Excellent values, big yarding

BIG YARDING: The sale at Matawhero yesterday attracted more than 2500 head and prices were only marginally below those at the same sale last year. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

THE monthly cattle sale at Matawhero yesterday drew the biggest yarding for a year and excellent values across the 2500 head sold during the day.

Such a large entry coupled wth falling schedules could have seen values ease. But good rain locally and in Hawke’s Bay, together with an outstanding yarding of yearling steers and heifers and good older cattle, plus good interest from western districts, resulted in an excellent sale across the board.

The 2500 head presented included more than 1100 yearling steers.

Most of those were Angus or Angus Hereford cross and reflected the sound breeding programmes of the district’s vendors.

Buyers from many areas competed but Hawke’s Bay and local were hard to stop, although they were chased along by buyers from western areas.

The top sale of $1305 was achieved by Mangaheia Station who sold the first pen of 47 head and accepted $1300 for their next line of 88.

They followed that with $980 for 61 head. The bench enjoyed the luxury of being able to buy in big lines and some lots were 35-106 head.

The yearling steer market retained full strength right to the end where even quite small sorts still made $750-$820.

It was a short entry of two year steers and only four lots in the main section. They all sold well and MJ and JM Charteris took $1572 for 50 well grown Angus cross as well as $1464 for 52 Angus cross.

At the early stages of the sale two year heifers made reasonable money. The Charteris family topped the price list at $1110 for useful Angus while Waitangi/Terrace Station was paid $1005 for Hereford cross.

The Cooper Family Trust made $1035. A few smaller heifers still made $755-$945.

There was also good interest in a consignment of yearling Friesian bulls from Waimaka Station Ltd, which were offered in good sized lines.

Price-wise $790 was paid for 13 head but 104 made $737 and two lots of 48, $755 and $760.

Waitangi/Terrace Station’s beef-bred bulls went at $1152 and $825 while Kia Ora Station took $950 for 50 bulls.

Well grown Charolais yearling heifers from Pukekaka Station exited at $1100 and $975 and other useful heifers traded at $685-$825.

This was a highly successful sale with rates only a fraction behind those achieved last year.