Manawatu stock sales

Feilding Prime Sale Monday July 31

Another cold sale day in the prime sheep pens did not force the sale prices down. In fact quite the opposite occurred with a solid lift in all lamb sale prices and a definite firming in ewe prices. A similar number of lambs to last week were yarded but a new and very difficult to beat buyer arrived for this sale and he purchased large numbers. This forced the regular buyers to lift their sights as well and sale prices including those very heavy male lambs that are normally discounted. Evidence of that is in the form of the top prices with Richard Brown selling 51 shorn male lambs for $194 and RD & GT Knight selling 24 for $190 and over 200 lambs made $170 or more. The medium weight lambs did sell for more cents/kg as a rule but such was the increase in heavy lamb prices that the margin closed noticeably.

Store lambs were also strong. Many lamb finishers are struggling to finish lambs in the wintry conditions and a reasonable number of forward store lambs were entered today with probably a new seasonal cents/kg high paid for some pens.

That tempo was not sustained in the ewe pens but prices firmed all the same, especially for the good and medium ewes. Over 600 two-tooths were sold this week.

Yarding numbers usually ease back in August so there should be no supply pressure to force prices into a downwards trend.

Cattle numbers nearly doubled this week as a result of more cows coming forward. The wet conditions probably influenced a few more cows to be culled. The heifers were all dairies with resulting lesser yields and these sold at lower levels than last week and the dairy influence in the steer section kept those prices below Friday levels but they were firm all the same.

One big friesian bull entered by Stuart Fraser sold for $2065 ($2.43).

Sheep (5904): lambs (4,141); heavy prime (1,092), 50-65kg, $123-$194, $2.85-$3.10, lift; medium prime (2,165), 40-50kg, $124-$153.50, $2.90-$3.15, lift; store (884), 23-42kg, $61-$141, $2.65-$3.70, lift; ewes (1,746); good, heavy (148), 26-28kg, $121-$134, $4.65-$4.80, lift; medium (765), 21-25kg, $90-$120, $4.30-$4.80, lift; lighter (194), 16-20kg, $64-$84, $4.00-$4.20, firm; poor, $30-$50; 2ths (639), $52-$115; male sheep (17), $31-$131.

Cattle (89): steers (6); 480-680kg, $1253-$1911, $2.61-$2.89, firm; heifers (7); 427-520kg, $979-$1289, $2.21-$2.48; cows (75); good, heavy, 525-679kg, $1181-$1446, $1.88-$2.25, firm; boners, 437-582kg, $721-$1094, $1.61-$1.88, firm; lesser sorts, 360kg, $471, $1.31; bull (1), 850kg, $2065, $2.43.

Manfeild Park Calf Sale Monday July 31

This was the largest calf sale of the season to date with over 350 calves offered and, with a good bench of buyers. Sale prices remained at recent firm levels.

Bulls: friesian; good, $270-$290; medium, $170-$240; h/fr x; good, $325-$375; medium, $160-$280; a/fr x, $210; ch/fr x, $385.

Heifers; h/fr x; $160-$205; a/fr x, $100-$

Feilding Store Stock Sale Friday July 28

A bitterly cold wind was blowing through the Feilding saleyards, serving to remind those there of the time of year. It may have affected the sale prices as many sections came off recent highs. The scanned in lamb ewe section was comparatively small and prices for these sheep firmed just a little. T & L Hislop, Pahiatua, sold 231 shorn, scanned in lamb 4 & 5 year old romneys for $152.50 with another 64 at $150.

There was a good selection of heavy male lambs including 55 woolly ram lambs from RV Doole, Taihape, which sold for $160.50. These were very heavy lambs and could quite possibly have headed straight to the meat works. Other lines of male lambs sold for $140 plus. But the heaviest ewe lambs could only manage $125 this week when Balig Farm, Pahiatua, sold 120. This indicated what was to follow as the ewe lambs and many of the medium and lighter male lambs just eased slightly overall. Virtually all the main buyers came from the eastern side of the ranges with few locals operating seriously in the muddy conditions. Many lambs are carrying a heavy fleece of wool which is going over the scales as well.

Once again, this week’s offering included some very attractive traditional cattle as well as reasonable numbers of friesian bulls, all what the market prefers. The prevailing conditions just took the edge of cattle prices, though, with many lines also struggling to reach recent highs. The better cattle still attracted plenty of attention. 25 rising three year angus steers from the Kiifhuss Brothers, Patea, sold for $2020 ($3.07) along with 25 angus and angus/hereford cross rising two year steers from Tony Brown, Kimbolton, selling for $1785 ($3.06). 16 rising yearling angus steers from SG & JG Kelly, Taihape, sold for $1100 ($4.11) to show the tops of the steer age groups.

Bulls were steadier. JRW & RA Batley, Taihape, often sells weekly lines of friesian bulls and this week sold 6 for $1780 ($3.15). The yearling bulls were a little lighter this week and included more line of autumnborn bulls in greater numbers.

The heifers probably felt the cold breeze the most and eased more than most. 10 heavy angus heifers from Woodlands Partnership, Feilding, sold for $1345 ($2.88) as few of the heavier heifers could manage $3/kg this week and the highest cents/kg were pegged back more than for other sections. There were some reasonable lines of smaller rising yearling angus heifers that sold well enough.

Some warm drying days will be welcomed by the stock and farming people.

Sheep (11,451): ewes (1079); SIL (850), $116-$152.50; lambs (10,371); 41-60kg, $110-$160.50, $2.62-$3.43, steady; 36-40kg, $109.50-$125, $2.89-$3.41, slight ease; 31-35kg, $107-$125.50, $3.06-$3.59, slight ease; 25-30kg, $81-$102.50, $3.15-3.36.

Cattle (1139): steers; R3 (57), 495-657kg, $1650-$2020, $3.07-$3.33; R2 (277), 280-583kg, $900-$1785, $2.81-$3.45, slight ease; R1 (145), 122-288kg, $405-$1105, $3.32-$4.76; bulls; R2 (125), 370-565kg, $1245-$1780, $2.96-$3.48, firm; R1 (234), 106-304kg, $430-$960, $3.44-$5.42; heifers; R2 & 3 (137), 300-467kg, $910-$1345, $2.76-$3.16, ease; R1 (113), 100-238kg, $365-$845, $2.97-$4.36; cows and heifers VIC (51), 406-524kg, $1040-$1360, $2.27-$2.90.

Rongotea Sale Report 26th July 2017

The sale at Rongotea saw a lift in prices across all lines in the cattle pens and the a big increase in the number of feeder calves as spring calving moves into full swing.

2 year friesian steers 385 kg made up to $1000 ($2.60).

2 year friesian bulls 480 kg made $1260 ($2.62).

2 year white face heifers 375 kg – 467 kg made up to $1200 ($2.50 $2.89), angus cross heifers 495 kg made $1305 ($2.64) and belted galloway heifers 435 kg made$1080 ($2.48). Friesian heifers 309 kg - 426 kg made up to $1025 ($2.23 - $2.46) and ayrshire cross heifers 303 kg made $690 ($2.27).

Yearling red devon cross steers 322 kg made $930 ($2.88).

Yearling friesian bulls 137 kg - 200 kg made up to $745 ($3.72 - $4.82), white face bulls 124 kg - 225 kg made up to $730 ($3.24 - $4.97) and angus cross bulls 150 kg made $610 ($4.07). Cross breed bulls 214 kg – 255 kg made up to $750 ($2.67 - $3.50) and jersey bulls 180 kg – 225 kg made up to $550 ($2.44 - $2.81).

Yearling belted galloway heifers 202 kg made $590 ($2.92) and red devon cross heifers 317 kg made $900 ($2.83).

Weaner white face bulls 165 kg made $725 ($4.39).

Weaner white face heifers 75 kg made $400 ($5.33) and friesian heifers 245 kg made $545 ($2.22).

In calf cross breed heifers made $960 and cross breed heifers with a calf at foot made $900. Weaner pigs made $40 - $127. Ewes with lambs at foot made $65 all counted and mixed sex lambs made $45 - $100.

Big friesian bull calves made $250 - $280, medium calves made $180 $220 and smaller calves made $80 $120. Big white face bull calves made $250 - $290, medium calves made $185 - $230 and smaller calves made $120. Big white face heifer calves made $250 - $300, medium calves made $180 - $220 and smaller calves made $120 - $260.