Manawatu stock sales

Feilding Prime Sale Monday March 27

A big yarding approaching 5000 lambs was taken without the buyers missing a beat. Even some pens of very heavy lambs were sold to competitive bidding with the lambs being way too heavy for meat company requirements amid signs that some companies are becoming more flexible with their weight range parameters.

If there was any sign of weakness in this market it was for the store and forward store lambs that could not match the recent highs or even the levels of last Friday’s store sale. Store lambs have been relatively expensive.

The ewe market carried on its merry way. Sale prices have been firming every week and seemed to lift another few dollars today. Most of the ewes were in reasonable to good condition.

Cow numbers lifted again which should be expected from now on but prices remained at least firm.

The heifers were mostly dairies and sold to firm demand as did the steers.

The very big bulls sold around the $1.80/kg mark and the other bulls sold in narrow ranges depending on breed.

Sheep (6,678): lambs; prime (4,209), 40-60 kg, $107-$142, $2.40-$2.75, firm; store (605), 28-42 kg, $65-$110, $2.40-$2.84, slight ease; ewes (1,721); good, heavy, 26-30 kg, $96.50-$114, $3.70-$4.00, lift; medium, 21-25 kg, $78-$94.50, $3.70-$4.10, lift; lighter, 16-20 kg, $64-$75, $3.70-$4.00, lift; poor, $41; 2ths (17), $95-$117; male sheep (26), $20-$113.

Cattle (234): steers (10), 321-470 kg, $867-$1292, $2.41-$3.02; heifers (44), 295-430 kg, $643-$1168, $2.18-$2.94; cows (163); good, heavy, 430-630 kg, $804-$1272, $1.87-$2.18, lift; boners, 390-600 kg, $628-$1154, $1.61-$2.32, firm; lesser sorts, 280-400 kg, $408-$612, $1.46-$1.53; bulls (17), 320-970 kg, $774-$1755, $1.81-$2.91.

Feilding Calf Sale Monday March 27

A slightly smaller yarding of around 120 calves sold onto the best market so far this autumn calf selling season with a large bench of buyers competing very strongly.

Bulls: friesian; good, $300-$330; medium, $240-$250; W/F; good, $340-$390; medium, $260-$290; char x; good, $325-$435.

Heifers: W/F; good, $350-$365; medium, $300.

Feilding Store Stock Sale Friday March 24

A large yarding of lambs and cattle greeted what turned out to be a reasonably determined group of buyers. The lamb yarding increased again to easily exceed 20,000 head. The lamb sale started on a firm note and picked up speed to the point where the second cuts were again giving the tops a run for their money. Trading margins currently look slim for quick traders but many buyers will be banking on schedule lifts as there definitely seems to not enough lambs to go around.

The cattle sale, again quite large this week, was once more dominated by eighteen month steers and friesian bulls.the demand for steers saw prices lift by another 5-10 cents/kg.

The bulls sold to a steadier demand. The older bulls will be starting to become too heavy for some to winter so they will shift to the younger bulls which were firm today.

A larger yarding of heifers hit the market and prices firmed. Not many heifers have come forward recently and the handful of weaner heifers that closed the sale sold firmly.

Sheep (21,127): ewes (571); 2ths, $84-$118; lambs (20,549); 36-42 kg, $95.50-$113, $2.60-$2.96, firm; 31-35 kg, $94.50-$110, $2.74-$3.30, lift; 26-30 kg, $88-$102, $2.94-$3.62, lift.

Cattle (1,580): steers; 3yr (9), 671 kg, $2015, $3.00; R3 (97), 500-601 kg, $1510-$1870, $3.01-$3.11, firm; R2 (450), 277-494 kg, $1050-$1600, $2.97-$3.79, lift; R1 (35), 114-287 kg, $500-$1005, $3.50-$4.43; bulls; R2 (249), 358-493 kg, $940-$1415, $2.62-$3.23, steady; R1 (229), 131-217 kg, $580-$855, $3.27-$4.80, firm; heifers; R2 (446), 254-447 kg, $885-$1335, $2.74-$3.50, firm; R1 (42), 82-222 kg, $320-$545, $3.78-$4.04.

First Feilding Weaner Fair Thursday March 23

The entries for this weaner fair were less than expected and advertised which would indicate the good feed levels locally that are putting no pressure on breeders to quit stock. As a consequence the weaners were mostly presented in good order, especially the weaner bulls which, although probably younger than the heaviest steers, also showed the benefits of remaining entire. The sale was a triumph for RBO & SJ Craig who sold 8 south devon cross steers for $1290 and 10 angus steers for $1300. Weaner bulls were outstanding and this section was led by the top cut of 14 simmental cross bulls which sold for $1345 ($3.84) with both steers and bulls selling to firm demand.

As usual at the first weaner fairs, the heifers were out of the limelight as the breeders retained their better traditional heifers for possible inclusion in their herds but 6 good charolais cross heifers sold up to $1080 ($3.51) and many heifers also benefited with the general lift in prices for the lighter cattle as buyers tried to keep their market entry prices under control although cents/kg were up for the lighter cattle.

This sale also featured a wonderful fundraising effort for child cancer when Di Hansen sold by auction the shaving of her hair which was completed by Dave Short and his ‘‘Handipiece’’ in the auctioneer’s rostrum.

Total (1,704): steers; exotic (240), 224-364 kg, $875-$1290, $3.32-$4.02; traditional (658), 164-363 kg, $700-$1300, $3.52-$4.89; bulls (381), 157-350 kg, $580-$1345, $3.28-$4.57; heifers (425), 141-311 kg, $380-$1060, $3.24 Rongotea Sale Report March 22 A large yarding of 2 year beef heifers and boner cows dominated the market at Rongotea and a good selection of autumn calves made for some spirited bidding for all classes of cattle.

Three year white face heifers 481 kg made $1300 ($2.70).

Two year white face steers 397 kg 435 kg made up to $1190 ($2.74 - $2.77).

Two year angus bulls 545 kg – 627 kg made up to $1700 ($2.71 - $2.77) and jersey bulls 317 kg made $700 ($2.20).

Two year white face heifers 337 kg – 554 kg made up to $1580 ($2.67 $3.00) and angus heifers 327 kg made $960 ($2.93). Friesian heifers 323 kg – 520 kg made up to $1390 ($2.63 - $2.67) and cross breed heifers 315 kg - 390 kg made up to $970 ($2.22 - $2.59). Jersey heifers 285 kg - 345 kg made up to $715 ($2.04 - $2.07).

Eighteen month white face steers 339 kg – 430 kg made up to $1080 ($2.51 - $3.13).

Eighteen month cross breed bulls 302 kg made $770 ($2.55).

Eighteen month cross breed heifers 335 kg made $870 ($2.60).

Fifteen month friesian bulls 310 kg made $800 ($2.58) and jersey bulls 260 kg made $550 ($2.12).

Fifteen month white face heifers 282 kg made $730 ($2.59).

Weaner angus steers 166 kg made $680 (4.09) and angus cross steers 132 kg - 140 kg made up to $515 ($3.68 $3.79). White face steers 110 kg - 260 kg made up to $770 ($2.96 - $5.00) and belted galloway steers 180 kg made $550 ($3.06).

Weaner friesian bulls 125 kg – 290 kg made up to $900 ($2.97 - $4.16) and cross breed bulls 140 kg – 197 kg made up to $680 ($2.69 - $3.78). White face bulls 144 kg made $600 ($4.17) and jersey bulls 148 kg made $430 ($2.90).

Weaner white face heifers 110 kg – 172 kg made up to $670 ($3.50 - $4.61) and friesian heifers 145 kg made $450 ($3.10). Jersey heifers 142 kg made $360 ($2.54) and jersey cross heifers 205 kg made $480 ($2.34).

Cross breed cows with a calf at foot made $800.

In milk cross breed cows made $855 and in calf cross breed heifers made $680 - $700.

Friesian boner cows 385 kg - 670 kg made up to $1240 ($1.48 - $1.85) and cross breed boners 365 kg – 593 kg made up to $1105 ($1.48 - $1.86). White face boners 667 kg made $1230 ($1.84) and Jersey boners 380 kg - 510 kg made up to $860 ($1.58 - $1.74).

Baconers made $80 and weaner pigs made $60 - $90.

Mixed sex lambs made $51 - $74.