While the store sheep section was small there was still plenty to talk about, and persistent rain did not dampen demand last Monday, as regular Wednesday buyers dipped into the Monday pens in both the cattle and sheep sections.
The prime cattle sale consisted of eight lines, though competition for steers came from both the finisher and processor corners and prices firmed. High yielding lines sold for $3.11-$3.20/kg, with Hereford-Friesian, 740-767kg, making $3.11-$3.16/kg, and Hereford, 700kg, $3.20/kg. Angus & Angus-Hereford traded at $3.09/kg. Cow returns were solid for the limited numbers offered, and the better lines made $2.16-$2.20/kg.
A larger lineup of ewes was matched by increased demand and prices firmed. Over half were heavy to very heavy types and sold for $129-$145, with few lines selling below $100.
Hogget numbers continued to trend down and typically the market would do the same, but it had a firm tone. Line sizes were small, but buyers were astute in their estimated weights with tight per head ranges achieved. Male hoggets with lambs teeth sold for $140-$190, and the best of the ewe hoggets made $144-$163. Interest in longer term hoggets was surprisingly solid, with few lines below $130.
Last Wednesday ewes with lambs-at-foot continued to be a big feature, with Wairoa lines again boosting numbers. A much smaller portion stayed local though as most headed up to Tolaga Bay. The market was firm and good ewes with forward blackface lambs sold to $102-$103.50 all counted, with the next cuts earning $96-$98. A sizable entry of lighter ewes with very young lambs still made good values at $79-$88.
The decline in store hogget numbers continued with just over 1000 penned and while the market is trending down, it is at a slower rate than anticipated. Most male lines were heavy types, 44kg plus, and sold for $143-$164, with mixed sex also in that slot. Heavy ewe hoggets made $128-$157, and longer term lines, $72-$114. Of interest was a line of very heavy ram hoggets, with the hoggets with lamb’s teeth making $175, but the fresh 2-tooths dropping to $63.
A big bench of buyers gathered to secure high quality traditional and exotic store cattle. Manawatu and Central Hawkes Bay were particularly strong, though cattle headed off in all directions by sale end.
Demand for 2-year steers kept prices steady on a fortnight ago, though the very heavy lines, 530-565kg did show a slight improvement to average $3.32/kg, while 435-485kg eased to $3.28/kg. Heifers sold on a very steady market to a wide bench, with Angus & Angus-Hereford, 407-463kg achieving $3.14-$3.22/kg, while beef-Friesian, 353-502kg, traded over a tight range of $2.88-$3.00/kg.
One-year Angus steers, 313-327kg, returned $3.84-$3.90/kg, while Angus & Angus-Hereford, 326-337kg, made steady returns at $3.74-$3.83/kg. Both Angus and Angus & Angus-Hereford, 391-393kg, made similar values of $1310-$1340, $3.35-$3.41/kg, while a consignment of very heavy South Devon, 410-446kg, returned $1330-$1480, $3.23-$3.32/kg.
A wide bench of buyers also secured lines in the 1-year heifer pens, which usually tend to stay more local. Again the market was steady, and featured Angus, 251-262kg, $3.15-$3.24/kg, and Angus & Angus-Hereford, 280-301kg, $3.46-$3.50/kg. A line of 30 Charolais heifers made steer money, selling for $1205, $3.27/kg, while lighter Hereford-Friesian, 153kg, looked very buy-able in comparison at $540, $3.53/kg.
