Saturday, March 30, 2024

ACROSS THE RAILS: On-farm cattle sales grow in popularity

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The on-farm sale scene is not only reserved for sheep, as they also grow in popularity for South Island cattle breeders and farmers. Recent sales have been well-supported as buyers appreciate being able to purchase high volumes of good quality stock in ‘clean’ lines. 
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Seven-hundred yearling Friesian bulls sold at the third annual Muddy Creek Pastoral, Lauder-Omakau State Highway, and it met expectations, Rural Livestock agent in charge Johnny Girvan reports.

“The sale was delayed by three weeks to suit more buyers, who came from West Otago to Canterbury, though there was no North Island interest,” he said.

“All bulls were purchased as 100kg calves from pure Holstein Friesian cows and that showed through in their growth potential.”

All were good, clean types and at 320-395kg, sold for $2.50-$2.65/kg.

First-time on-farm sale hosts was Argyle Station in Waikaia, an Angus cattle stud that offered up quality home-bred yearling Angus steers.

Rural Livestock’s Paul Mavor says it was a bit of an open day as well, and the vendors were keen to do it again. The steers sold in five lines, varying in weights from 300-410kg. They achieved $950-$1220 with the heavier lines at $3.00/kg and lighter, $3.15/kg. Around 150 travelled to the North Island and the balance headed to Southland.

The week finished at the Fernvale Genetics sale, hosted by the Brenssell family in West Otago. In its fifth year, this sale was also delayed a few weeks to fit better with the late spring and featured 26 two-year Angus steers and 400 yearling steers and heifers.

PGG Wrightson regional livestock manager John Duffy reports the sale was a great success.

“The cattle looked like a picture and while they were not sold over scales, the top yearling steers were farm-weighed at 400kg and heifers 380kg,” he said.

“The cattle were a credit to the vendors, especially considering the trying spring. Their breeding is top notch too, out of Angus bulls from Kakahu Stud and Hereford from Limehills Stud.

“Repeat buyers who came from Otago and Southland though, did meet some new competition.”

The pen of two-year steers sold for $1430, and the top pen of Angus-Hereford yearling steers made $1265. The top Angus reached $1220 and the balance of the yearling steers made $1020-$1130. Top heifers were Hereford-Angus as straight Angus were kept as replacements. These were a two-way option and the two lines put up made $1030-$1130, while two smaller-type lines made $880-$890.

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