The first section of cattle was a bit of a mix of prime and R3 steers and prices were softer than expected, though the quality was not quite there for some lines. The best of the Hereford-Friesian prime steers, 511-713kg, sold for $2.83-$2.94/kg, with a line of 12 pushing to $3.06/kg though was the only one to do so. Store types, 450-496kg, made similar values at $2.93-$3.02/kg.
The R2 steer section was huge, with nearly 580 cattle penned. Quality lines were chased, and Angus, 367-455kg, firmed to $3.04-$3.12/kg. Heavier lines of beef-Friesian, 404-489kg, eased to $2.86-$2.97/kg, but with buyers working to per head budgets as the weight fell away the $/kg came up. Those around the 370-390kg mark started to climb over $3.00/kg at $2.95-$3.04/kg, while 362-365kg Hereford-Friesian pushed to $3.12-$3.14/kg. A small entry of Belgium Blue-cross proved popular and at 361-371kg sold to $3.27-$3.30/kg.
The heifer market was very positive, with a firm tone for most types. Buyers were hard pressed to find many lines of quality cattle under $900, and Hereford-Friesian, 317-385kg, lifted to $2.84-$2.92/kg. Lighter lines of that breed sold to $2.97-$3.03/kg, while Hereford-Jersey, 291-399kg sold over a tight range of $2.71-$2.84/kg.
The advertised yarding of 865 weaners dropped to just over 600 on Thursday as high rivers meant some calves could not make the journey.
The market was phenomenal across both the steer and heifer pens, driven by a strong presence from Manawatu-Wanganui and King Country. Due to the very dry conditions earlier on calves were generally lighter than last year by around 20-30kg, but vendors still made approximately $25-$50 more, while similar weighted exotic calves lifted by up to $100 per head.
Traditional numbers were very low with exotic cattle the main attraction. Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, 195-197kg, sold for $840-$850, $4.31/kg, while heifers, 168-181kg, returned $700-$780, $4.17-$4.31/kg.
Buyers needed at least $1000 for 230kg plus Charolais-cross and Simmental-cross calves. These traded at $1000-$1145 with all Charolais-cross in excess of $4.00/kg and up to $4.35/kg for the lighter end of the weight range. Simmental-cross, 190-252kg, sold to $830-$1075 with $4.23-$4.42/kg the range, while a line of 174kg Charolais-cross pushed to $5.23/kg when they sold for $910.
The market was repeated in the heifer pens and Charolais-cross, 226-264kg, sold for $870-$890 with most making $3.85-$3.91/kg. Most heifers traded at $750-$900, though top honors went to a line of seven Simmental, which at 292kg made $1010.
