“For a good summer sale, it was pretty well supported.”
He said having the event on the farm came with benefits such as no freight cost or yarding fee and a “few beers and yarns” for those after a day out.
“By doing all this, you are creating a saleyard effect at your own back door, and if it doesn’t go according to plan, you can open the gate and let them go.”
“It’s minimising costs and maximising profits, and it’s a great day out.
“Talking to the generation that is retiring ... it’s a bit of an event for those guys that come and catch up and it makes an atmosphere for the day.”
Stevenson said they were supported by the Dannevirke dog Trial club, which helped to load stock, and his family, who got behind the catering.
“It’s a bit of a race to get the sheep in the pen and get over for smoko.”
PGG Wrightson area livestock manager for Dannevirke and Pahiatua Bjorn Anderson, said he was pleased with the sale.
“It’s very impressive to see that much stock in one place.
“It was a pretty big day, everything was sold, and I thought the cattle sold very well, and the two-tooth ewes sold particularly well.”
Anderson said, given the dry weather conditions in the North Island and in Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Wairarapa, he was pleased with the lamb prices.
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.
