Cattle fair prices down from March

These forward two-and-a-half year steers, 12 of them, from IF and JA Storey at Motu, weighed 572 kgs in Tuesday’s Cattle Fair at the Matawhero saleyards and topped the sale at $1710. A second cut of 18 sold for $1605. Overall it was a buoyant Fair. Picture by Trevor Brown

Just over 800 cattle were sent for sale at Tuesday’s Matawhero Cattle Fair and they were all keenly sought by local farmers.

Only a few buyers  were operating from outside the district through Bidr. Prices paid were down slightly on the March fairs.

IF and JA Storey at Motu achieved top price of $1710 for 12  two-and-a-half year steers ($2.99/kg), that required very little finishing.

Their second cut of 18, weighing 532 kgs, sold for $1605.

Turihaua Station Ltd sold eight mixed-age white face cows for $1320; these had been VIC to an Angus bull and weighed 600 kgs.

Grants Panel Shop at Te Karaka received $1260 for a pen of 11-18 month heifers, weighing 439 kgs.

The best price of $1045 for six weaner steers went to Mangahanea Farms, at Ruatōria, weighing 297 kgs.

Bremner Station at Ruatōria received $790 for nine weaner heifers (277 kgs).

That vendor was also paid best price of $1080 for three weaner bulls, weighing 330 kgs.

Prices per kg —

MA cows $2.20 - $2.07; 2.5 year steers $3.17 - $2.99; 18-month steers $3.33 - $3.09; 18- month heifers $2.91 - $2.71; weaner steers $3.62 - $3.30; weaner heifers $2.89 - $2.70; weaner bulls $3.73 - $2.88.

Best prices —

MA cows; Turihaua Station Ltd, 8 (vic), $1320; Bremner Station (Ruatōria), 15 (rwb), $1190, 18, $940; Raroa Station, 4 (rwb), $1180, 19, $990, 4, $710; Kaiwaka, 23 (rwb), $1000, 15, $740.

Two-and-a-half year steers: IF and JA Storey, 12, $1710, 18, $1605; Richmond A4, 6, $1630;  18-month steers: Mangahanea Farms, 8, $1320, 8, $1015; Waituku Holdings, 8, $1310.

Eighteen-month heifers: Grants Panel Shop, 11, $1260, 6, $1140; Pukeroa Station, 22, $1130, 10, $1000.

Weaner steers: Mangahanea Farms, 6, $1045, 9, $845; Homebush Station, 16, $1000, 5, $970, 3, $935, 10, $865, 9, $750; B & C Aigner P/S, 2, $975; Fernside Station, 9, $920, 20, $850, 10, $760; Marotiri Farm P/S, 16, $855, 2, $830, 9, $760.

Weaner heifers: Bremner Station (Ruatōria), 9, $790, 5, $600; Aorangi P/S, 8, $680, 8, $500; B & C Aigner P/S, 6, $660.

18-month bulls: Wairakaia P/S, 26, $1360, 10, $1300; Papatu Station, 13, $1185.

Weaner bulls: Bremner Station (Ruatōria), 3, $1080, 7, $870, 1, $650; Marotiri Farm P/S, 4, $980, 5, $950, 4, $900.