NORTHLAND
Strong support from King Country and Taranaki buyers was a feature of the weaner steer fair held at Wellsford on Monday last week, PGG Wrightson agent, Grant Pallister, said.
There was keen interest in the 1500 steers offered, with heavy lots making $1.94-$2.33/kgLW, medium $2.03-$2.23/kgLW and small $2.41-$2.82/kgLW.
The weaner heifer fair on Tuesday saw support from South Auckland interests and heavy lines made $1.66-$1.74/kgLW, medium $1.76-$2.22/kgLW and small $2.15-$2.33/kgLW.
The Kaikohe sale on Wednesday was a small one of 500 head leading up to the weaner fairs on March 4 and 11, PGG Wrightson agent, Vaughan Vujcich, said.
Beef cross 18-month steers made $1.75-$1.80/kgLW, with weaner steers $2.10-$2.15/kgLW, 18-month bulls $1.71/kgLW and weaner beef bulls $1.55-$1.75/kgLW.
Whiteface rising 3-year heifers made $1.65-$1.68/kgLW, weaner heifers $1.55-$1.65/kgLW, heavy Friesian cows $1.12/kgLW and light cows 95c-$1.00/kgLW.
COUNTIES
Buyers all but outnumbered cattle at Tuakau last Thursday, PGG-Wrightson agent, Roy Allen, said.
So strong competition resulted in a firm market, with 30-month steers 460-514kg, selling at $1.75-$1.84/kgLW and 18-month steers 380-430kg, making $1.84-$1.93/kgLW. Also on offer were some 134kg weaner steers which sold at $440.
Good 18-month heifers 350-400kg, returned $1.68-$1.74/kgLW and 220-270kg heifers earned $1.88-$2.04/kgLW.
Allen said a special entry of 1600 15-month heifers this Friday, February 27, should bring out the buyers.
Last Wednesday’s prime sale was also reasonably small, with 442 cattle on offer. But even with schedules dropping, the market remained firm, Allen said.
Heavy steers 700-750kg, sold at $1.80-$1.85/kgLW and 620-650kg steers made $1.77-$1.80/kgLW. Some Hereford steers at 550kg earned $1.72/kgLW.
Allen said the light yarding of heifers helped prices, with good exotic heifers at 490kg making $1.75/kgLW and Angus heifers 430-465kg, returning $1.69-$1.73/kgLW. Whiteface heifers 450-500kg, sold at $1.63-$1.65/kgLW.
The boner cow market was 10-15c/kgLW firmer due to the influence of paddock buyers. Beef cows made $1.17-$1.21/kgLW and empty Friesian cows sold up to $1.15/kgLW. Paddock cows returned $0.90-$1.10/kgLW and other cows $0.85-$0.90/kgLW.
Last Monday’s sheep sale drew a smallish yarding of prime lambs. The tops made $90-$106, with good lambs making $85-$90 and mediums $75-$85.
Allen said store lamb prices softened due to the dry conditions and most stores sold between $45 and $60. Good ewes made $55-$60 and mediums $45-$50.
BAY OF PLENTY
Boner cows are coming out in the Bay of Plenty and they comprised a fair proportion of the entry at Rangiuru last week.
Generally, the cattle market was steady, with heavy steers over 580kg making $940-$1150, $1.59-$1.79/kgLW. Steers in the 480kg-plus range made $790-$935, $1.54-$1.76/kgLW, while lighter again were $705-$770, $1.55-$1.72/kgLW.
One line of 496kg heifers topped at $815, $1.64/kgLW and the 400-480kg heifers, the biggest group, fetched to $782 and averaged $689, $1.08-$1.71/kgLW according to quality.
The 250-350kg group of heifers was $340-$490, $1.19-$1.71/kgLW.
Heavy bulls sold well, 659kg making $1180, $1.79/kgLW and another lot at 601kg traded at $1070, $1.77/kgLW, but lighter lots made $1.32-$1.61/kgLW.
Most boner cows were in the 400-480kg range and fetched $362-$490, $0.85-$1.04/kgLW and a few heavier cows made $660-$825, $1.12-$1.16/kgLW.
Solid weaner heifers weighing 256kg made $420, $1.64/kgLW in a very small offering, while a handful of weaner steers went at $330-$360, $1.66-$1.89/kgLW.
Best price for weaner bulls was $430 which sold from $1.50-$1.97/kgLW.
The majority of the sheep entry was prime lambs and these made to $100.50 averaging $66.20 and a few store lambs made $40-$50.
WAIKATO
Per kilogram rates were very consistent at Frankton’s prime fixture last week. Bar one or two lower-yielding lots, all ox traded at $1.70-$1.79/kgLW, two pens weighing over 700kg returning $1319 at $1286 and lots in the 600kg-plus range fetching $1030-$1235.
The exceptions, less than 600kg, still sold at $959 and $915, $1.63-$1.64/kgLW.
Prime heifers too, produced blanket rates of $1.66-$1.69/kgLW to realise $864-$901 for heifers over 500kg and lots weighing 448-483kg brought $758-$810.
Prime cows went to $911 for 815kg, $1.27/kgLW and $1.31/kgLW was offered for 620kg cows which made $812. Light cows fetched $460, 390kg at $1.18/kgLW.
The heavy prime bulls brought $1235-$1389, $1.81-$1.89/kgLW and nearly all boner cows sold between $448-$551, $0.89-$1.04/kgLW.
There was interest in store lambs, mainly medium grade and they sold to $73.50 with others at $50 and $38.
Best prime lambs brought $105.50 and averaged $81.85, plain sorts selling at $46. The demand for ewes continues. Young ewes made to $62.50 while older ewes averaged $51.80.
A very small yarding of store cattle at Wednesday’s store sale still attracted quite good results, with payment according to quality and weight.
Fifteen-month bulls were the largest group and best result was the $850 paid for 505kg whiteface bulls, $1.68/kgLW. Various breeds weighing over 400kg fetched $680-$730, $1.65-$1.72/kgLW and 300-384kg bulls sold at $525-$650, $1.68-$1.74/kgLW. Quite light bulls made down to $255.
Reasonable 30-month steers over 400kg made $775-$800, $1.71-$1.76/kgLW and Heavy 15-month steers at 512kg made $895, $1.74/kgLW. $770-$805 secured steers over 400kg, $1.67-$1.78/kgLW and under-300kg brought $490-$530, $1.68-$1.81/kgLW.
A couple of lines of weaner steers exceeded $2.00/kgLW to bring in $440 for 216kg sorts and $265 for a 122kg lot , $2.04-$2.18/kgLW, the others selling at $1.83-$1.72/kgLW.
One pen of South Devon cows weighing 656kg went at $830, $1.27/kgLW and some were down to $0.92/kgLW.
Useful 30-month heifers fetched $625-$695, $1.43-$1.65/kgLW and the best of the 15-month heifers were $568-$650, $1.68-$1.70/kgLW. Less than 300kg heifers made $500-$530, $1.73-$1.80/kgLW.
TARANAKI
The market remained steady at Stratford last Tuesday despite the falling schedule with a good bench of buyers for farming cattle.
Ox: Prime Hereford cross 585-610kg, $1.62-$1.72/kgLW, prime Hereford/Friesian 570-720kg, $1.75-$1.81/kgLW.
Steers prime: Hereford-cross 562.5-580kg, $1.66-$1.67/kgLW, Friesian-cross 590kg, $1.72/kgLW, Hereford/Friesian 525-570kg, $1.67-$1.73/kgLW, Angus/Friesian 525kg, $1.65/kgLW, Friesian 705kg, $1.74/kgLW, Murray Grey 525kg, $1.69/kgLW, Angus-cross 585kg, $1.69/kgLW.
Steers, 2-year: Angus/Friesian 505kg, $1.56/kgLW, Friesian 461.3kg, $1.54/kgLW, Simmental-cross 436.7kg, $1.67/kgLW, Hereford-cross 440-447.5kg, $1.41-$1.71/kgLW.
Heifers prime: Hereford/Friesian 370-565kg, $1.48-$1.68/kgLW, Hereford-cross 397-440kg, $1.35-$1.54/kgLW, Murray Grey 490kg, $1.61/kgLW, Friesian 590kg, $1.53/kgLW, Charolais 520kg, $1.64/kgLW, Hereford 486.3-580kg, $1.40-$1.60.5/kgLW, crossbred 520kg, $1.53.5/kgLW, Simmental 435-545kg, $1.50-$1.70/kgLW, Angus 430kg, $1.56.5/kgLW.
Heifers, 2-year Hereford cross 340-433.3kg, $1.54/kgLW, 2-year Angus/Friesian 415kg, $1.54/kgLW, store Friesian, 417.5-577.5kg, $0.88-$1.00/kgLW, empty Jersey 351.3-430kg, $0.82-$0.86/kgLW, empty Friesian 310kg, $1.00/kgLW, empty crossbred 420-462.5kg, $0.92-$0.99/kgLW.
Cows, beef: Hereford 470-585kg, $1.00-$1.34/kgLW, Hereford/Friesian 615kg,
$1.19.5/kgLW, Red Devon 625kg, $1.36/kgLW, Belted Galloway 470kg, $1.03/kgLW.
Cows, store: crossbred 475kg, $0.96/kgLW, Jersey 381.7-400kg, $0.70-$0.77.5/kgLW, Friesian-cross 410-520kg, $0.83-$0.96.5/kgLW.
Bulls: 3-year Hereford, 715-840kg $1.56-$1.94/kgLW, 3-year Jersey 511.7-595kg,
$1.60-$1.78/kgLW.
Bulls, 2-year: Simmental-cross 552.5kg,$1.81/kgLW, Friesian 507.5-600.6kg, $1.63-$1.81/kgLW, Angus 602.5-635kg, $1.84
