New Zealand-Cattle Markets week ending 24 January 2009.

NORTHLAND

The market was a little back for cattle at Kaikohe last Wednesday, reflecting a slight drop in quality on the previous week, PGG Wrightson agent, Vaughan Vujcich, said.

Thirty-month steers made $1.75-$1.88/kgLW, heavy 18-month steers $1.85-$1.98/kgLW and lighter types $2.00/kgLW.

Eighteen-month bulls went from $1.68/kgLW to $1.78/kgLW and weaner bulls made $320-$325 for the best types and $270 for others.

Good 18-month heifers sold for $1.90-$1.93/kgLW, with lighter lines making $1.78-$1.83/kgLW. Weaner heifers fetched $280-$320.

The best of the cows made $1.15-$1.18/kgLW, with lighter sorts at $1.00/kgLW.

Steers sold from $565 to $1030 at Monday’s Wellsford store sale, heifers making $435-$682. Weaner steers fetched $325-$425, weaner heifers $320-$438. At Tuesday’s prime sale bulls made from $776-$809, steers $740-$975.

Store lambs sold from $47-$66.50, prime lambs $50-$87.50, hoggets $32-$56 and ewes $21-$53.

AUCKLAND

Good-quality older cattle sold really well at Pukekohe on Saturday, January 17. Two-year steers made to $992 and demand for medium yearling heifers was very strong, with buyer support greater than supply.

Weaner cattle too, sold exceptionally well, with prices up considerably on previous weeks. This extra demand was anticipated, as good growing weather and low stock numbers combine to sellers’ favour.

Best prime steers made $1190, good 2-year steers $875-$992, plain crossbred steers $740-$770, medium crossbred yearling steers $520-$630, weaner steers $430-$500 and smaller weaner steers $330-$412.

Medium prime heifers realised $680 to $840, medium yearling heifers $470-$510, other heifers $420-$455, good weaner heifers $360-$400, medium weaner heifers $320-$350 and small crossbred heifers $270-$318. Boner cows made $368 to $725.

With killable cattle numbers down, prices were very good at Kumeu last Monday, the best steers making to$1265.

A large number of 18-month steers sold well in places, as did yearling whiteface heifers which sold to $530.

Good buyer interest generally has been encouraged by recent rains, and with many having taken off hay, pastures will be ideal for grazing.

Best prime steers sold for $1265, good store steers $712-$945, plainer crossbred steers $590-$638 and good yearling steers $580-$640.

Yearling whiteface heifers made $530, small heifers $410-$435 and boner cows $612-$760.

Hereford yearling bulls realised $550.

COUNTIES

Last Thursday’s store sale at Tuakau drew 490 cattle and quality was a little mixed, Elders agent, Craig Chamberlain, said.

The smaller yarding was expected after the previous steer and heifer fairs. The slightly weaker prices paid for the offering of mostly younger cattle were more a reflection of the quality rather than a drop in the market.

"If you take the quality factor into account, prices were actually comparable to what we have seen here in recent weeks."

Most 18-month steers 300-350kg, sold at $1.80-$1.90/kgLW, with weaner whiteface steers 120-160kg, making $380-$440.

Heifers 300-370kg, made good money at $1.82-$1.90/kgLW and 250-300kg sorts returned $1.85-$2.00/kgLW.

Chamberlain said the sale included a good offering of bulls, with Friesian and beef bulls in the 430-470kg range selling at $1.88-$1.95/kgLW. Friesian bulls at 270-420kg made $1.85-$1.94/kgLW and most weaner Friesian bulls earned $270-$300.

He said the Tuakau store cattle market was showing much better strength than the same time last year, due to good grass growth this summer.

The market at last Wednesday’s prime sale was firm, with prices up by around 5c/kgLW across all stock classes. Heavy steers over 600kg, made $1.94-$2.00/kgLW and 500-600kg steers earned $1.83-$1.90/kgLW. Trade steers returned $1.80-$1.84/kgLW.

Heavy heifers over 500kg, sold at $1.80-$1.85/kgLW, with trade-weight heifers 380-480kg, making $1.81-$1.88/kgLW.

Boner cow prices were strong. Most of the heavier cows sold between $1.33/kgLW and $1.45/kgLW and medium cows earned $1.18-$1.25/kgLW. Lighter cows returned $1.00-$1.18/kgLW.

About 700 prime lambs were on offer at last Monday’s sheep sale, with prices ranging from $75 to $105. Store lambs typically yielded $45-$74, with the top ewes selling up to $54 and medium ewes making $35-$43.

BAYOF PLENTY

It was a good market for around 650 cattle at Rangiuru last week, with Waikato and South Auckland buyers showing good interest and local farmers who have good grass supplies also participating.

Yearling and weaner steer values rose, although 2-year steers and yearling heifers were a shade easier as were weaner bulls. Good 2-year steers over 500kg fetched $955-$1002, $1.68-$1.88/kgLW and lines around 490kg made $855-$890, $1.73-$1.90/kgLW.

More than 150 head of yearling steers drew good bidding, the best making $710-$770, $1.88-$2.01/kgLW. Whiteface steers 306-352kg, fetched $600-$690, $1.85-$1.94/kgLW and Friesians just over 300kg made $630-$695, $1.85-$1.86/kgLW.

Weaner steer prices were especially strong, several lines making more than $3.00/kgLW. These were in the 100-122kg bracket and sold for $340-$385. The entire offering of 87 head sold from $300 to $395, $2.78-$3.38/kgLW.

Top yearling heifer price was $645, 345kg at $1.77/kgLW. $532-$590 bought a good percentage of the entry, $1.60-$1.83/kgLW, with a few sales around $480. Two pens of weaner heifers fetched $400, $1.95 and $2.10/kgLW. $310-$370 was paid for weaners 140-190kg, or $2.33-$2.79/kgLW.

Yearling and 2-year bulls values were on a par with recent sales, the better 2-year lines making $905-$965, $1.75-$1.81/kgLW and the best yearling Jersey bulls sold for $745-$805, $2.01-$2.61/kgLW.

Good Friesian bulls made $640-$690, $1.70-$1.78/kgLW and there were cheaper lots at $420-$470. A couple of pens of Hereford weaner bulls rocketed to $825 and $875, $1.73 and $1.86/kgLW, but most weaner bulls made $295-$395, $1.95-$2.59/kgLW according to quality.

A reasonable number of prime lambs made to $92, averaging $82 and good trade ewes sold to $58, averaging $42.

WAIKATO

Prime ox values were steady at Frankton last week, with $1.83-$1.93/kgLW buying all bar one lot which sold at $2.00/kgLW. Ian Thomson of Allied Farmers said two very heavy lots at 905kg and 802kg made $1648 and $1547 respectively.

Ox 730-760kg, sold at $1382-$1442 and those in the 600kg-plus range made $1191-$1390, while less than 600kg realised $1042-$1086.

The heavier prime heifers fetched $924-$1045, $1.72-$1.85/kgLW and 448-488kg heifers made $814-$897, $1.82-$1.84/kgLW.

Some weighty prime cows 590-675kg, brought in $918-$988, $1.36-$1.67/kgLW and 483kg cows made $675, $1.40/kgLW.

$1503 was paid for a 775kg bull, $1.94/kgLW and bulls between 628kg and 680kg returned $1217-$1373, $1.94-$2.00/kgLW. Lighter Jersey bulls at 510kg were $928, $1.82/kgLW.

Most boners were Friesians, the best at 550-580kg selling for $753-$783, $1.35-$1.37/kgLW. Boners 475kg, made $603, $1.27/kgLW and 415-430kg lots went at $437-$533, $1.06-$1.24/kgLW.

Prime lambs met a consistent demand, the best making to $92, the middle weights $80 and lighter lambs $60.

Store lambs sold with the same consistency, $60-$67 buying nice lots and

even the small lambs went to $55. Ewes were $40-$50 and down to $32.

It was a small entry of 400 cattle of mainly average quality at last Wednesday’s Frankton store sale, said Lynn Collins of PGG Wrightson, and there was a general easing across the board in spite of good rain and grass supplies.

Solid 30-month whiteface steers over 500kg made $1005-$1075, $1.91-$1.92/kgLW. $815-$880 secured 444-481kg lines, $1.82-$1.86/kgLW, while $600-$625 was needed for the lots weighing 300kg-plus, $1.82-$1.94/kgLW.

Top money for 15-month steers, at $890, was offered for 450kg Simmental-cross, $1.98/kgLW and several lines made $725-$745, $1.98-$2.14/kgLW.

Useful steers in the mid-300kg range sold at $600-$645, $1.66-$1.76/kgLW and there were sales at $440-$540