Calf prices reflect end of season sales

These frisky "licorice allsorts" are off to Waipukurau from NZ Farmer's Livestock sale Monday September 17. Photo / Supplied

Prices at the three sales last week reflected buyers' needs rather than quality, with the spring weather producing some excellent calves for sale.

Over 200 calves were up for sale, as farmers continue to feed the market.

These Friesian bulls averaged $160/head at Carrfields on Wednesday Sept 19. Photo / Supplied

Friesian bulls were still in demand this late in the season with the price range for good quality stock being $150 - $190/head.

This cute Murray Grey cross was a bargain at $80. Photo / Supplied

White face bulls were also popular with a very good line of two week calves ranging from $215-250/head, but the majority of white-face four-day calves seldom making $160.

So was this Galloway cross at $60. Photo / Supplied

A number of exotic bull crosses were not that well supported, barely making $100, including a couple of Red Devons, two Galloways, several Angus and a Murray Grey.

There were a lot of heifers for sale, but not in demand. The 50 in the Monday sale barely reached $100 with a similar pattern in the later sales. The season end is approaching and livestock companies say the end of the month will just about finish operations.