The yarding of 470-head drew a good bench of buyers, with extra power coming from King Country and Waikato.
Prices for steers in the 450-530kg range lifted by10c/kg, with most selling at $3.11-$3.27/kg. The market for 300-420kg steers wasn’t quite as buoyant. Most lots in this range fetched $3.00-$3.15/kg, $940-$1125. However 200-280kg steers sold well, trading at $800-$1060. Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, 120kg, made $650 and 129kg Murray Grey, $575.
Exotic bulls, 430kg, earned $3.06/kg, $1320, and Angus, 275kg, $3.19/kg, $880. A line of Hereford-Friesian autumn-born weaner bulls, 119-135kg, fetched $625-$660.
In the heifer section, a nice line of Charolais, 350kg, made $3.15/kg, with other heifers in the 300-400kg range making $2.80-$3.00/kg. Good Hereford-Friesian weaners, 205kg, sold at $760 and 190kg, $690. Autumn-born Hereford-Friesian, 114-127kg, made $590-$615.
About 330 cattle were presented at last Wednesday’s prime sale. The steer market eased slightly, with good-medium types trading at $3.06-$3.18/kg and lighter $2.92-$3.06/kg. Quality in the heifer section was good. Heavy beef heifers sold at $3.00-$3.15/kg, medium $2.88-$3.00/kg and lighter beef heifers $2.60-$2.85/kg. Dairy-type heifers made $2.20-$2.60/kg and empty Charolais cows, 662kg, $2.58/kg. Other beef cows fetched $2.18-$2.46/kg. A small offering of dairy cows sold well. Well-covered Friesian returned $2.10-$2.39/kg, medium $1.80-$2.08/kg, and lighter boners $1.40-$1.75/kg. A handful of Hereford and Angus bulls earned $2.80-$3.01/kg.
Heavy prime lambs traded at $172-$222 at last Monday’s sheep sale. Medium lambs made $148-$170, and lighter types $130-$148. Store lambs were in short supply, selling for $100-$130. The ewe market remained firm. Heavy ewes earned $150-$189 and medium $120-$150. Lighter ewes sold from $80. About 700 ewes and lambs were yarded.
