Manawatu stock sales

Feilding Store Stock Sale Friday February 3

The region received another good soaking of rain during the past week and that, combined with a long weekend, saw a much reduced yarding in both the sheep and cattle sections.

Four pens of ewes that may have sold for more on a Monday Prime sale started the sheep section and there was a large crowd waiting for the lambs. A large proportion of the lamb yarding was from areas that have already been affected by drought conditions and, as a consequence, average lamb weights were noticeably reduced on last week. Sale prices were not affected greatly, however, which would suggest that this lamb market was firm overall. The heaviest lambs were 5kg lighter than last week yet the top price was only $4/head less. The firmest lambs were from the lighter and long term lambs and many of the drought affected lambs did offer a working frame and should perform once back on track with feed ahead of them.

Top price was $90 for 77 shorn, mixed-sex blackface lambs from Inzevar Partnership, Wanganui, and 146 woolly cryptorchid lambs from Woodstock, Peep O’day, opening the lamb section, sold for $89. There is a suggestion of a premium being paid for shorn lambs as the wool industry languishes and male lambs are still outnumbering ewe lambs.

Were it not for more than half the cattle entry being bulls, the cattle sale may have finished before the sheep. It was a very small cattle sale with hardly any steers offered. Of the steers, the Hatuma Farming Co, Waipkukurau, sold 21 Shorthorn cross rising three year steers for $1720 ($2.96) to stand out. The handful of younger steers offered was largely lighter dairy cross and gave no market direction.

There was a range of bull breeds, as has become the norm lately. The older friesian bulls are dying the death of a thousand cuts and easing in line with meat schedules to be selling around the $2.60/kg levels now. Some useful autumn born friesian bulls from Rewa Valley Holdings, Hunterville, sold around the $3/kg levels. The heaviest bulls were the 5 rising three year angus bulls from Grassmere Dairys, Colyton, which made $1750 ($2.80).

There was little to say about a small heifer offering. 5 good rising three year Angus heifers sold for $1720 ($2.68) and 4 eighteen month Hereford/friesian heifers made $1150 ($2.60) but this was a very low-key day and the sale finished early. Stock availability is becoming extraordinarily problematic for this time of year.

Sheep (6,300): ewes (469), $80-$89; lambs (5,831); 36-38 kg, $82-$90, $2.20-$2.48, firm; 31-35 kg, $70-$83.50, $2.11-$2.43, firm; 26-30 kg, $61-$77.50, $2.26-$2.57, firm; 20-25 kg, $45-$71, $2.25-$2.89, firm.

Cattle (428): steers; R3 (39), 572-580 kg, $1695-$1720, $2.96, steady; R2 (28), 355-422 kg, $960-$1230, $2.70-$3.01; bulls; R3 (62), 415-624 kg, $900-$1750, $2.16-$2.80; R2 (132), 251-423 kg, $610-$1092, $2.43-$3.07, steady; R1 (34), 96-147 kg, $430-$570, $2.92-$5.83; heifers; R3 (39), 411-640 kg, $1080-$1720, $2.62-$2.70; R2 (35), 295-442 kg, $755-$1150, $2.15-$2.71; R1 (48), 96-177 kg, $490-$575, $3.25-$5.21; cows (11) & calves, 703 kg, $1570, $2.23.

Rongotea Sale Reports 1st February

This week’s sale saw a good selection of 2 year cattle which sold well to a solid buying bench.

3 year white face heifers 505 kg made $1010 ($2.00) and cross breed heifers 455 kg made$1000 ($2.30).

2 year white face steers 406 kg 502 kg made up to $1385($2.68 $2.99) and beef cross steers 345 kg – 490 kg made up to $1070 ($2.18 $2.85). Cross breed steers 510 kg made up to $1350 ($2.65).

2 year friesian bulls 470 kg – 550 kg made up to $1010 ($2.31 - $2.62) and jersey bulls 420 kg - 590 kg made up to $1510 ($2.22 - $2.58).

2 year white face heifers 371 kg – 508 kg made up to $1380 ($2.45 $2.73) and friesian heifers 435 kg – 462 kg made up to $1010 ($2.14 $2.18).

18 month cross breed steers 432 kg made $1115 ($2.58).

15 month white face steers 265 kg made $500 ($1.89).

15 month angus cross bulls 335 kg made $850 ($2.54) and friesian bulls 288 kg – 397 kg made up to $990 ($2.49). Jersey bulls 345 kg – 407 kg made up to $895 ($2.20) and cross breed bulls 220 kg – 290 kg made up to $580 ($2.00).

15 month white face heifers 192 kg – 285 kg made up to $570 ($1.95 $2.96) and friesian heifers 222 kg made $485 kg ($2.18).

Autumn born beef cross bulls 220 kg made $610 ($2.77) and cross breed bulls 209 kg made $480 ($2.30).

Weaner friesian bulls 122 kg – 193 kg made up to $560 ($2.90 - $3.52) and cross breed bulls 155 kg – 280 kg made up to $560 ($2.00 - $2.06). White face bulls 111kg – 162 kg made up to $650 ($3.47 - $5.08) and angus cross bulls 104 kg made $445 ($4.29). Jersey bulls 120 kg – 137 kg made up to $290 ($2.08 - $2.12).

Weaner white face heifers 109 kg – 155 kg made up to $545 ($2.90 $4.64) and friesian heifers 175 kg made $410 ($2.34).

Friesian boner cows 568 kg – 583 kg made up to $960 ($1.58 - $1.65) and cross breed cows 507 kg made $800 ($1.58). Jersey boners 485 kg made $800 ($1.41).

Porkers made $140 and weaner pigs made $70 - $92.

Mixed age ewes made $63 - $69 and mixed sex lambs made $63 - $98.