Summer made itself felt at the first Dairy Beef Weaner Sale in December. The local buying bench was buoyed by input from Hawkes Bay, Northland and South Auckland.
Results were varied dependent on type and condition, though Hereford-Friesian and Friesian bulls were strong, with the majority steady to lifting.
Heifers were sold outside, with beef and beef-cross returning $400-$510, though a small line of quality Hereford made $650, and Hereford-Friesian earned $402-$570.
Beef and beef-cross bulls eased with Angus, 107kg, $380, and Angus-cross, 110kg, $490. Hereford-cross, 96kg, earned $335. Hereford-Friesian returns were strong, with those 104kg lifting to $635-$650, and 97kg, $595-$620. Friesian bulls made healthy returns as 155kg lifted to $642, as did 100kg $475-$480.
A limited local buying bench braved the heat last Wednesday to greet a smaller yarding.
There was plenty of quality on offer, but an air of caution both from vendors and purchasers created a steady market for the majority and an easing for some.
Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 435-491kg, were consistent on recent levels, making $2.79-$2.82/kg and Angus-Friesian of similar weight had almost identical returns at $2.77-$2.83/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 456kg, were also consistent at $2.78/kg.
Hereford-Friesian 1-year steers were steady with 310-320kg returning $3.14-$3.21/kg, and 343-351kg, $3.06-$3.13/kg. Angus-Friesian, 356-419kg, eased to $2.78-$2.84/kg, while the heifers, 304-310kg, were steady at $2.78-$2.82/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 305-327kg, eased to $2.71-$2.82/kg.
The 1-year bulls were harder going with buyers thin on the ground at the tail end of the sale, and Hereford, 497kg, eased to $3.04/kg, whilst Friesian bulls, 278kg, were also back at $2.45/kg.
Prime purebred Hereford bulls and cows were well received, making $2000, $2.83/kg and $1430, $2.30/kg respectively.
