But what is interesting about the situation is that actual numbers of breeding cows for sale is not immensely different as capital stock lines find themselves leaving the farm gate, effectively replacing the fewer cast-for-age cows that are now on the market.
Volume to sale yards has reduced to levels that have not quantified holding standalone fairs in some regions. Or if these have been held, tallies have generally been down. But more on-farm sales of capital stock cows are what has balanced the equation out, for the meantime at least.
Farm sales to forestry has without a doubt been the main driver and at some stage there will come a time when these capital stock cattle will cease to be available, and then we will really see how many in-calf beef cows and heifers there actually are in the system.
Droughts over the past few years have had a two-fold effect.
In some cases farmers have dug deeper into their herds in a bid to reduce pressure on-farm as much as possible, but many in the past have gone to the processors rather than the yards. However, it is good to note that most of the in-calf cows that have been offered at fairs this season have avoided that fate and returned to farms around the country.
Roll back the clock 10 years and the May fairs for in-calf cows and heifers were very busy days. At Temuka that year, 1060 traditional and exotic heifers and calves were penned, but this year 410 were yarded.
The Wairoa version 10 years ago played host to 1500 head, but this year’s calendared event was cancelled due to stock either not available, being sold on-farm or heading down the road to Stortford Lodge.
Feilding held two fairs in May 2011 and sold a total of 1890. This year the first fair spot was not required, and 160 cows sold at a regular sale day, while the second day held last week offered up 620 heifers and cows.
