Friday, March 29, 2024

ACROSS THE RAILS: Heavier calves, realistic prices for weaner fairs

Avatar photo
The beef weaner fair season is fast approaching and a quick whip around the North Island regions shows that the consensus is that calves will be heavier than last year and prices more realistic. One common sentiment was that if we can avoid a lockdown, we are already doing better than 2020.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

The first real test for the market will be at Stortford Lodge on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Redshaw Livestock agent Dean Freeman says that after last year’s drought and lockdown, there has been more motivation to offload calves earlier, as “this year people are focused to get on and sell”.

“Last year many decided not to sell at the first fair, but as lockdown hit there was no second fair held and that compounded with drought meant for a very tough period,” Freeman said.

Last year 2600 calves sold over the first two-day fair, but this year expected throughput is approaching 3000. That sort of volume should bring out the buyers, especially considering the quality that will be offered.

“We always go into the first fair worried about grass, but buyers will travel when there is a bigger volume on offer that justifies the trip. That sort of volume may make a few sellers nervous, but it will attract the buyers.” he said.

“And while expectations are not high, steer vendors should be happy with values in the early $3/kg range, especially since weights will be better this year.”

While the fair calendar boasts the same sales as last year, there has been some shuffling around to allow for Easter and Anzac Day, as well as some yards opting to start later. 

Feilding will start selling weaners in volume at the end of March, while the Masterton sale yards are ready and waiting for their first run in the second week of March. Agents in both Manawatu and Wairarapa echoed Freeman’s sentiment that calves will be heavier and prices for steers likely to fall somewhere between $3.00/kg and $3.30/kg.

At Frankton, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughn Larsen says they were hoping for the best at their sales in the next few weeks.

“Grass levels are better than last year, which is a bonus, but while the market won’t be worse than last year, there is still a lot of uncertainty around everything,” he said.

Total
0
Shares
People are also reading