WHILE the long dry, hot spell of weather is continuing to have serious implications for all, livestock producers are struggling more than most as the shortage of grass impinges further on production levels and more importantly, winter forage supplies.

Add to that the severe shortage of available straw and fodder on the market to buy, let alone the soaring costs, and it is a worrying time for all and even more so when there is no real sign of any significant rain on the horizon.

Granted some producers have offloaded store cattle and cull cows earlier than normal in a bid to save valuable forage supplies, but they have had their fingers burnt as numbers outstrip demand.

Aberdeen and Northern Marts' show and sale at Thainstone, just two weeks ago, was one case in point where an extra 650 cattle were forward compared to the previous year, coupled with a shortage of grass nationwide, and overall averages plummeted by 30p per kg on the year.

"It was hard enough last year in a wet year, but a drought year like this is so much worse. Things are not very cheery up here," said Tim McDonald, Aberdeen and Northern Marts' cattle auctioneer.

"We've got boys in Morayshire already feeding cows this year's silage crop. Some areas of Aberdeenshire did get some rain on Monday night, but it's still really bad in Deeside and Donside. A lot of farmers make two-thirds of their straw and silage requirements and buy the remainder, but this year, I just don't know how they'll be able to justify doing that when they won't be able to grow the amounts they need, or buy it in when you see the prices quoted.

"Last year was wet but farmers always had grass and something to feed their cows even though it wasn't the best quality, whereas this year, they have nothing and cows are real hungry beggars to feed."

He added that with soaring costs for feed and bedding, coupled with store and prime cattle values slipping week on week, and farmers are very much caught between a rock and a hard place.

Store lamb sales could also prove difficult with the shortage of grass not just in Scotland, but throughout the length and breadth of Britain.

"I know a lot of men who would normally buy at the early store lamb sales, are just not going to the sales this year because they just don't have the grass."

John Roberts, cattle auctioneer at United Auctions, also highlighted the increased number of cattle, particularly cull cows, on the market due to the lack of grass and forage, which in turn is putting pressure on the prime market. However, with some welcome thunder plumps in some parts of the south and west of Scotland and some rain forecast for the weekend, the situation is changing day by day, he said.

"There are some cattle being put on the market because farmers don't have the feed for them, but people are holding on to them if they can," said Mr Roberts.

Further south, the situation is a lot more challenging, and while there has not been a huge influx in the number of store cattle coming forward yet through Harrison and Hetherington's sales centres, joint managing director Scott Donaldson, said dairy farmers who would normally finish young bulls are cashing them, in a bid to save forage stocks.

"Everyone with cattle is feeling worried. We would normally have a lot of men buying cast cows to graze, but no one is buying because there is no grass, which is pulling the price down. A lot of farmers would also buy store lambs to put on silage aftermath too, but there is no aftermath this year."

Mr Donaldson also pointed out that the poor spring followed by the drought has had serious implications for sporting estates with reports of cancelled grouse shooting days due to increased mortality.