Last weaner bull sale of year in Dannevirke a boomer for vendors

This first pen of weaner bull calves up for auction at last week's Dannevirke/Pahiatua weaner sale set the benchmark for the sale, selling for $568 a head. Photo / Christine McKay

Following good rainfall and a tonne of feed around the district, the weaner calf sale in Dannevirke last week was described by one vendor as "a boomer".

And it was the thought of plenty of grass at home which pushed up interest and the prices at the sale, with the more than 700 head of stock for sale topping the price at the previous dairy beef sale by between $20 and $30 a head.

Top price of $582 a head for this pen of nine weaner bull calves from Woodville vendor Joyce Henson

Locals, as well as buyers from around the district, including Hawke's Bay, were prepared to pay well for the top quality stock, with the top price of $582 a head paid for a pen of nine from Woodville vendor Joyce Henson, with Glenbervie Farms' 17 bulls making $572 a head.

Phill Robson of Carrfields Livestock sells a pen at the Dannevirke/Pahiatua weaner bull sale.

The 583 weaner bulls sold for an average of $529.57, with the lowest price $330. Sixteen weaner steers averaged $589.50, with the minimum price $570 and the top $622 and demand was high for weaner heifers, with a top price of $655 a head for top stock from Wenn Farms. A pen from DJS Farming made $570 a head.

PGG Wrightson's auctioneer Bjorn Andersen, follows the trail of bids at the sale.

Stock with plenty of beef on attracted good bids, with 17 from Glenbervie Farms described as "having a tonne of meat and a heap of bone to boot", by the auctioneer, making $572.

On average the stock weighed between 110kg and 120kg and were well presented by vendors.

Phill Robson of Carrfields Livestock said it was the best of the three dairy beef markets so far, with confidence returning.

Speckled Park cross bulls from Mitchell's Milky Way of Pahiatua, made $590 a head.