Odd lines on offer at strong cattle fair

These rising one-year heifers from the Hone Waitoa Haenga Whanau, at Ruatoria, topped that class at Tuesday’s Cattle Fair, selling for $730. They weighed 322 kg. Overall the sale was a strong one. Picture by Trevor Brown

A total of  945 cattle sold in the Cattle Fair at Matawhero saleyards on Tuesday, in a sale that can best be described as an opportunity for many farmers to sell odd lines, in preparation for winter.

However, there were several pens of rising two-year and three-year steers, which were in keen demand and priced accordingly.

Waitangi Terrace Station sold a pen of eight R3 year steers, weighing 539 kg, for $1720.

Parklands Vineyard Ltd received $1405 for 32 R2 year steers, weighing 401 kg.

Kia Ora Station offered six R2 year heifers, weighing 425 kg and was paid $1200.

Most of the R1 year cattle were later-born and sold in small lots.

Glentui Station, at Tolaga Bay, sold four pens of R2 year Angus bulls and was paid from $1385 down to $930. Both local farmers and out of district farmers were purchasing.

Prices per kg —

R3 yr steers: $3.27 - $3.13; R2 yr steers $3.74 - $3.19; R2 yr heifers $3.36 - $2.47; R1 yr steers $3.82 - $3.23; MA cows $2.18 - $1.62; R1 yr heifers $2.96 - $2.27; R2 yr bulls $3.15 - $3.10; R1 yr bulls $3.17 - $2.71.

Best prices —

R3 yr steers: Waitangi Terrace Station, 8, $1720, 27, $1600, 3, $1320; Kia Ora Station, 3, $1690; McArthur Holdings Ltd, 3, $1600.

R2 yr steers: Parklands Vineyard Ltd, 32, $1405, 14, $1380, 11, $1320; Whakarau Station, 4, $1360, 2, $1140; KJ & RE Fisher, 17, $1350, 30, $1300, 8, $1010; Waitangi Terrace Station, 9, $1315, 17, $1310, 37, $1305, 4, $1260; Tarere 2 Trust, 7, $1240; Mangahanea Farms Ltd, 14, $1235.

R2 yr heifers: Kia Ora Station, 6, $1200, 11, $1200, 4, $1100, 4, $700; Holmdale Farm - McBreen, 11, $1195; Bruce Farming Ltd, 5, $1075.

R1 yr steers: Tarere 2 Trust, 12, $970, 27, $825, 18, $690; McArthur Holdings Ltd, 4, $940; Hone Waitoa Haenga Whanau, 12, $930, 6, $625.

MA cows: Rangiata P/S, 10 (VIC), 10, $1110, 2, $650; Warwick McDonald, 6, $1100; Avenue Trust, 4, $1090; Te Aroha Farming Ltd, 11 (VIC), $930.

R1 yr heifers: Tiki T Waitoa, 2, $755, 4, $670, 16, $625, 5, $370; Hone Waitoa Haenga Whanau, 14, $730, 14, $590, 6, $390.

R2 yr bulls: Glentui Station, 15, $1385, 15, $1200, 26, $1055, 14, $930.

R1 yr bulls: Tiki T Waitoa, 13, $880, 5, $600, 7, $550; Hone Waitoa Haenga Whanau, 9, $810, 8, $605; Marotiri Farm P/S, 21, $790, 29, $660, 21, $570.