A small entry of spring lambs was offered in the prime pens, with these some of the first seen nationwide.
Around 60 spring lambs made an appearance and sold for $150-$171, though hoggets were still the main feature and the market looks set to hold to the end. Most traded at $130-$169, with very heavy lines returning $172-$189. Fresh 2-tooth males made $80-$90, with ewe's up to $110.
Prime ewe numbers crept up as wet-dries come out and this is another market with a silver lining, Heavy ewes achieved $120-$141, with low numbers selling for $106-$118.
A line of 28 light ewes with good lambs-at-foot met keen interest, selling for $91 all counted.
The store hogget section was small and featured shorn Merino's from Tekapo, which sold to good demand. The top line of mixed sex made $116, though most traded at $70-$96.
Two vendors sent in the main lines of the store cattle sale and the bulk of both consignments were 1-year Charolais-cross, with one vendor selling mostly steers, and the other heifers. These cattle were well sought after, and the steers, 320-373kg, returned $1190-$1310, with the top line making $3.51/kg, and lighter, $3.72/kg. The section however was topped by a line of Angus & Angus-Hereford from the same camp, which made $1420 for 418kg.
Charolais-cross heifers, 300-326kg, returned $1075-$1110, with most making $3.58-$3.70/kg, and 203-264kg earned $770-$910. A few other lines also managed to hit $1000.
The prime steer market eased as no lines pushed over the $3.00/kg mark, though 552-566kg did manage to hit it. Other lines of good yield returned $2.86-$2.94/kg, while dairy-cross types made $2.74-$2.80/kg. The best of the heifers managed $2.86-$2.89/kg though were few in number, with most 453-533kg and fetching $2.68-$2.83/kg. Dairy lines returned $2.40-$2.52/kg.
The cow pens were top heavy with dairy cows and prices held despite the bigger number. The better yielding lines in the 534-587kg range made $1.98-$2.00/kg, while lesser types, 549-570kg, earned $1.76-$1.85/kg. One line of beef cows, 655kg, returned $2.14/kg, while lighter dairy dropped to $1.52-$1.64/kg.
