Dannevirke: Rain can't dampen calf-sale buzz

Tristan Gordon knocks down a pen of good quality calves. Photop / Christine McKay

Under cover was the best place to be last Thursday as the rain bucketed down in Dannevirke, resulting in more buyers attending the feeder calf sale at the showgrounds.

"There was plenty of interest, with the prices steady, after dipping during a couple of previous sales," auctioneer Tristan Gordon, of New Zealand Farmers Livestock, said.

With top quality stock on offer, top price of $262 a head was paid for a pen of two bulls from a Pahiatua vendor. A white-faced heifer from the same vendor sold for $145, as did a big calf sold on behalf of S Carlson.

A pen of good quality calves on account of T Last sold for $70 a head.

With prices ranging from $37 for a cross-bred bull calf, through to $55, $65, $70, $80 and $100, there was plenty for buyers to choose from. But the most spirited bidding came for a white-faced bull calf which went for $180 and a pen of four white-faced Friesian bulls which sold for $200 a head.