Strong sale for Meadowslea angus stud
Lively bidding and strong results summed up the Meadowslea angus sale at Fairlie on October 7. However, some buyers went home empty handed as the sale went full clearance to the delight of stud owner David Giddings
On offer were 138 bulls, including two-year-old angus bulls, yearling angus bulls and two-year-old hereford bulls.
Meadowslea focuses on breeding bulls for South Island hill and high country conditions.
The average price across the sale was $2670.
Interest was strong with a top price of $7000 for two-year-old angus bulls brought by Stoneleigh Run of Kimbell and Ben Mclauchlan of Mount Somers. The top price for angus yearlings was $5000 and a two-year-old hereford bull sold for $2900.
PGG Wrightson livestock genetics specialist and senior auctioneer John McKone said Meadowslea offered angus bulls that were ‘‘strongly built, deep set, meaty thick sires’’.
Bidding was strong for the angus yearlings and it was pleasing to see beef clients chasing the calving ease that the animals on offer provided, he said.
‘‘While beef prices are strong, the buyers could still find good value on the day with angus yearling bulls for use in the dairy industry going for between $1600 to $2000.
‘‘However, the best yearlings sold up to $5000 to commercial angus farmers in North Canterbury. Also, three yearling bulls went to stud duty at Ratanui Angus in Tolaga Bay at $4100 and Red Oak Angus in Waipara at $4800. These results are a good endorsement for Meadowslea breeding programme.
‘‘Hereford two-year-old bulls had great support but demand is unsatisfied for the dairy market as they look to cash in on the extra value that hereford-fresian-cross calves are currently making. These bulls sold from $2100 to $2900,’’ McKone said.
Giddings said there were a couple of reasons he held the spring sale
Firstly, farmers making the decision to mate young heifers at the end of the winter will be on the look out for genetics characterised by low birth weight, he said. And secondly, the dairy industry is ‘‘swinging into beef. ’’
‘‘With the downturn in milk prices, the dairy guys are looking for other options. Using a beef bull over all but their replacement stock gives them this.
‘‘Bobby calves are selling well - a beef-cross bobby calf is making $150 at four days old.
‘‘Dairy farmers can take calves through on their dairy blocks and sell them prime.
‘‘If they are 50 per cent angus, they’ll get the angus premium through some of the meat companies. And an angus bull over a friesian cow will produce a polled calf, which is easily identified.’’
Dairy farmers are looking for calving ease and low birth weight from an easy doing bull with good fat covers, he said.
‘‘They also want a quiet, easy handling bull for staff safety. Farmers should choose a bull from a stud operation that selects for temperament.’’