New season ram sales have been particularly positive with breeders breaking records throughout the country.
PGG Wrightson national genetics manager Callum Stewart reported ram sales to date lifting in prices by an average 10% with some sales up as high as 30%.
Highlights include Meadowslea, Fairlie, where 275 rams sold for an average of $1372, Glengarry Poll Dorset, Feilding, selling 128 rams averaging $1476, Merrydowns, Southland, where 126 Romney rams sold averaging $1585 and 79 Southdowns fetched an average of $1167 in early December. Later in December at Kikitangeo Romney, Wellsford, 112 rams averaged $1948, at Turiroa, Wairoa, 104 terminal rams sold on average at $1164, and Wharatoa, Clydevale, cleared 266 rams of various breeds, averaging $1443.
“Farmers have reaped the benefits of a strong commercial selling season and are prepared to invest those returns to keep improving production.
“Performance and phenotype and FE tolerance are highly sought after with breeders demonstrating good quality genetics receiving exceptional demand.”
Sales results have been consistently buoyant across the country.
“When the market sees quality genetics, farmers are prepared to purchase,” Stewart said.
The absence of rain in several North Island districts is expected to influence the livestock market.
PGW national livestock sales manager Matt Macfie said dry conditions, particularly in the far North and also in King Country, Coromandel and Manawatu, are prompting some farmers to offer store stock earlier than planned.
Hill country in those districts is beginning to look barren and with a lack of feed to graze through the next two months plenty of stock will come to the market sooner rather than later, Macfie said.
“At the same time fluctuating Chinese demand has brought an anticipated price correction.
“Although this was foreseen it has come quicker than expected but farmers operating in this market will still make good money though below the peak levels on offer late last year,” Macfie said.
Buyers were selective as they bid with caution at the first South Island wool sale of the year.
So prices were back 3% to 5% on the closing December sale, PGG Wrightson South Island wool manager Dave Burridge said.
“It would be fair to say the sale opened out on a fairly subdued note with buyers being cautious with their purchases.
“This was a little bit disappointing given the wool was of particularly good quality for this time of year with colour still showing B grades,” Burridge said.
New season lambs’ wool attracted a mixed response with buyers being more selective for well grown styles with low vegetable matter.
A limited offering of mid-micron wool saw keen bidding with buyers wanting to secure volumes on the back of very strong opening wool sales from across the Tasman.
Compared to the previous Christchurch sale on December 19 crossbred fleece 31 to 35 microns at $4.08 a kilogram down to $3.06/kg was 2% to 5% cheaper with crossbred fleece 35 microns and stronger at $2.87/kg down to $2.80/kg, 2% cheaper while crossbred second shear at $2.78-$3.10/kg was largely unchanged.
Mid-micron was 1% to 3% dearer on a limited offering and crossbred lambs’ fleece at $5 to $6.50/kg was up to 5% cheaper with less stylish ones most affected.
Of the 7000 bales offered the pass-in rate was 14%. The next South Island sale is on January 30.
The market remained firm at the Napier sale with the only real issue being the fall in value for the stronger lambs’ wool.
PGW North Island auctioneer Steve Fussell said though wool values are still low there was good bidding from the trade with strong competition between the exporters.
“The PGW catalogue saw excellent support from the bench of buyers at the wool sale.”
Passing was about 5%.
