Nearly 700 cull ewes were sold early in the sale for grazing ewe purposes with no premium for wool and a handful of hoggets went through to little interest.
Every week lately, good numbers of very forward, traditional steers, both two year old and yearling, are offered and this week was no exception.
Eleven Charolais cross bullocks from Grayson Hyde, Palmerston North, sold for $1910 ($2.87) and the top pen of this week's entry from Tony Brown, Kimbolton, 20 Angus/Hereford cross two year steers made $1765 ($3.10).
Two year steers firmed again on the back of solid demand with traders continuing to sell older steers and re-enter the yearling steer market.
They have to pick their targets in the yearling steer section to lock in a margin with these younger cattle also selling well. AJ Hall, Colyton, returned $1400 ($3.53) for 20 Angus/Hereford cross yearling steers to lead this section ahead of his mate's steers on either side.
Bull values are usually driven by numbers. Eight two year old Friesian bulls from Lightburn Ltd, Tokomaru, were nearly the day's heaviest cattle and sold for $1770 ($2.89) but the yearling bull market eased.
The best of the yearlings was the pen of 15 Friesians from Wairongo Partnership, Palmerston North, which sold for $1310 ($2.91).
These were heavier than the rest of the yarding which included lighter Jersey bulls at lower cents/kg.
Heifers were also back slightly. Vaycay Trading sent 16 Simmental heifers all the way from Oamaru to sell for $1100 ($3.27), a price that was matched by AJ Hall, Colyton, with 20 Angus/Hereford at $3.17.
The best of the older heifers sold to $1370 which indicates a narrow margin between older heifers and yearlings for now.
Sheep (7,982): ewes (690), $51-$79.50; hoggets (71); lambs (7,221); 30-35 kg, $69.50-$93.50, $2.18-$2.61, firm; 22-30 kg, $50.50-$75, $2.10-$2.61, ease.
Cattle (1,046): steers; 3yr (15), 590-665 kg, $1590-$1910, $2.69-$2.87; 2yr (300), 332-569 kg, $1000-$1765, $2.83-$3.48, lift; 1yr (226), 216-396 kg, $750-$1400, $2.78-$3.81, lift; bulls; 2yr (8), 612 kg, $1770, $2.89; 1yr (166), 271-451 kg, $730-$1310, $2.36-$3.06, ease; heifers; 2&3yr (96), 272-513 kg, $550-$1370, $2.62-$2.92, steady; 1yr (231), 183-347 kg, $620-$1100, $2.95-$3.59, ease; cows (4) and calves, 525 kg, $1190, $2.66.
Feilding Dairy Beef Weaner Sale Thursday December 1
This was another very solid sale for predominantly Friesian weaner bulls again but all the better bred dairy beef weaners sold well and sale prices only eased for the lesser bred types.
A large proportion of the calves were IHC fundraising calves so the lesser types did pay their way.
Gisborne and Wairoa buyers were particularly strong on the better calves with good interest from local buyers.
Shaun O'Leary, Whangaehu, topped the day with 18 autumn born Friesian bulls selling for $770 ($3.48) on a day where over 1,900 calves were sold to good, grass driven demand.