Prime tallies were similar to the previous week, but both store sheep and cattle numbers were low, with little pressure to offload in these weather conditions. Lamb numbers are trending down to the end of the season also.
There was a small but mighty offering in the prime cattle pens last Monday and quality Angus steers and heifers that had been in overnight were well received. Three steers, 455kg, were strong at $2.98/kg, while their sisters, 423-490kg, lifted to $2.92-$3.00/kg. Cows of the same breeding and 565kg managed steady returns at $2.20/kg.
In the sheep section there was a softer feel to the prime lambs as most eased $2-$10, albeit still with very good returns. Two very heavy male lambs made $200, with other heavy and very heavy lines managing $148.50-$196.50. Very heavy ram and cryptorchid lambs traded at similar levels of $160.50-$181.
Very heavy ewe lambs made up the majority of their section and earned $169-$189, with good to very good types at $139.50-$150.
The ewe market was solid with the majority steady, though the top end showed improvement. Nine very heavy 2-tooth ewes lifted to $152, with medium-good to heavy types steady at $128-$137.50. Very heavy 2-4 tooth lines managed $159, with good types lifting $10 to $132-$140.50, and medium-good at $121-$123.
Top mixed age ewes lifted to $170-$189.50, with other very heavy lines steady at $160.50-$164.50. Heavy types were strong at $147-$150.50, although very good and good ewes softened $3-$6, trading at $127-$140. Light-medium and medium types maintained levels of $110-$119, with a very small lighter end at $76. Five very heavy wethers made strong returns at $185.50.
Chatham Island lambs were omitted from the store lamb line-up last Wednesday, bringing numbers down to 2600. Local buyers dominated the market, though had to pay slightly more than the previous week to do so. The top line of male lambs reached new levels of $169.50 while the market had a firm tone for other heavy lines at $149-$162, and lifted for good types to $138-$145.
Per head buying on the lighter end of the ewe lambs was evident as light through to medium–good types all traded at $115-$138. Good to heavy types sold on a firm market, matching and in some cases surpassing the male prices. Most made $127-$147, with heavier types up to $151-$163.
Mixed sex quality was just that – mixed – and prices reflected that. Good types mainly sold for $128-$136.
The breeding ewe section also reflected a mix of quality, with just a few standout lines, while the remainder were mainly small pens of in-lamb or dry ewes. The feature line was 100 4-year Romney, scanned-in-lamb 140% to a Poll Dorset ram. Good demand pushed the price to $201, while nearly all the lines of dry ewes were picked up by one regular buyer for $100-$125.
Another small yarding of store cattle took little time to sell as decent sized lines of good quality came forward.
Just 131 cattle were offered, of which a third were from the Chatham Islands. The older steers off the boat were a typical cross of beef breeds and at 269kg sold for $2.90/kg, paling in comparison to a line of Angus & Angus-Hereford, 387kg, which made $3.07/kg. Their sisters soon followed and had a 1kg advantage on the boys, though sold at a 17c/kg discount.
A feature line of Angus heifers were well presented and had good weight at 470kg. They sold for $1350, $2.87/kg, while a light line of Hereford-cross from the Chatham's made $3.00/kg though only tipped the scales at 255kg. A specially advertised line of Friesian bulls, 491kg, headed to Taupo for $2.80/kg.
All the R1 cattle were off the boat and by sale end headed off for Wairoa together. Two lines of steers, 163-200kg, made solid returns at $645-$760, with the heifers, 183kg, slotting in the middle at $670.
