The weather at present is certainly at the top of farmers' problems.
Usually the dry comes later in autumn but it started very early this year in December and basically it has not rained since, except two small lots of 2ml, a total waste as the wind returned.
Livestock values are holding up reasonably well with a few hiccups.
Dargaville Sale:
A partial report of 37 cattle saw 9-month bulls sell for $800. A cow with three calves made $1330 and a cow and calf made $780. Weaner steers sold for $485, then weaner bulls made $400 to $470 with weaner Angus heifers $450 and Whiteface heifers $390 and $400.
Matakohe Sale:
With the last large entry at Matakohe they had another one of 350 head on Friday, January 13. As the Waikato appears to have a lot more grass than us there were very strong buyers at Matakohe again. Culled service bulls and cows made up a large part of the offering. Heavy 2-year steers made $1400 to $1700. 16-month Friesian cross steers made $980 to $1120. Whiteface weaner steers made $520 to $600 and Friesian weaner bulls made $500 to $600. Good 2-year heifers made $1180 to $1420. 16-month Whiteface heifers made $780 to $900 and Whiteface weaner heifers $465.
Wellsford Sale:
Considering the weather the medium-size offering at Wellsford on Monday, January 16, went quite well, even up a little on last week. The very good offering of 18-month steers mostly stayed in the north. Good steers made $1330 to $1575 (2.55c-2.61c) then $1100 to $1220 (2.78c-2.88c) down to $1000 to $1150 (2.63c-2.96c). 18-month heifers sold for $900 to $1015 (2.48c-2.61c). Weaner steers sold for $702 to $725 (3.10c-3.29c) then $550 to $610 (4.20c-4.98c), weaner bulls fetched $518 to $552 (3.62c-3.89c) and light bulls $410 to $445 (3.62c-3.89c). Weaner heifers sold for $590 to $680 (2.59c-3.95c) then $480 to $500 (3.73c-4.02c).
Tuesday: The few prime cattle sold well on Tuesday with heavy ox selling for $1669 to $2063 (2.60c-2.68c). Heavy cows sold for $1028 to $1760 (1.70c-2.57c) down to $878 to $978 (1.69c-1.86c). Heavy bulls sold for $1779 to $1857 (2.56c-2.58c) then $1034 to $1080 (2.20c-2.24c).
Sheep: The big entry sold well. Prime lambs sold to $81 to $94, then $70 to $75. Store lambs sold for $61 to $71, then $50 to $57, down to $40 to $48. Mixed ewes made $60 to $67, then $50 to $59 down to $37 to $40.
Kauri Sale:
Kauri had a very light entry of 48 mixed cattle on Tuesday, the market was also a bit mixed with some values easing but mostly OK. Good 18-month Murray Grey cross steers made $930, then 15-month Charolais cross steers $930, then $880 down to Whiteface steers for $725 to $780. 1-year Charolais cross heifers $730, Brindle heifers $665. 1-year Whiteface heifers made $585. Weaner bulls sold for $585 down to $520 to $535 and Brindle heifers $445. A 2-year Friesian bull fetched $900.
Kaikohe Sale:
In spite of the dry the 500 cattle at Kaikohe on Wednesday sold reasonably well with steers stronger than last week. Heavy steers sold for $1030 to $1440 (2.53c-2.99c), Friesian cross steers $1020 (2.40c). Good 16-month steers sold for $1205 (3.00c) then Angus/Friesian Whiteface steers $900 to $1090 (2.85c-3.00c) down to Hereford Angus $800 to $900 (2.80c-2.85c). Thirty-month bulls sold for $1225 to $1295 to $1515 (2.30c-2.60c). Friesian weaner bulls fetched $502 to $555 (2.23c-4.04c). Medium weaner steers sold for $530 to $570 (4.07c-4.66c). Two-year heifers sold for $1000 to $1110 (2.60c-2.66c). Good 16-month Whiteface and Friesian/Angus heifers sold for $900 to $1030 (2.60c-2.70c) then $800 to $840 (2.42c-2.52c). Weaner heifers made $480 to $540 (3.45c-4.39c) down to $415 to $480 (4.40c). Heavy empty cows for $950 to $1030 (1.72c) then $800 to $865 (1.60c-1.70c) medium cows fetched $700 to $800 (1.20c-1.40c).
- compiled by Brian Sitcn