Good sale demand for feeder calves

PGG Wrightson's auctioneer Mark Crooks sold this line of Angus Bulls from Topgrass Farms for $160/head on Tuesday.

A strong sale for NZ Farmers Livestock on Thursday August 29 at Dannevirke lifted prices beyond the Tararua and broader Manawatu average for feeder calves.

This was partly due to the calves being bigger and older than usual, the first six pens of Friesian bulls ranging between $190 and $210/head. Smaller Friesian bulls still made in excess of $100 as they did at Mangatainoka on Tuesday where the average was $125/head.

Beef Cross bulls were in high demand at both sales some very good quality animals fetching between $150 and $200/head particularly Hereford X bulls at Dannevirke and Angus X at Mangatainoka.

Heifers found similar favour with top animals selling for $150-$210/head.

Nearly 400 calves went under the hammer during the week, prices overall reflecting those in the Manawatu.