As the hammer went down on the annual consignment of calves, the Ashburton IHC calf and rural scheme fundraiser hit the record books in more ways than one.
The organisation’s calf prices not only hit record highs but the cattle sale was also the last for Tinwald sale yards, destined for closure this month.
The wet weather failed to dampen bidders’ spirits.
PGG Wrightson livestock manager Greg Cook said it was one of the strongest sales he had seen with the top cut of Friesian and Hereford-Friesian 140kg bull calves fetching $545-$565.
Prices across all types were an average $80-$100 up on recent years with an average sale price of $460.
“It was an exceptional sale with a very strong buyer gallery, buoyed by an abundance of good feed for this time of year.
“It was the sale of all sales, fittingly marking the final cattle sale of all time at these sale yards,” Cook said.
The closing prime and store sheep sale at Tinwald was on December 13.
“It is sad times but great that justice has been recorded in what has been a very long era of selling cattle at Tinwald.”
More than 300 calves were sold with the largest lot being the calf consignment on behalf of Ashburton IHC.
“We have been selling these calves here for 30-odd years and this was certainly a cracker,” he said.
IHC calf scheme national co-ordinator Lynda Young-Kennedy said “It was phenomenal, the highest I have seen in the 20 years I have been involved.
“We have had some very good sales this season, both North Island and South Island, but Ashburton would be tops,” she said.
In recent years the annual fundraiser earned IHC $1.2 million to $1.5m.
Money raised regionally was tagged for the respective local IHC organisation and with 19 sales nationwide a lot of people contributed to the scheme’s success.
“Even with the tough times in the industry farmers and rural communities have stood up and supported us.
“I am humbled. They are in trouble themselves and even still support IHC,” Young-Kennedy said.
AgriHQ sheep and beef analyst Mel Croad said increased demand for fewer cattle was a compounding issue nationwide.
Store cattle had got too expensive with buyers turning to the weaner calf market as a lower entry opportunity.
“That’s what is underpinning and driving the market. We are seeing prices even stronger now, at a time when the market is traditionally in decline.”
Transport limitations following the 7.8 quake were also impacting the market, especially in the North Island.
“Normally we would be pulling South Island contracted calves north but that is not happening due to increased costs and transporting implications.”
The logistics didn’t add up and that was adding pressure on the shortage of cattle in the North Island where there was increasing buyer competition.
“With plenty of feed increasing demand in the South Island the price gap is closing between north and south and that’s another factor impacting on the viability of pulling calves north,” Croad said.
