. Sheep numbers last Wednesday continued their seasonally low run, with the highlight being the prime lamb market.
While the quality was there in the cattle prices eased, as many buyers still battle wet paddocks.
A good portion of the steers weighed in excess of 300kg, and exotic lines, 300-346kg, returned $1050-$1135, with the heavier end making $3.28-3.36/kg, and those at the 300kg mark, $3.50-$3.66/kg. Angus prices were equally as strong, and 285-307kg returned $1030-$1090, $3.54-$3.61/kg. Also of note was Hereford-Friesian, $1090, and Hereford, 332kg, $1010.
Good weighted Friesian bulls had a worthy following, with the top line 332kg, returning $1040, while 245-275kg sold for $810-$940, and 208kg, $660. Beef bulls, 214kg, returned $805, and 160kg, $670.
Demand for heifers was solid, and Hereford and Angus-Hereford, 251-261kg, fetched $850-$870, $3.33-$3.39/kg, while beef-Friesian, 344-352kg, returned $1005-$1120.
Around 1700 sheep sold at Te Kuiti on Wednesday, with the low numbers putting pressure on buyers to up their game.
The small ewe offering featured a mix of cull lines as well as breeding. Top cull ewes made $120, and medium $90-$105, while 2-tooths returned $90-$120. Run-with-ram ewes sold for $119.50, and one pen of ewes with lambs-at-foot, $65 all counted.
Prime lambs featured, and heavy lines returned $152-$165, and the remainder $135-$145. Short term lambs were right up with the prime prices, with good males making $129-$139, and ewe lambs, $124. Other medium type lambs sold for $105-$111.
