Buyers favouring quality stock

A medium yarding of prime stock at Charlton last Thursday saw prime lambs stay firm, while there was a slight easing in ewe pricing on the back of the mutton schedule drop.
Typically, at this time of the year, sales are mostly quite small and that certainly was the case at Stortford Lodge last week, with less than 200 cattle and 3000 sheep, mostly lambs, yarded.
A form of "spring-fever" is also showing at most venues, with Hawke's Bay no different, as expectations of a grass growth boom following the more than abundant rain and relatively mild temperatures influence buyer's thinking.
Cattle sold really well at Pukekohe on Saturday August 4, with cows making to $925 and small weaner heifers and steers to $460, Chris Humphrey of Livestock Mart Auctions reported. As is usual for this time of year (mid winter) buyers tend to be very choosey and are prepared to pay for better quality stock. Any cattle of lesser breeding remain harder to sell. NORTHLAND
Another small yarding at KAIKOHE last Wednesday saw the market stay very much on par with previous weeks, Vaughan Vujcich of PGG Wrightson commented, although the focus is certainly starting to turn to the younger and lighter animals.
R3 Angus and Murray Grey-cross steers made $2.20-$2.25/kgLW on the day, while a selection of whitehead, Angus-cross, exotic-cross and Hereford/Friesian 2-year steers were selling for $2.18-$2.25/kgLW.
A light yarding of yearling steers, mainly Angus and Hereford-cross, fetched from $2.60/kgLW to $2.80-$2.90/kgLW for lighter animals.
Yearling beef-cross bulls reached $2.50-$2.60/kgLW, and autumn-born Friesian and Angus-cross bulls made $450-$500.
Two-year heifers were making $2-$2.10/kgLW, and yearling beef-cross heifers fetched $2.30-$2.40/kgLW.
Heavy cows sold for $1.80/kgLW, medium $1.70-$1.75 and lighter $1.50-$1.60/kgLW.
AUCKLAND
Cattle sold really well at PUKEKOHE on Saturday August 4, with cows making to $925 and small weaner heifers and steers to $460, Chris Humphrey of Livestock Mart Auctions reported. As is usual for this time of year (mid winter) buyers tend to be very choosey and are prepared to pay for better quality stock. Any cattle of lesser breeding remain harder to sell.
Medium 2-year steers $870-$995, light R1 steers $490, small crossbred weaner steers $270-$460, medium prime heifers $935, medium R1 heifers $492-$580, weaner heifers $310-$460, boner cows $925.
The best prime steers sold well to $1630 at KUMEU last Monday, and generally the cattle market was quite good, probably helped by fewer cattle on offer, Humphrey commented.
Best prime steers $1025-$1630, other good steers $940, medium R1 steers $510-$630, weaner steers $390, medium R1 heifers $510-$560.
Fat lambs $101-$120, store lambs $60-$85.
COUNTIES
Last Thursday's store cattle auction at TUAKAU drew a small yarding of 285 cattle, Elders agent Craig Chamberlain said.
The sale attracted a big gallery of mainly local buyers, and prices were similar to previous weeks.
Good 2-year steers at 500kg-plus sold at $2.17-$2.32/kgLW and 400-500kg types made $2.18-$2.43/kgLW. Good 1-year steers, 300-380kg, traded at $2.49-$2.82/kgLW, with 200-300kg steers making $2.60-$3.30/kgLW.
In the heifer section, 2-year heifers at 300-400kg returned $2.17-$2.25/kgLW and 1-year heifers, 200-280kg, earned $2.22-$2.60/kgLW.
Last Wednesday's prime cattle sale drew a similar-sized offering of 288 cattle, and again the market remained firm on the previous week.
Heavy steers, 650kg-plus, sold at $2.17-$2.19/kgLW and medium steers, 550-650kg, fetched $2.15-$2.19/kgLW. Trade steers made similar money.
Heavy heifers, 500kg-plus, traded at $2.15-$2.22/kgLW, with the highest rate paid for top quality Angus heifers at 570kg which earned $1267. Medium and trade-type heifers returned $2.14-$2.18/kgLW.
Heavy beef cows earned $1.81-$1.95/kgLW, including a 745kg cow that made $1393. Heavy boner cows traded at $1.66-$1.85/kgLW, with mediums making $1.50-$1.55/kgLW and lighter cows, $1.36-$1.45/kgLW.
Chamberlain said the weekly sheep sale on Monday continued to attract good numbers of prime lambs, with 700-1000 yarded in recent weeks. Heavy prime lambs sold last week earned $115-$130 and mediums, $105-$115. Lighter primes and forward store lambs fetched $95-$104, with medium stores making $77-$90. Heavy prime ewes sold at $65-$80 and mediums made $50-$65.
BAY OF PLENTY
Last week saw an average sized sale at RANGIURU with all classes selling well. Useful R2 steers made $780-$1020, $1.88-$2.26/kgLW, with a pen of 566kg older steers selling at $1240, $2.19/kgLW. Young steers brought good returns, those weighing 250-350kg making $615-$820, $2.21-$2.50/kgLW and 150-250kg lines, $590-$648, $2.95-$3.41/kgLW.
Heifers in the same grades made $560-$800, for the better ones and $560-$570 for 150-200kg lines, $2.94-$3.08/kgLW. Heavy bulls, at 672kg, made $1680, $2.50/kgLW and prime bulls were $1340-$1840, $2.40-$2.63/kgLW. $910-$960 bought the few prime heifers, $1.95-$2.09/kgLW. A short entry of boner cows traded at $1045-$1130 for very heavy, $1.65-$1.83/kgLW, the lighter boners making $445-$600, $1.30-$1.74/kgLW.
Few weaners were penned on Tuesday but bulls made $210-$380 and heifers $80-$250. A decent yarding of prime lambs again sold freely to a high of $120. Trade ewes fetched $81-$101 and a few ewes with lambs at foot, $64 all-counted.
WAIKATO
Lack of numbers and a very steady demand is holding prices for prime cattle at very good levels at FRANKTON. Heavy Angus ox, over 600kg, rewarded vendors with good per kilogram rates of $2.26-$2.33/kgLW to gross $1143-$1438, the highest price of $1483 paid for 690kg Angus-cross, $2.15/kgLW, according to the report from NZ Farmers Livestock. The rest of the ox entry made $1200-$1375, $2.06-$2.21/kgLW.
In the heifer section, solid Friesians went at $1035-$1112, $2.05-$2.08/kgLW. The bench paid more for lighter Angus heifers with 404-420kg lots making $2.21/kgLW, $993-$1200. Whiteface heifers at 510kg made $1111, $2.18/kgLW and $2.10-$2.18/kgLW was paid for other heifers 400-495kg, $840-$1049. Prime cows were scarce, with just three lots entered. They made $1640-$1860, $1-$1.31/kgLW. The heavier boner cows sold at $694-$805, $1.40-$1.64/kgLW and lighter made $500-$562, $1.30-$1.34/kgLW. A heavy line of Simmental bulls fetched $1588, $1.88/kgLW and 460-480 kg bulls made $993-$998, $2.04-$2.16/kgLW.
Sheep values remained steady with good prime lambs making $117-$126 while store lambs were $82-$102, the small types down to $65. Trade ewes brought $85-$97, those requiring more time, $70.
Store cattle are also hard to find and Wednesday's store fixture offered only 30 head. All bar 50 of those were yearlings or weaners. $650-$750 was needed to buy the best of the steers, $2.34-$3.19/kgLW but lighter cost more per kilogram, 118kg Angus selling for $388, $3.29/kgLW and 145kg Hereford/Friesian at $478, $3.30/kgLW. Most yearling bulls were Friesians, the better ones selling at $615-$700, $2.82-$3/kgLW and others at $380-$460, $2.34-$3.69/kgLW. Young heifers were the largest group at 130 head, a very high percentage of these being Hereford/Friesian. $735 was top price, $2.59/kgLW, and many lines brought $615-$688, $2.44-$2.68/kgLW. Those weighing less than 200kg made $402-$525, $3.13-$3.89/kgLW with one 100kg lot making $402, $4.02/kgLW.
Three lots of medium R2 steers brought $950-$1080, $2.33-$2.40/kgLW and four R2 heifers went at $840, $2.30/kgLW. A couple of lots of RWB cows made $755 and $945.
TARANAKI
The market remained strong at STRATFORD last Tuesday, Sandra Engelen of NZ Farmers Livestock reported.
Prime Angus/Hereford ox 593.3kg $2.20/kgLW, prime Angus/Friesian ox 725kg $2.18/kgLW, prime Hereford-cross ox 650kg $2.19/kgLW, empty Friesian heifers 316-510kg $1.39-1.85/kgLW, empty crossbred cows 338.3-555kg $1.53-$1.84/kgLW, empty Friesian cows 397.5-586.4kg $1.51-$1.82/kgLW, empty Jersey cows 455kg $1.50/kgLW, empty Jersey-cross cows 385kg $1.30/kgLW.
In-calf crossbred heifers $1175-$1450, in-calf Friesian-cross heifers $1000-$1500, springing Jersey heifers $1000, in-milk Jersey heifers $1150, in-milk crossbred heifers $950-$1600, in-milk Friesian heifers $1550.
On Wednesday at Stratford, 30-month Hereford/Friesian steers 395-467.5kg made $920-$1000, 30-month Angus/Friesian steers 426.7kg $1000, 2-year Hereford/Friesian steers 400-415kg $960-$980, 2-year Hereford-cross steers 355kg $820, 2-year Shorthorn steers 430kg $990, 2-year Angus/Friesian steers 340kg $810, 2-year Hereford/Friesian bulls 475kg $1030, 2-year Angus/Friesian heifers 335-443.5kg $660-$790, 2-year Jersey heifers 395-467.5kg $580, 2-year Friesian heifers 450kg $900, R2 Simmental-cross steers 376.7kg $895, R2 Hereford/Friesian steers 280kg $660.
Prime Friesian cows 550kg $880, Hereford/Friesian cows 335kg $520, Shorthorn cows 340kg $635, 1-year Hereford-cross bulls 230-280kg $505-$555, 1-year Hereford/Friesian bulls 335kg $770, 1-year Hereford/Friesian steers 225-275kg $570-$710, 1-year Friesian steers 160kg $450, 1-year Shorthorn heifers 305kg $635, 1-year purebred Hereford heifers 223kg $600, 1-year Hereford/Friesian heifers 208.8kg $570, 1-year Hereford-cross heifers 170-230kg $500-$580, 1-year Hereford/Friesian rigs 375kg $800, 1-year Murray Grey heifers 145kg $430.
R1 Hereford/Friesian bulls 160kg $490, R1 Brindle bulls 145kg $290, R1 Angus bulls 105kg $350, R1 Angus/Friesian heifers 145kg $400, R1 Friesian steers 230-280kg $540, R1 Angus/Friesian steers 165kg $500, autumn-born Hereford/Friesian bulls 120kg $500, autumn-born Hereford/Friesian steers 125kg $510, autumn-born Hereford/Friesian heifers 130kg $410.
Mixed-sex lambs $64-$90, in-lamb ewes $135, 2-tooth ewes $61, 2-tooth wethers $61.
POVERTY BAY
Not only Mt Tongariro went off with a bang last Tuesday, but so did the sale of 1222 cattle at MATAWHERO, and to add to the situation around 600 cattle were cancelled because of damaged roads and access problems. One of the bigger crowds for a long time turned out in full sunshine, including buyers from Feilding, Hawke's Bay, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and a good many locals lining up for their share. The main draw-card would have been the very good quality yarding of R2 steers which included an annual draft of 172 head. $1300 was the top price, which was paid for top-quality Angus-cross, truck weighed at 550kg and selling at $2.36/kgLW. Most R2 steers would have been 430-485kg and realised an estimated $2.45-$2.66/kgLW and, apart from one or two smaller lines, all made $1000-$1245.
R2 heifers were also in demand, especially those with condition and/or breeding potential. $930 was paid for heavy Charolais, 430kg, at $2.16/kgLW and very good Angus/Hereford fetched $910, $2.30/kgLW. All the better heifers made $810 and above. Buyers really fronted up for a short entry of R1 steers, the best of which traded at $805, $2.51/kgLW, while medium steers made $600-$760, all of them estimated at $3/kgLW and more. Fewer than 100 R1 heifers came forward but they sold as freely as the steers. $605-$637 was offered for the better sorts, $2.34-$2.46/kgLW, fair average heifers making $505-$590. Some solid older bulls were keenly sought after. R3 Friesians made to $1152, $2.30/kgLW and R2 Friesian-cross were $830-$1000, $2.18-$2.51/kgLW.
Just 59 cows were penned. Eight- and nine-year cows VIC made $830-$870 and a few mixed age cows, also VIC, brought $800-$940.
Buyers were given the chance to select from 1400 store lambs at Matawhero last Friday, in an entry that contained some very well conditioned lines. Locals and associates of the meat trade competed quite vigorously, keeping the whole market at a highly satisfactory level for vendors.
Ewe lambs, most of high quality and with breeding potential as 2-tooths, dominated the numbers. Well grown, well bred ewe lambs topped at $112, a second cut fetching $107 and a small line of mixed-sex from the same vendor headed the list at $118. All medium lambs sold in the $90-$97.50 range. In-lamb ewes were wanted, a pen of SIL 2-tooths selling at $153 and their 4-tooth sisters $150. A couple of small lots of ewes with lambs looked sound buying at $36 and $49 all-counted and store ewes fetched $50-$60.
An increased entry of prime sheep saw heavy lambs go to $122 from $110 while good cutting ewes made $80-$85 and 2-tooth ewes $75-$83.50. 1694 total sheep were penned.
HAWKES BAY
Typically, at this time of the year, sales are mostly quite small and that certainly was the case at STORTFORD LODGE last week, with less than 200 cattle and 3000 sheep, mostly lambs, yarded.
A form of "spring-fever" is also showing at most venues, with Hawke's Bay no different, as expectations of a grass growth boom following the more than abundant rain and relatively mild temperatures influence buyer's thinking.
In the cattle rostrum, interest centred on a modest offering of in-calf cows, an attractive pen of Angus and Angus/Hereford cows, knocked down at $1220 while three other lines of other breeds brought $865-$980. Unusually, all the yearlings penned were Hereford/Friesian. The best of the steers made $860, $2.59/kgLW while buyers offered $760-$788 for steers weighing just under 300kg, $2.72-$2.82/kgLW but it was the light lines that made the most per kilogram, selling at $532-$637, $3.04-$3.09/kgLW. There were only two pens of yearling heifers and they sold at $765 and $615, $2.37 and $2.97/kgLW. R2 heifers sold very well, a top lot of Hereford/Friesian cross weighing 487kg knocked down at $1060, $2.18/kgLW and two other lines, around 400kg returned $905 and $970, $2.26 and $2.31/kgLW. $750 bought 323kg Herefords, $2.41/kgLW. The only R2 steers made $960, $2.39/kgLW.
The Chatham Islands contributed to the tally of store lambs, sending over some well conditioned sorts. The market was generally steady but some quite small lambs did show an increase in value. The heavier male lambs realised $106-$130 and the best of the ewe lambs brought $95.50-$101. Small mixed-sex lambs fetched $87-$91, the slightly bigger ones, $96-$101. A few SIL breeding ewes made $80-$132 and a couple of small lots of ewes with lambs sold $70 and $77 all-counted.
MANAWATU
It was a good sale in RONGOTEA last Wednesday, with 260 cattle yarded, Malcolm Coombe of NZ Farmers Livestock reported.
Two-year steers made $850-$1000, $2.05-$2.15/kgLW, with other crossbred steers selling at $650-$800, $1.75-$1.85/kgLW. Smaller 2-year heifers fetched $600-$750, $1.95-$2.20/kgLW, with some nice 2-year Friesian bulls 455kg making $1090, $2.40/kgLW.
A line of 60 crossbred yearling bulls arrived this week to a good bench of buyers, reaching $480-$550, $2.80-$3.30/kgLW. A few autumn-born weaner bulls made $390-$420, $3.80-$4.05/kgLW.
Yearling heifers sold in the $450-$520, $2.50-$2.60/kgLW range, with a line of Friesian yearling heifers fetching $620, $4.25/kgLW.
Cows with calves at foot made $800-$1000, and some close to profit heifers sold for $750-$900, depending on size.
Mixed sex lambs were $65-$80, with top lines making $145.
750 calves this week saw the calf pens overflowing into the cattle pens. Prices did ease, with top Friesian bulls making $170. A good number of Friesian bulls were in the $90-$120 range, and smaller ones made $50-$80. The top whiteface bull made $245, with a lot around the $170-$200 mark. Smalls made $80-$100.
Top whiteface heifers reached $160-$180, mediums $130-$150, with the smaller ones making $90-$100. The better Friesian heifers fetched up to $240, with mediums $150 and smalls $50-$100.
About 90 calves were sold at the Dannevirke calf sales last week over the two days, Monday and Thursday. Good Friesian bulls made $130-$150, mediums $100, whiteface and beef bulls $220, and whiteface heifers up to $200.
Around 16,000 head were yarded for the Marton hogget fair held at FEILDING last Thursday, Chris Hansen of Elders reported. The top male hoggets sold for $136.50, and the top ewe hogget price was $128.
After that large yarding, only around 5000 head were yarded for the regular sale on Friday, Hansen commented.
The very best of the ewe, young SIL ewes, made $150-$160, and ewes with lambs fetched $79 all-counted. Medium SIL ewes reached $110-$140.
The best of the male lambs sold at $100-$112, with good-medium male lambs making $95-$100.
The top ewe lambs fetched $95-$103, with good lambs selling at $90-$95.
The cattle market at Feilding may have been small, but it was also very strong, Darrin Holm of Elders commented. Two-year steers made $2.40-$2.45/kgLW, and 2-year heifers $2.15-$2.35/kgLW. Yearling steers were up a bit, at $3-$3.40/kgLW, and yearling heifers lifted around 10c, selling at $2.50-$2.80/kgLW. Yearling bulls rounded out the day at $3.-$3.20/kgLW.
CANTERBURY
A smaller yarding of prime ewes met with firm demand at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday.
Heavy prime ewes made $110-$120, medium $90-$105, light $70-$80, store ewes $50-$65.
Heavy prime lambs sold at up to $130, with the odd sale to $130, medium $115-$125, light $100-$110.
A strong store lamb sale saw top lambs fetching up to $111, medium $90-$100, light $75-$85.
Prime steers 457-507kg fetched $2.23-$2.25/kgLW, 610-673kg $2.20-$2.30/kgLW. Prime heifers 462-480kg reached $1.60-$2.11/kgLW, 520-530kg $2-$2.17/kgLW, 595-615kg $1.80-$2.03/kgLW. Prime cows
420-440kg sold for $1.20-$1.24/kgLW, 547-560kg $1.26-$1.42/kgLW, 785kg $1.41/kgLW.
Two-year Hereford-cross steers $700-$940, yearling Herefords $405-$555.
After trying weather conditions leading up to last Thursday's COALGATE sale we were blessed with a spring-like sale day, Glenn Peddie of Peter Walsh & Associates said. There was a larger yarding of sheep with the market similar to the previous week overall. Heavy prime lambs however were back up to $4 with the best making up to $136, medium $115 to $125 and lighter lambs made up to $106.
Prime ewe numbers were higher than past weeks with a lot of medium ewes on offer. Top ewes made up to $105, medium $80 to $90 and lighter ewes made up to $65.
There was an improvement in quality in the store section with better store lambs making up to $105, mediums were between $80 and $90 and lighter lambs up to $55.
In the cattle section prime steers and heifers were similar to the previous week. Steers made up to $2.31kg/LW and heifers $2.25kg/LW. Prime cows made up to $1.38kg/LW (these were dairy types). Prime bulls made up to $2.15kg/LW.
Good numbers of forward R2 cattle were on offer in the store cattle section. These were met with strong demand ranging between $2 and $2.20kg/LW for dairy-cross and up to $2.31kg/LW for beef types.
MID CANTERBURY
Heavy prime lambs dropped in line with the schedule while medium to lighter lambs remained strong at TINWALD. Prime ewes held the values of the previous sale while a small yarding of store lambs sold in a strong market, PGG Wrightson livestock representatives reported.
The best of the heavy prime lambs sold from $125-$131 while medium type lambs earned $110-$124 with lighter lambs selling from $95-$109.
The best of the prime ewes earned $105-$113 with medium types returning $85-$104 with lighter ewes selling from $78-$84.
Good forward store lambs fetched $100-$110 while medium types earned $80-$99 and smaller lambs $60-$70.
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Prime steers and heifers lifted 5c/kg at TEMUKA while the prime sheep market was back on the previous sale. Heavy prime lambs eased in value by up to $5/head while prime ewes were back $5/head for good heavy types. Butcher market ewes also eased an average 3/head but store lambs had a strong sale to hold the values of the previous week, PGG Wrightson livestock manager Joe Higgins reported.
Prime steers 600-850kg earned $2.05-$2.23/kgLW, 450-600kg $2-$2.25/kgLW, 400-500kg $1.99-$2.22 and dairy types 500-620kg $1.90-$2.05/kgLW.
Heifers 500-680kg returned $2.09-$2.24/kgLW, 400-500kg $2-$2.20/kgLW, 380-450kg $1.75-$1.95kgLW and dairy sorts 380-450kg $1.60-$1.8/kgLW.
Bulls 800-1000kg returned $1.60-$1.80/kgLW, 550-800kg $2.20-$2.25/kgLW and lighter types 400-500kg $1.90-$2.15/kgLW.
Heavy beef cows 500-800kg realised $1.48-$1.67/kgLW and dairy types 500-750kg $1.30-$1.47/kgLW with poorer sorts 340-500kg earning $1-$1.37/kgLW.
Forward store lambs fetched $95-$108 while medium types sold from $80-$95 and smaller lambs $60-$80.
Good heavy prime lambs sold from $125-$138, medium $115-$125 and light $100-$112.
Heavy one-shear ewes returned $90-$115, medium $80-$90 and light $65-$73. The best of the adult ewes fetched $87-$121, medium $76-87, medium freezers $65-$75 and light freezer sorts $45-$65.
OTAGO
A bigger yarding of prime lambs at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday sold with good demand, Barry Osborne of PGG Wrightson reported. Prime ewes also sold with good demand and values remained at the same levels as the previous week's sale.
Heavy prime lambs $107-$130, medium $98-$105, light $94. Good quality 2-tooths $88. Heavy ewes $93-$101, medium $82-$91, light $75-$81. Lower condition ewes $35.
A small yarding of store lambs saw values unchanged from the previous week, on limited demand.
Top woolly store lambs $90, medium $80, light $70. Top shorn store lambs $89, medium $78, light $65.
SOUTHLAND
A medium yarding of prime sheep at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday met with firm demand.
Heavy prime lambs $115-$123, medium $105-$112, light $95-$100. Good quality 2-tooths $92-$109, medium $76-$85, light $56. Heavy woolly ewes $95-$120, medium $80-$90, light $60-$75. Lower condition ewes $40-$50, heavy local trade rams $30-$50, medium $15-$25, light $10.
Top woolly store lambs $95-$100, medium $80-$90, light $70-$75. Tail end lambs $60-$65.
A very small yarding of prime cattle at Lorneville also sold on a firm market.
Medium cows 465kg $1.30/kgLW, medium cows 360kg $1.05/kgLW.
A medium yarding of store cattle saw everything meet with very firm demand.
Good R2 Friesian steers 495kg $1020, medium 1-year Angus/Friesian steers 195kg $525, good 1-year Hereford-cross bulls 250kg $580, 1-year Hereford-cross heifers 260kg $580, good R2 Angus bulls 380kg $870.
A medium yarding of prime stock at CHARLTON last Thursday saw prime lambs stay firm, while there was a slight easing in ewe pricing on the back of the mutton schedule drop.
Heavy prime lambs $125-$134, medium $115-$120, light $100-$110. Good quality 2-tooths $90-$100, medium $75-$85, light $70. Heavy woolly ewes $85-$95, medium $70-$80, light $50-$65. Heavy local trade rams $50, medium $30, light $20.
Top woolly store lambs $90-$100, medium $75-$80.
Coopworth mixed-age ewes SIL 175% $208, Romney annual draft ewes SIL 175% $184. Wairere 3- and 4-shear ewes SIL 200% Suffolk Text ram $193, Wairere 4-shear ewes SIL 182% Suffolk Texel ram $187, Wairere annual draft ewes SIL 186% Suffolk Texel ram $168, Wairere annual draft ewes SIL 175% Wairere ram $160.