Northland livestock report

It has so far been a wet and miserable winter.

We must now be in the dead of winter, with another month until early spring. What started as an excellent early winter has now deteriorated into a shocker.

Farmers are complaining rightly about the rain and the mud.

It has become very wet, but it has not encouraged farmers to market their cattle, which are in very short supply at most centres, except Wellsford.

Only feeder calves are coming forward in good numbers, and within about a week all the calves will be sold under cover.

Wellsford Cattle Fair:

There was an excellent full entry of spring cattle at Wellsford on Monday, July 31. Top prices were achieved for a good line-up of cattle. Vendors will be pleased.

A lot of 2-year steers sold for $1500 to $1810 (2.81c-3.15c) then pen after pen of steers made $1300 to $1465 (2.91c-3.05c) down to $1240 to $1295 (2.84c-3.00c). Good medium steers made $1140 to $1195 (2.79c-3.05c) down to $1035 to $1095 (2.96c-3.09c) then $800 to $980 (3.00c-3.09c).The few good heifers made $1230 to $1408 ((2.08c-2.90c) then $930 to $1195 (2.77c-2.84c). Light heifers made $700 to $800 (2.13c-2.41c)

Tuesday

All cattle sold very well. Prime ox made $1915 (2.92c) and prime heifers $1494 (2.58c). Heavy bulls made $1576 to $2087 (2.50c-2.76c). Heavy cows sold for $1104 to $1272 (2.00c-2.54c).

Sheep

Sheep were very strong with prime lambs sold for $131 to $140 then $100 to $128. Good store lambs sold for $100 to $106, then $80 to $92 and light lambs $70. Mixed age ewes $98 to $104, then $80 to $88.

Feeder calves

The market eased a little with a bigger entry of calves. Top calves sold for $245 to $300, then $185 to $195 down to $150 to $175, medium calves made $80 to $90 to $65 down to $20.

Kauri Sale:

Cattle entries were very light at Kauri on Tuesday, August 1, but feeder calf entries were very strong -15-month Angus steers made $825 to $880 and Whiteface weaner steers made $790. Good feeder calves sold for $300 to $315 down to $220 to $280 then $160 to $210. Light calves made $120 to $150 and small calves $10 to $90.

Kaikohe Sale:

Kaikohe on Wednesday, 2 August was about the same as previous weeks, with 500 cattle and a strong market. Only cows have eased a little with the drop in the schedule.

Two-year steers, Angus Hereford sold for $1365 to $1380 (2.75c-2.85c) then $1240 to $1370 (2.75c-2.83c) down to $1085 to $1175 (2.66c-2.83c). Friesian Angus steers sold for $800 to $1025 (2.75c-2.85c).

Medium steers made $900 to $950 (2.95c-3.21c) down to $680 to $870 (2.77c-2.99c). One-year Shorthorn Hereford Angus steers fetched $740 to $860 (3.30c-3.40c). Early-born January, February steers made $735 to $820 (3.40c-3.50c). Heavy 2-year Angus cross bulls made $1480 (2.75c) up to $2290 (2.82c) other heavy bulls made $1480 to $1500 (2.81c-3.32c) down to $865-$915 (3.17c-3.50c). 1-year Friesian Beef cross bulls made $660 to $770 (3.20c).

Autumn-born Whiteface bulls made $540 down to $400 (1.77c). Heavy 2-year heifers made $1140 to $1260 (2.47c-2.55c) then medium heifers $915 to $920 (2.13c-2.41c) down to $675 to $830 (2.62c-2.84c). 1 year heifers $650 to $750 (3.05c-3.10c). Autumn-born weaner heifers made $665 to $720 (3.20c-3.30c) and Friesian heifers $440. Heavy Friesian cross cows made $1000 to $1450 (1.98c-2.18c) then $780 to $900 (1.90c-1.92c) and medium cows $685 to $815 (1.75c-1.89c).
- Compiled by Brian Sills