“It’s pretty exciting to see the prices we’ve achieved from the spring and then right through to the summer.
“But for it to be continuing for as long as it has is something we haven’t seen for a long time – if ever.”
Cunninghame said run weaner sales in the North Island were off to a flying start, with the first Feilding Weaner Fair today.
“By all accounts, everything’s looking very promising there for the run weaner guys.”
There’s increasing crossover between the beef and dairy industries, with more farmers using beef genetics over dairy cows to help address the bobby calf issue.
Cunninghame said that as a result, dairy beef was going from “strength to strength”.
“We’ve seen it this year, a lot more calves reared, and they’ve all found homes.”
He said there would be another “shift of calves” sold to new farms through the autumn.
“We have quite a few that come up into the North Island out of parts of the South Island – without them, we’d be really struggling for numbers."
Cunninghame said the beef industry relied on this influx of dairy beef.
“It’s great to see those numbers growing and on a pretty positive beef market, too.”
Meanwhile, the dairy sector was also buoyant.
“That positivity out there in that dairy space is really exciting, and everyone’s jumped on for the ride,” Cunninghame said.
“There have been quite a few farm sales, which have been pleasing, and everything’s looking good.”
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He said the recent windfall for Fonterra farmers from the co-op’s Lactalis deal, and a rising payout, would help the market.
“That Fonterra money that’s about to come into the system, people will use it in different ways,” he speculated.
“Some people will be buying new property, some people will be doing...development work, others will be trying to reduce some debt.
“But it’s a great place to be for sure at the moment – it’s really exciting, and the payout’s looking promising moving forward, too — and into next season.”
Strong demand across both beef and dairy sectors continues to drive a positive outlook for livestock markets around the country.
PGG Wrightson’s nationwide team works closely with farmers across dairy, beef and dairy-beef systems, helping connect opportunities between sectors and supporting clients to make the most of market conditions.
For more market insights, sale updates and industry commentary, visit the PGG Wrightson Livestock Hub and stay up to date with what’s happening across the livestock sector.
