PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich believed that the large number of cattle offered earlier in the year is affecting the market now, with no room available on farms for more stock. Significant rain has also brought paddocks up to saturation level, but warm temperatures is meaning that grass continues to grow.
Any quality R2 steers managed to sell for a respectable $2.72-$2.82/kg, but lesser types struggled and crossbred sold down to $2.40/kg, with lesser dairy-cross types falling further to $1.80-$2.00/kg. A feature line of R2 Simmental bulls made $2.60/kg, with good beef heifers also at that level. The market got tough again for lesser heifers and $2.00-$2.30/kg was the range for most.
A consignment of quality traditional weaner steers and heifers had plenty of weight though and were good shopping. The top steers weighed in at 340-360kg and sold for $3.05/kg, while the heifers hovered around 300kg and sold for $2.75-$2.85/kg. Other steers earned $2.85-$2.90/kg, while light beef-Friesian heifers struggled at $2.40-$2.60/kg. A nice line of Hereford bulls, 260kg, made $3.60/kg with Friesian and beef-cross earning $2.70-$2.90/kg.
A feature line of capital stock Hereford-cross cows were a highlight, and were joined in the pens by their Angus calves. Keen interest on these resulted in the two lines of 20 head and 14 head making $1210 per unit. Other vetted-in-calf dairy cows sold for $1.80/kg, with empty or run-with-bull dairy and beef earning $1.60/kg.
