Monday’s sale was a small affair, but prime lambs sold on a firm market, with prices lifting to $81-$110, with most in the top end of that price range. Store lambs were virtually non-existent with prices ranging from $60to $85. Ewe numbers were low and mainly earned $39-88. One line of in-lamb breeding ewes made $80. Feeder calves were also offered with the average price of $134 and a top price of $370.
A big yarding of 750 prime cattle greeted sale-goers on Wednesday. There was no slowing in boner cow numbers despite Gypsy Day, with 400 offered, and prices eased slightly. Top lines fetched $1.85-$2.18/kg, medium $1.65-$1.85/kg, lighter $1.40-$1.60/kg. A small offering of beef cows made $2.20-$2.27/kg.
A large number of prime steers came out as the colder days become more frequent. However there was plenty of interest and good demand lifted prices 5-10cpk. The better types returned $2.87-$2.88/kg, with an average price at $2.78/kg. Heifers were mainly steady though numbers were low. Prime types fetched $2.70/kg, with most of the offering selling for $2.45-$2.70/kg.
On Thursday numbers lifted four-fold on the previous week. Big lines of steers were the main feature as colder days and wet conditions forced vendors to offload. A full bench of buyers was there, with demand from Northland and South Waikato ensuring good homes were found. Hereford-Friesian steers, 540-550kg, sold well at $2.65-$2.80/kg, while Charolais made a premium at $2.85/kg. R1 steers of same breeding returned $3.30-$3.40/kg. Weaners were very strong because the per-head outlay was favoured, with some lines fetching $4.40/kg.
By comparison heifer and bull numbers were low. R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 400kg, earned $2.70/kg, R1 heifers, 200kg, $770, bulls, 190kg, $620.
