The prime sale was dominated by quality cows which could have been sold several times over, such was the level of interest in them. Angus-Hereford, 529-634kg, made $2.20-$2.37/kg.
A line of nine Angus steers, 601kg, were strong at $3.06/kg.
With Mother Nature turning up the temperature, everyone was happy that the sheep section was done and dusted in quick time. The ewe market was strong with lifts shown for most. Heavy ewes made $140-$150.50, medium-good to good $119-$135.50, light-medium to medium $101-$123, and the lighter end $70-$94.
Lambs were mainly all small mixed sex lines and of very good quality. The majority earned $120-$133 with top cuts at $139-$142, and the tail end returned a solid $109.50.
Last Wednesday’s store sheep section began with a mixed quality yarding of ewes and male sheep, most of which had traveled from the Chatham Islands. Ewes were mainly cull types which sold to levels consistent with Monday's market. One line of Romney 2-tooths made $119, while the top lines of mixed age earned $119-$129.50 with the next cuts trading at $105-$110.50. Light ewes made $84-$90, while mixed age wethers sold for $110-$148.
Lamb numbers did increase on the last few weeks, helped by a big consignment from Wairoa as well as Chatham Island's lambs.
Of the 3600 lambs offered 2000 were later-born Romney ewe lambs from one property and sold in two lines. The first pen of 1259 sold for $85 to one local buyer, who also took a run out of the second line of 771 at $80, with the remainder making $83. The rest of the market managed to at least hold, though there was a big variance of lambs between pens. All lines of rams sold for $101-$119.50, with male and wethers earning $94-$109. Heavy lines of mixed sex returned $121-$122, with the balance earning $96-$107, while ewe lambs traded at $80-$100.
Grass and favorable outlooks for beef drove cattle prices, where a long awaited yarding of traditional cattle was offered. A large gallery registered though the lower North Island was particularly dominant in the steer pens.
Most of the R3 steers were either from Wairoa or local and featured mainly black cattle. Angus, 507-512kg, sold for $3.15-$3.19/kg, with Angus & Angus-Hereford, 485-509kg, just slightly under that level at $3.12-$3.14/kg.
Of the 487 R2 steers yarded 65% were either Angus or Angus & Angus-Hereford, with the balance beef-cross and exotic-cross. An exceptional line of 35 Angus made $1440, $3.27/kg, though the second cut at 426kg also reached that level, selling for $3.38/kg. All bigger lines of Angus traded at $1345-$1440, while 371-377kg sold for $1280-$1295, $3.40-$3.49/kg. Angus & Angus-Hereford were also strong and 453-472kg made $3.09-$3.18/kg, with 378-437kg earning $3.27-$3.31/kg. Also offered was a number of autumn-born traditional lines, and most traded at $1045-$1220 for $3.30-$3.53/kg
Heifers also surpassed $3.00/kg as both traditional and exotic lines were subject to keen bidding. A line of light Angus, 304kg, made $3.67/kg, while Angus & Angus-Hereford, 325-400kg, sold for $3.04-$3.08/kg. Exotic heifers were well contested, and top dollar went to 20 Simmental & Simmental-cross, 414kg, at $1290.
Pregnancy testing on dairy farms brought in a larger than usual offering of empty Friesian cows. Two processors competed and 499-570kg sold for $2.04-$2.13/kg regardless of condition, while lighter lines made $1.95-$1.97/kg. Thirteen Hereford-Friesian heifers with calves-at-foot were also sold due to a farm sale and made $1560 per unit, with some calves very young though others competed with the heifers for size.
A small weaner section featured Friesian and Friesian-cross bulls, with all lines weighing in at 88-124kg and selling for $410-$480.
