New Zealand-Cattle markets full report.

NEW ZEALAND-CATTLE MARKETS.

NORTHLAND

A big yarding of cattle at Wellsford on Monday last week sold at values envisaged from a dropping schedule and further drying conditions, PGG Wrightson agent Grant Pallister said.

Steers 500kg and over made $1.70-$1.75 kg/LW, medium dairy beef steers ranged from $1.67 to $1.80 kg/LW.

18-month heifers made $1.58-$1.69 kg/LW, weaner steers $2.07-$2.59 kg/LW and weaner heifers $1.55-$2.35 kg/LW.

At Tuesday’s prime sale again the rising US dollar and short weeks ahead affected the values achieved.

Prime steers sold from $1.71 to $1.78 kg/LW, heifers $1.50-$1.68 kg/LW, light cows $0.51-$0.70 kg/LW, heavy cows $0.91-$1.13 kg/LW and heavy bulls $1.45 to $1.63 kg/LW.

Heavy prime lambs fetched $93 to $100 and mediums $82-$90.

Butchers ewes sold from $65 to $70. Heavy store lambs made $69-$77 and mediums $41-$60.

Falling lamb meat schedules contributed to a decline in prime lamb values, but all other classes of sheep achieved good prices.

Prices firmed a tad at the Kaikohe sale on Wednesday, probably due to the small yarding of 500 to 550 cattle, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich said.

Bigger 18-month steers of the whiteface and Simmental type made $1.80/kgLW, with less sorts $1.70-$1.74/kgLW. Two-year bulls sold around $1.60/kgLW, with weaner beef-cross bulls making $1.65-$1.75/kgLW.

Two-year heifers, including whiteface, Angus, Murray Grey, made $1.65-$1.68/kgLW and weaner beef breed heifers, $1.65-$1.80. Heavy cows made $1.00-$1.03/kgLW and lighter 80-90c/kgLW.

AUCKLAND

A nice line of whiteface 2-year steers sold very well to $905 at Pukekohe on Saturday, April 4, with medium prime heifers to $795 and any quality cattle in very good demand.

However, a high percentage of cattle coming on the market at present are of poorer quality and harder to sell.

Medium 2-year whiteface steers made $890-$905, small crossbred 18-month steers $590-$630, good weaner steers $440-$500, other medium steers $380-$420 and very small crossbred steers $220-$320.

Medium prime heifers realised $665-$795, other heifers $490-$650, medium weaner heifers $320-$410 and small heifers $260-$300.

Boner cows made $490-$520, cows and calves $662, Hereford bull $1095.

Grown cattle sold very well at Kumeu on Monday last week, with steers making $1138 and good weaner steers $592, but it was much harder going on young stock, with plenty of people looking and not buying.

With dry conditions, high dollar and falling schedules, one would think it would be a good time to buy.

Best steers made $1000-$1,138, good weaner steers $592 and other weaner steers $330-$480.

Light prime heifers fetched $570-$650, good weaner heifers $410-$480 and other heifers $265-$395.

Boner cows attracted $512 and bulls $1085.

COUNTIES

The impending Easter weekend and the short killing week meant last Wednesday’s prime sale at Tuakau attracted only a light yarding of prime steers and heifers, PGG Wrightson agent Roy Allen said.

Heavy steers 650kg-plus sold at $1.79-$1.80/kgLW, with 600-630kg steers returning $1.74-$1.78/kgLW and trade-weight steers averaging $1.74/kgLW.

Heavy heifers 550-640kg made $1.74-$1.77/kgLW and 450-480kg heifers earned $1.70-$1.76/kgLW.

Heavy beef cows 700kg sold at $1.20-$1.25/kgLW, with other beef cows making $1.06-$1.13/kgLW. Heavy Friesian cows returned $1.00-$1.16/kgLW and paddock buying support kept prices for younger Friesians at $0.95-$1.00/kgLW.

Other Friesians earned $0.85-$0.90/kgLW, with lighter cows making $0.75-$0.85/kgLW. Jersey cows sold at $0.50-$0.75/kgLW and one 725kg Hereford bull made $1.66/kgLW.

Prime lamb numbers at Monday’s sheep sale last week were also back, but Allen said the market remained firm.

Heavy prime lambs returned $104-$115 and medium lambs made $85-$95. Good store lambs sold at $78-$90 and the ewe market was firm, with good butcher’s ewes selling up to $70 and medium ewes making $60-$65.

Lighter ewes earned $25-$34 and some medium run-with-the-ram 5-year ewes returned $69.

BAY OF PLENTY

More than 1000 head of cattle were penned at Rangiuru last week and generally the market was easier, but only by 3-4 cents/kgLW, Rod Kamphorst of PGG Wrightson said.

Boner cows came out in numbers and 75% of them were "re-cycled", works buyers only picking up the better yielding cows. Less than ideal autumn rainfall is having an effect across most markets.

R3 steers with weight sold well, making $958-$1075, $1.78-$1.86/kgLW, the beef breeds most favoured, while Friesian-cross tended to sell at $745-$790, $1.54-$1.62/kgLW.

There was a good selection of R2 steers and the best of these made $700-$785, $1.65-$1.78/kgLW. Lines less than 300kg sold at $440-$502, $1.25-$1.59/kgLW.

The hype has gone from the weaner market, with steers making $428-$490, $1.94-$2.02/kgLW, although one small line, at 220kg made $518, $2.35/kgLW. Small steers, less than 200kg were probably sound buying at $255-$368.

Weaner heifer values also eased. Better lots over 300kg still recorded $525-$550, $1.67-$1.77/kgLW and 200kg-plus lines fetched $400-435, $1.69-$2.11/kgLW. Hereford/Friesian-cross under 200kg sold at $225-$310, $1.77-$2.52/kgLW.

The highest realisation for R2 heifers was $670, 382kg at $1.75/kgLW, this market steady. Several sales were made around $500, $1.41-$1.61/kgLW. Heavy R3 heifers fetched $820-$845, $1.67-$1.71/kgLW, but a 560kg line fetched $990, $1.77/kgLW, while others were $650-$750.

Weaner bulls lost a little ground, the best selling at $412-$470, $2.12-$2.28/kgLW and lighter at $270-$340, $1.52-$1.81/kgLW.

Small bulls made $125-$282.

In the sheep pens, good trade lambs sold to $111, the offering averaging $86.80 and medium store lambs were $40-$56. Good ewes made to $63.50, but light were down to $15.

WAIKATO

Boner cows are coming out in some numbers at Frankton, although last Tuesday’s prime sale was not a big one. With schedule drops having an effect, cattle price slipped a little.

Nice lines of ox with weights between 650-695kg brought $1153-$1268, $1.77-$1.82/kgLW and 548-580kg lots produced $977-$1256, $1.78-$1.83/kgLW.

Solid heifers were secured for $896-$954, $1.66-$1.67/kgLW and those between 440-495kg sold at $765-$848, $1.58-$1.74/kgLW. The lowest price for heifers was $688.

A short entry of prime cows made $670-$736, $1.09-$1.34/kgLW, but no boner cows realised $1.00/kgLW in spite of the fact many lines weighed over 500kg.

Good lots fetched $521-$547, medium weights $429-$495 and light $318-$362. All were $0.81-$0.94/kgLW except some quite light cows. All bulls offered sold at $1.70-$1.77/kg LW.

In the sheep pens a good entry of prime lambs saw top lots go to $116 with the bottom end making $65.

Store lambs also came out in reasonable numbers, the best price being $105, $35-$50 buying medium lambs. Trade ewes sold to $69.

TARANAKI

Prices eased on a soft market at Stratford last Tuesday.

Prime ox: Friesian 630.8-730kg $1.57-$1.63/kgLW, Friesian-cross 645kg $1.68/kgLW, Hereford/Friesian 635kg $1.75/kgLW, Hereford-cross 580-702.5kg $1.65-$1.76/kgLW, Santa Gertrudis-cross 612.5kg $1.65/kgLW.

Prime steers: Hereford-cross 520-588.3kg $1.62-$1.67/kgLW, Murray Grey-cross 550kg $1.62/kgLW, Angus-cross 580kg $1.68/kgLW, crossbred 540-582kg $1.60-$1.61/kgLW.

Prime heifers: Hereford 535kg $1.25/kgLW, Hereford/Friesian 482.5-610kg $1.62-$1.68/kgLW, Angus-cross 475kg $1.63/kgLW.

Steers, 30-month: Angus/Friesian 455kg $1.67/kgLW

Steers, 2-year: Friesian 480-525kg $1.50-$1.61/kgLW, crossbred 560kg $1.57/kgLW.

Heifers, 2-year: Hereford-cross 377.5kg $1.55/kgLW, Simmental-cross 430kg $1.50kg. Eighteen-month Hereford/Friesian 297.5kg $440.

Steers: Twenty-month Hereford-cross 495kg $1.61/kgLW, 20-month Angus/Friesian 465kg $1.51/kgLW.

Cows: Empty Angus/Friesian beef 495kg $1.00/kgLW, empty crossbred beef 350.7-424kg $0.88-$1.00/kgLW, Hereford beef 420-545kg $1.07-$1.22kg, cr