fortnightly store sale last week grew from 1500 to almost 4000, with many entries coming in just a couple of days before the fixture.
Elders Albury agent Rod Potter said farmers were responding to the weather.
"It was predicted we would have five days of rain and we got 6mm - so people decided to sell," he said.
Kevin Keenan of Yarrawonga, said a lack of rain and feed would see him clear as many stock as he could.
Last week, he sold steers and cows and calves, yet more will be offloaded soon.
"I can sell now, and even if I buy back in at the same price in a few months, I've saved the cost of feeding them," he said.
Another was Stephen Klimpsch, of Mangoplah, who sold 50 Angus steers to $790 with the balance of those sold making $650-$752.
"We usually sell the steers when they are older, but the way the season is going, we are not going to risk it," he said.
The dry is also hitting ram sales, with producers unwilling to spend on new sires.
Cadell Border Leicesters at Ariah Park sold less than half the flock rams on offer.
Principal Barry Harper said the weather had a big impact.
"The rams that did sell sold quite well but there wasn't the depth of competition or the number of people wanting to buy," he said.
"Things are starting to get tight with the season."
