Calf prices steady at Dannevirke sale

A crowd of mostly locals got value for money.

A sale of 150 predominantly four-day-old calves at the NZ Farmers Livestock feeder calf sale in Dannevirke on Monday, August 21 saw prices rise a fraction on last Thursday and hold steady over the season so far.

This heifer topped the sale at $250.

As is usual good Friesian bull calves sold well, the top price being $222 but ranged between that price and $140. Medium calves reached between $100 and $120 if well marked.
Beef Friesian crosses ranged between $170 and $215 with a preference for white-faced calves.

This pen sold for the top Friesian bull price of $222.

A small yarding of beef cross heifers sold extremely well, strong young calves reaching between $175 and the top sale price of $250.

The NZ Farmers Livestock sales have averaged 150-175 calves each week and auctioneer Cameron Smith said prices are realistic and good value for money.

These two red beef crosses made $170.

Buyer Stephen Baker from Waipukurau bought 30 of the better calves, having purchased 43 last week. He is halfway to his planned target of calves to be fed on milk powder. He says his top prices were $10 below last week.