An annual draft consignment of 550 R3 steers made up a big chunk of their section, and sold to Manawatu and Central Hawke's Bay. All Angus weighed in excess of 470kg, and the lighter end, 470-475kg, made $3.48-$3.52/kg, and 510-515kg, $3.32-$3.35/kg, putting $1655-$1710 on their heads.
Exotic steers were also in the spotlight as Charolais and South Devon-cross, 480-505kg, made $3.14-$3.19/kg, while lighter lines of Simmental and Charolais, 430-445kg, sold up to $3.37-$3.39/kg.
The R2 market was well contested also, though the Angus steers sold for the same $/kg as the R3 lines. A few lines of Angus hit $1400 as they pushed to $3.43-$3.46/kg. Angus & Angus-Hereford, 340-390kg, returned $3.56-$3.59/kg, while lighter lines did tend to push past $4.00/kg.
The heifer section started off like the males, with quality lines selling to high demand. In this section exotic heifers were the main attraction and Charolais-cross, 290-330kg, reached $3.21-$3.28/kg, while exotic, 340-345kg, made $2.91-$2.94/kg. Demand did ease for lesser lines, and 275-290kg returned $2.76-$2.81/kg.
Bull numbers increased to nearly 300 head and some of the Angus and Angus-Hereford's were destined for the dairy herds at $3.23-$3.24/kg for 260-330kg. Exotic, 220-275kg, sold for $3.13-$3.20/kg, while heavy beef-cross, 435-470kg achieved $2.91-$2.95/kg.
The sale wound up with a small offering of weaner cattle and a line of run-with-bull Angus heifers, 595kg, which sold very well at $1800.
