However, the fastest rise was in the returns for prime ewes, even as the numbers lifted with the arrival of scanned-empty pens.
Mr Common said fewer dry ewes were expected this year with the good autumn meaning most ewes got in-lamb. He said market demand was strong, pushing prices up, especially for heavier ewes.
Lines of good scanned-in-lamb ewes sold for up to $160 for one offering of capital stock. Lesser types made between $100 and $140.
In the cattle rostrum, most prices eased a little. Processing plants are busy with cull dairy cows and have less room for prime beef.
The small numbers of in-calf cows on offer were all sold for breeding, in sharp contrast to other years when meat firms bought most of them.
A feature of the store cattle sales during the month was the number of Chatham Island animals on offer. The sale of May 17 featured 182 bulls from one vendor on tiny Pitt Island.
Another feature of the sales was the variable quality of the offering. Mr Common said some vendors got rid of lesser stock before winter.
He said confidence in the future of cattle was still strong even though prices had come off the astonishing highs of summer.
Mr Common said farmers were feeling positive as they settled on their winter stocking rates.
They were hoping for a mild winter with not too much rain and good conditions to feed cows and ewes for calving and lambing.
Stortford Lodge Stock Sale
A small yarding of about 230 cattle sold on a solid market at Stortford Lodge yesterday.
The offering was mostly of good quality R2 stock.
Big lines of capital stock, in-lamb, ewes also sold well. The lamb yarding comprised mostly longer-term and ewe lambs which also sold well.
Buyers were from Hawke's Bay with one from Waikato.
PRICES
CATTLE
Steers: R3, G Chambers, Tikokino, 11 ang and ang-here, av weight, 516kg, 292c/kg, $1510/head. R2, M and S Galvan, Wairoa, 25 ang, av weight, 435tkg, 333c/kg, $1450/head; Glenbogle P/ship, Wanstead, nine here-cross, av weight, 379kg, 319c/kg, $1210/head; B Chrystal, Tutira, six here-cross, av weight, 459kg, 286c/kg, $1315/head; Magenta 7 Trust, Hastings, seven simm-cross, av weight, 435kg, 316c/kg, $13455/head. Yrling, A and J Galvan, Wairoa, seven ang, av weight, 253kg, 375c/kg, $950/head.
Bulls: R2, Paparatu Station, Wairoa, nine ang and ang-here, av weight, 487kg, 299c/kg, $1460/head; eight the same, av weight, 360kg, 301c/kg, $1085/head. Yrling, C Davey, Te Pohue, seven here-fries, av weight, 180kg, 417c/kg, $755/head.
Heifers: R3, Okare Station, Wairoa, 23 ang and ang-here, av weight, 484kg, 273c/kg, $1325/head; 17 the same, av weight, 437kg, 256c/kg, $1220/head; Pukenoa Farm, Puketapu, 20 ang, av weight, 374kg, 291c/kg, $1090/head; 18 ang and ang-here, av weight, 325kg, 293c/kg, $955/head; 17 here-cross, av weight, 335kg, 283c/kg, $950/head; five sth dev, av weight, 332kg, 296c/kg, $985/head; Paparatu Station, Wairoa, 14 ang and ang-here, av weight, 264kg, 301c/kg, $795/head; 11 ang, av weight, 242kg, 305c/kg, $740/head; six the same, av weight, 220kg, 299c/kg, $655/head.
SHEEP
Ewes: N and J McMillan, Ridgemount, (all cs, all sil) 100 2th, $151; 272 2th, $145; 250 4th, $143.50; 150 6th, 4141; 115 6th, $140; 277 4yr, $131; 95 2/4yr, $122; N Twist, Argyll, (all cs, all sil) 200 4/6yr, $161; 199 4/6yr, $162; 160 4/6yr, $165; 151 4/6yr, $164; K Foote, Tuai, 167 5yr, rwr, $117; A Lindsay, Waipawa, 15 m/a, rwr, $101; Stonehenge Trust, Whakapirau, (all sil) 40 m/a, $112; 38 m/a, $125; eight 2th, $112.
Lambs: Springvale Station, Puketapu, 215 male, $124; 101 male, $117.50; Tangihau Station, Rere, 144 ewe, $98; 218 ewe, $93; 116 ewe, $86.50; 54 m/s, $97.50; Beckford Holdings, Makaretu, 125 c/o, $118; 68 male, $109; Claremont Trust, Awamate. 99 ewe, $98; 70 male, $113; 31 ewe, $89; 53 male, $109.50; S and P Baker, Omakere, 219 ewe, $96; 122 ewe, $82.50; 33 male, $99.50; G and J Steenkamer, Maraetotara, 105 male, $106; 157 ewe, $97; Ardfert P/ship, Omakere, 140 ewe, $88; G and J Chambers, Tikokino, 103 ewe, $100; 52 c/o, $108; 47 ewe, $95; Alton Farm, Wairoa, 136 ewe, $104; R Hunt, Pakowhai, 86 ewe, $101; Somac Farm, Waipawa, 49 b/f ewe, $94.50; Droxford Farm, Wanstead, 72 c/o, $105.50; Long Gully, Marumaru, 92 ewe, $87.50; 135 ewe, $85; 71 male, $91.50; R and H Pastoral, Wanstead, 165 ewe, $100.50; I and M Abernethy, Wallingford, 45 male, $94; 63 ewe, $89; T Chambers, Waikoau, 45 m/s, $86; Holten Farm, Wairoa, 42 male, $102.50; Paparatu Station, Wairoa, 45 c/o, $109.50; 59 ewe, $81.70; 70 m/s, $61; 65 c/o, $89; Braes O Mar Ltd, Tutira, 42 ewe, $101.50.
Prime sale
A good yarding of about 2000 ewes did nothing to dampen prices at Monday's prime sale. The yarding was mostly good quality scanned-dry ewes.
The good news continued in the lamb pens and the yarding of 75 mostly angus head.
PRICES
CATTLE
Oxen: (Ang, ang-here) Av weight, 553kg to 612kg, 295c/kg to 309c/kg, $1646/head to $1891/head.
Heifers: (Ang, ang-here) Av weight, 385kg to 531kg, 261c/kg, to 284c/kg, $1004/head to $1531/head.
Cows: (Ang, jersey) Av weight, 445kg to 618kg, 170c/kg 207c/kg, $799/head to $1279/head.
Bull: (Ang) Weight 1000kg, 235c/kg, $2350/head.
SHEEP
Ewes: Shorn, very good, $116 to $123; good, $110 to $115; med, $96.50 to $102.50; lighter, $79.50 to $84; 2th, $93 to $117. Slipe, very good, $120; good, $106 to $108; med, $92.50; 2th, $92.50. Woolly, heavy, $130; good, $112 to $121; med, $107.50 to $110; lighter, $98.50 to $106; 2th, $107.50.
Lambs: Male, $90 to $155; b/f, $145.50; ewe, $131.50 to $133; b/f, $104 to $135; m/s, $101 to $119; b/f, $108 to $113.
