New Zealand Farmers Livestock auctioneer Tristan Gordon gets $140 for these Friesian bull calves.
New Zealand Farmers Livestock auctioneer Tristan Gordon gets $140 for these Friesian bull calves.
Monday's four-day-old calf prices firmed after a slight drop on Thursday at the NZ Farmer's Livestock sale in Dannevirke.
Auctioneer Tristan Gordon said the high prices of both Monday sales were typical of the early season.
"There were fewer stock and buyers on Thursday," he said.
On Monday (August 8)120 stock went under the hammer. Predominantly pure Friesian bull calves, the prices ranged between $80 and $170 depending upon size and markings.
Friesian crosses varied depending upon the cross, some Friesian/Jersey crosses going for $30 - 60.
White-faced bulls were few in number and in demand, the top price in the sale $185 going for three top stock but there was equal demand for white-faced heifers and polled Angus heifers which reached $155-162.
A good crowd attended the auction.
Buyer Peter Guerin from Matamau, who paid the top price, said he expected prices to be this high and he was happy with his purchase.
"They are nice calves and they will do well," he said. Others went home empty-handed, waiting to see what happens in the next few weeks.
Demand for four-day-old bulls is no surprise to Ted Charlton, sales agent for Brytec Stock Feed Ltd. He has experienced huge sales in milk powder over the last month.
With milk powder prices averaging a low 26 cents/litre of milk and the payout hovering at 34 cents for milk, farmers are "doing the maths".
