Bull sales on course for later start

The young bulls in the Angus R2 bull sales have had to wait a week longer to go to new homes, but they have shrugged off the wet weather and sodden ground, put on a bit more condition and are raring to go, like this guy at Orere Angus. Picture supplied

The rain in the past week may have forced the postponement of East Coast Angus Bull Week but it has not affected the bulls — they have handled the conditions well.

Angus sales were put off a week last Friday and they now begin tomorrow at 2pm at Ratanui Angus at Tuai.

“The ground is totally sodden across the region, but the bulls have hung in there really well,” said auctioneer Neville Clark,

“They have handled the weather and ground conditions, and have come on further, or put on a bit more condition.

“Parking might be a bit tricky at the various on-farm sales tomorrow and next week, but access to all of the studs involved looks OK at this stage.”

Mr Clark said it all looked positive for the rescheduled start of the sales.

After tomorrow’s Ratanui sale the rising two-year-old bull sales season gets into full swing in Tairawhiti on Monday with Bull Week.

Almost all sales will take place on-farm this year, with no combined sale at the Matawhero saleyards this time around.

Angus Bull Week contributed more than $4.2 million to the regional economy last year.

The nine Angus studs in Tairāwhiti — Whangara, Turihaua, Kaharau off Riverside Road, Orere at Pehiri, Tawa Hills at Motu, Tangihau at Rere, Kenhardt at Nuhaka, Turiroa near Wairoa and Ratanui will put up around 380 young bulls for sale in total.

Turihaua will have 75 of them, Kaharau 64, Kenhardt 50, Turiroa 49, Tangihau 45, Whangara 34, Ratanui 33, Orere 24, and Tawa Hills 11.

“From what I have seen there will be one or two bulls in there that could cause particular excitement at auction time.

“They’ll generate a bit of sales atmosphere for sure,” Mr Clark said.

Orere start Bull Week on Monday morning, then Tangihau and Kaharau that afternoon.

On Tuesday Tawa Hills will sell theirs in the Matawhero saleyards rostrum, followed by Whangara and Turihaua.

Kenhardt take their turn

on Wednesday, along with Turiroa.