Solid national video bull sale
jill.galloway@stuff.co.nz
The first video sale of bulls to replace the Beef Expo event was a solid sale with hundreds of onlookers cramming into the Palmerston North venue last week.
An angus bull, Te Mania Matrix, bred near Cheviot in North Canterbury, made the top price of $35,000. It was the first time bulls were sold remotely at the national bull sales.
PGG Wrightson national standards manager and livestock agent Callum Stewart said the video sale had a good feel, but there were still ‘‘a few things to work on’’.
There was standing room only, in the Palmerston North Function and Convention Centre as about 60 angus, hereford and shorthorn bulls were sold. ‘‘Other breeds were looking on with an eye to coming on board next year.’’
Last year at Beef Expo, the bulls went under the auctioneer’s hammer when they were brought into the Manfeild Park stadium ring, in the flesh.
In the catalogue were eight breeds and 110 bulls.
However, organisers decided it was too expensive to bring bulls into the stadium, set up pens and sell them, and a video auction would future-proof the event.
‘‘It was expensive just to turn on the lights in the stadium,’’ said Stewart.
He said there was not a full clearance at the remote video sale. Prices paid reflected the quality of bulls.
Video links showed bulls walking in paddocks and buyers were able to check them out on the day at an open morning session at bull evaluation units around Manawatu¯ .
Stewart said beef prices were coming off their record levels, but were still solid.
‘‘The whole market is looking sound and very consistent. So the sales were strong, but people are still wary about what they pay, but will pay for the right bull.’’
Top-priced Te Mania Matrix, which is heading to the North Island studs Kauri Downs and Stokman Angus in a partnership deal, was described as a well rounded bull and strong on performance data.
Another angus bull, Ranui 16627, from Whanganui, made the second highest price of $27,500.