Manawatu Stock Sales

Feilding Prime Sale Monday November 28

News from New Zealand’s export lamb markets seems to be as unpredictable as the local spring weather, with some positive signs mixed in with negative sentiment. That weather is causing big problems with lamb vendors as spring lambs are simply not developing in the conditions leading to big difficulties for those wishing to draft lambs for slaughter. It is also keeping a cap on lambs offered for sale through this market. The low numbers today encouraged a lift in sale prices by as much as $5/head. Top money today was $125.25 for 40 lambs from Stratheden with Londair Ltd selling the day’s heaviest 59 lambs for $125. The slightly lighter lambs enjoyed the biggest firming and the store lambs were firm also and firmer than last Friday’s store sale. One pen of 62 shorn Romney ewe hoggets sold for $124 but these were definitely suitable for inclusion in a breeding flock.

The saleyards resembled a ewe fair but, after tallying the numbers, ewe entries were a couple of hundred less than last week at just over 4000 but the number of pens had increased. With a little switching from lambs to ewes by some buyers and the usual operators in action, this ewe market was right up to last week and even a little firmer at times. By far, most ewes were graded as medium having reared a lamb or two and more are presenting shorn.

Cattle numbers increased but off a very low base from last week, mostly being extra cows. Even 5 steers were offered this week, these being local trade weighted hereford/friesians that sold for $1274 ($2.80) which seemed reasonable and better than the heifers around the same weight.

The boner cows lifted above the virtually non-existent market of the last couple of weeks and the good cows went above $2/kg again with one big Ayrshire cow selling for $1419 ($2.01).

Only one bull this week, an ayrshire, which sold for $2360 ($2.81).

Sheep (5,071): lambs (832); prime (769), 36-50 kg, $91-$125.25, $2.50-$3.00, lift; store (63), 26-32 kg, $70-$91, $2.70-$3.00, firm; hoggets (171), $37-$124; ewes (3,999); good, heavy, 26-35 kg, $84-$105, $3.00-$3.30, firm; medium, 21-25 kg, $60-$81, $2.85-$3.25, firm; lighter, 16-20 kg, $41-$61.50, $2.60-$3.10, firm; 2ths (24), $44-$71; male sheep (45), $31-$82.

Cattle (49): steers (5), 455 kg, $1274, $2.80; heifers (5), 400-495 kg, $960-$1269, $2.40-$2.59; cows (38); good, heavy, 493-706 kg, $1025-$1419, $1.91-$2.01; boners, 395-550 kg, $667-$1050, $1.69-$1.91, lift; lesser sorts, 270-380 kg, $348-$577, $1.29-$1.55; bull (1), 840 kg, $2360, $2.81.

Feilding Store Stock Sale Friday November 25

Yarded numbers continue to be low and, with more rain forecast for the weekend, feed levels look likely to remain high. At this time last year Feilding sale lamb entries were boosted by lambs sent north to escape the Marlborough drought but, for now, this year lambs are being consigned by those breeders hoping to beat the predicted price fall. Reasonable numbers of lambs were sold in Wairarapa during the week so local buyers have had some choice with over 4200 on offer at Feilding.

Sale prices are still falling and while vendors are taking the money now they are locking in values that simply are not enough. Top money today was $89.50 for 75 mixed sex lambs from Geoff Corpe, Cheltenham, and many of the lambs sold were very small and appealed to those buyers buying to a dollar level.

Sheep (4,749): ewes (60) with lambs (60) at foot, $54; ewes (238), $67-$95; 2ths/hoggets (174); lambs (4,217); 31-36 kg, $76-$89.50, $2.39-$2.71, ease; 16-29 kg, $38.50-$78, $2.22-$2.82, ease.

Another impressive line up of angus two year old steers was put to the buyers. Cattle have been thriving in the local feed levels and these cattle showed that. The Struan Jones Family Trust, Stanway, sold 21 angus two year for $1930 ($2.81) to top the day. These were impressive steers but some of the lesser types may have eased by up to 10 cents/kg. Of interest were two pens of older devon bulls and useful yearling friesian bulls but the heifer section was relatively small for both age groups.

Rongotea Sale Report 23rd November

The sale today saw a big yarding of all classes of cattle with a full rostrum and spirited bidding as the grass market kicks into gear.

3 year beef shorthorn bulls 604 kg made $1770 ($2.93).

2 year beef cross steers 403 kg – 486 kg made up to $1400 ($2.64 $2.88) and cross breed steers 396 kg made $1040 ($2.63).

2 year friesian bulls 318 kg – 430 kg made up to $1190 ($2.53 - $3.06) and hereford bulls 435 kg made $1270 ($2.92). White face bulls 405 kg made $1165 ($2.88) and jersey bulls 445 kg made $1090 ($2.45).

2 year white face heifers 450 kg 523 kg made up to $1445 ($2.31 $2.76) and friesian heifers 380 kg – 410 kg made up to $1030 ($2.41 $2.61).

Yearling white face steers 327 kg made $1050 ($3.21) and friesian steers 235 kg - 305 kg made up to $705 ($2.23 - $2.77).

Yearling friesian bulls 332 kg made $1070 ($3.23) and jersey bulls 321 kg made up to $720 ($2.24).

Yearling white face heifers 355 kg – 375 kg made up to $1030 ($2.75 $2.82) and 260 kg – 282 kg made up to $790 ($2.80 - $2.98). Friesian heifers 231 kg – 340 kg made up to $860 ($2.21 - $2.53) and jersey heifers 342 kg made $650 ($1.90).

Autumn white face heifers 223 kg made $760 ($3.43).

Weaner white face steers 235 kg made $745 ($3.17) and 107 kg – 110 kg made up to $610 ($4.86 - $5.67). Hereford steers 280 kg made $820 ($2.93) and beef cross steers 170 kg made $610 ($3.59).

Weaner hereford bulls 323 kg made $1160 ($3.59). Weaner friesian bulls 166 kg – 255 kg made up to $560 ($2.07 - $3.37), 127 kg made $460 ($3.61) and 90 kg - 114 kg made up to $495 ($3.32 - $4.38). White face bulls 92 kg – 109 kg made up to $477 ($4.39 - $4.81) and cross breed bulls 145 kg made $555 ($3.83). Jersey bulls 84 kg made $235 ($2.80).

Weaner white face heifers 81 kg – 97 kg made up to $390 ($3.59 - $4.83) and angus cross heifers 112 kg made $490 ($4.37). Friesian weaner heifers 167 kg made $375 ($2.24) and cross breed weaners 155 kg made $400 ($2.58).

In milk friesian cows made $875 $1000 and both in calf cows and in calf heifers made $900.

Cows with calves at foot made $780 - $840.

Friesian boner cows 558 kg made $1000 ($1.79) and 400 kg – 420 kg made up to $630 ($1.50 - $1.54). Cross breed boners 725 kg made $1250 ($1.72) and beef cross boners 382 kg – 540 kg made up to $910 ($1.61 - $1.83).

Porkers made $155 - $180 and weaner pigs made $50 - $92. Mixed sex lambs made $59 - $75. White face bull calves made $215 $265 and white face heifer calves made $300- $330. Friesian bull calves made $220 - $250 and angus cross bull calves made $215 - $265.