Prime lamb touches $150

14-06-2010 | Not Specified


NORTHLAND
The short week brought mixed cattle to the market at WELLSFORD last week, with prices reflecting the eclectic bunch, said Grant Pallister of PGG Wrightson.
Tuesday's combined prime and store sale saw R2 store steers at 400-450kg return $1.88 to $1.89/kgLW, with 320-400kg making $1.76-$1.89/kgLW. R2 heifers 300-380kg went for $1.51-$1.77/kg/LW.
R1 steers at 200-250kg made $1.98-$2.21/kgLW, 100-175kg returned $0.85-$2.31/kgLW. R1 heifers 170-240kg sold at $2.01-$2.22/kgLW.
Commenting on the prime cattle sale, Pallister said fewer prime cattle were coming into the market but were still required by processors.
Medium heifers made $1.90 to $1.93/kgLW. Heavy cows returned $1.59-$1.61/kgLW, medium $1.30-$1.46/kgLW and light $1.03-$1.19/kgLW. Bulls fetched $2.04/kgLW.
Prime lambs took a lift due to the rise in schedule, Pallister said, with heavy sorts selling for $80 to $96 and medium $70-$71.
Heavy store lambs made $64 to $68, medium $57-$58 and small $40-$48.
Cull ewes returned $70 to $80 for heavy sorts and $59-$68 fort medium.
Yearling bulls were the only bright note of the KAIKOHE sale on Wednesday last week, when about 750 head of cattle were yarded, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported.
"Otherwise it was heavy going," he said.
Older steers topped at $2.06/kgLW with most selling between $1.80 and $1.88/kgLW, weaner steers made between $2.20 and $2.40/kgLW while yearling bulls earned $2.40-$2.42/kgLW.
Whiteface heifers made $1.69-$1.75/kgLW, while dairy-beef yearling heifers made $1.74-$2.00/kgLW. Angus cows VIC made $1.54/kgLW, while others were around $1.46/kgLW.

COUNTIES
The market for 20 and 30-month cattle held value at TUAKAU last Thursday. But younger steers and heifers were harder to sell and this resulted in some passings, PGG Wrightson agent Roy Allen said.
Thirty-month whiteface steers in forward order at 530-550kg sold for $2.04-$2.08/kgLW, with 450-480kg steers making $1.85-$1.90/kgLW. Good 20-month whiteface steers at 423kg earned $2.09/kgLW and Angus-Friesian steers at 480kg made $2.00/kgLW. Whiteface steers in the 380-400kg range returned $1.86-$2.00/kgLW and lighter Hereford and Angus-cross steers 300-320kg fetched $1.80-$1.91/kgLW. Friesian steers 423kg made $1.69/kgLW.
Good yearling Angus steers at 188-213kg traded for $2.40-$2.65/kgLW or $500-$515, and Hereford-cross yearlings 160-180kg returned $450-$495. Hereford-Friesian steers in the 140-180kg range sold at $365-$475.
Friesian bulls at 238kg made $490 and 155kg bulls earned $365.
Quality in the 20-month heifer section was limited, with most selling at $1.75-$1.80/kgLW. Good yearling Angus heifers at 170-211kg returned $393-$450. A total of 700 cattle were yarded.
Allen said last Wednesday's prime sale drew a light yarding of 430 cattle, but competition was as firm as the previous week.
Heavy steers 760-818kg sold at $2.19-$2.22/kgLW, with 640-675kg steers making $2.16-$2.20/kgLW and 550-586kg steers $2.08-$2.11/kgLW. Trade-weight steers earned $1.97-$2.00/kgLW.
The best of the mostly whiteface heifers 430-450kg traded at $1.95-$1.97/kgLW and lighter-conditioned heifers at 400-425kg returned $1.90-$1.91/kgLW.
The prime cow market was especially firm, with $1.72 to $1.78/kgLW paid for good young beef cows in the 511-590kg range. Beef cows at 500-600kg sold at $1.66-$1.73/kgLW and light beef cows 338-345kg fetched $1.00-$1.06/kgLW.
Heavy empty Friesians at 520-590kg traded for $1.49-$1.58/kgLW, with the next cut making $1.30-$1.40/kgLW. Jersey cows sold at $0.77-$0.96/kgLW.
Friesian and Angus bulls in the 670-800kg range made $1.85-$1.96/kgLW with lighter-conditioned Jersey bulls at 465kg earning $1.79/kgLW.

BAY OF PLENTY
The exceptionally wet conditions had some effect on values last week at RANGIURU where an average-sized yarding of cattle and a small entry of sheep were presented.
Richard Baird of Elders said prime and better-condition cattle sold well, as expected, while the store market was "okay".
A small line of 590kg ox fetched $1335, $2.26/kgLW and $1020 to $1170 was paid for others, $1.98-$2.08/kgLW. R2 steers made $622-$755, $1.64-$2.04/kgLW, the CPK rates reflecting the quality.
Similarly for R1 steers, the best of which made to $475, $2.24/kgLW, with others at $280, $1.20/kgLW.
A reasonably good offering of boner cows went to $795, selling from $345, with a price range of $1.06-$1.90/kgLW. Only four prime heifers were sold. The best made $1100, $1.98/kgLW with $605-$730 buying the rest, $1.64-$1.84/kgLW.
An 841kg bull returned $1640, $1.95/kgLW and the few young bulls penned fetched $200 to $470, $1.15-$2.21/kgLW.
R2 heifers weighing 350-400kg realised $670-$678, $1.76-$1.88/kgLW and younger heifers made $320-$445, $1.60-$1.97/kgLW.
Less than 100 sheep were sold. Good lambs made to $90 and smaller store lambs were $62, while store ewes made $30-$61.

WAIKATO
Buyers were offered a small yarding of prime cattle at FRANKTON last week, with good ox holding their value, Cam Heggie of Allied farmers reported. Good heifers also brought good returns, but lesser heifers were a bit neglected. Prime cows and potter bulls were steady.
The best ox weighing better than 600kg returned $1302 to $1515, $2.13-$2.22/kgLW, while those just over 500kg brought $1071-$1112, $2.06/kgLW and light ox made $940-$1009, $2.00-$2.05/kgLW.
Heavy heifers over 600kg brought $1216-$1296, $1.95-$2.01/kgLW and $1058-$1060 took heifers just over 500kg, $1.96-$2.00/kgLW. Those weighing 400kg-plus fetched $824-$926, $1.90-$2.06/kgLW.
$1150 was paid for 710kg prime cows, $1.62/kgLW, while the bulk of the other prime cows weighed in the 500kg range and sold from $844 to $944, $1.52-$1.64/kgLW.
$606-$682 bought the better boner cows, $1.23-$1.31/kgLW. Lowest price for boners was $380, $1.00/kgLW.
Prime lambs made to $111, selling from $74 and a fair entry of store lambs sold between $70 and $80. Prime ewes went to $81 and best hoggets $83.
Cattle came forward in quite good numbers at last week's Frankton store sale. R2 steers sold quite well, but buyers were discerning in their uptake of R2 heifers.
There was considerable interest in several lines of purebred Hereford cows, VIC, several lots going on to produce calves. But the meat trade was hard to stop on the heavier cows, said Cam Heggie of Allied Farmers.
Most R2 steers were Hereford-cross and the best line made $1015, 515kg at $1.97/kgLW. Lots weighing over 400kg returned $820 to $915, $2.02-$2.08/kgLW and those weighing 300kg and above fetched $685-$705, $1.89-$2.03/kgLW.
The best of the Friesian R2 steers made $725-$770, $1.76-$1.80/kgLW, with others at $600-$682, $1.77-$1.89/kgLW. Good solid R3 steers traded at $1045 to $11270, $1.96-$2.12/kgLW.
Useful R1 steers, all beef-bred, sold freely, most making $2.30-$2.68/kgLW, with $622 the highest price. One 125kg line went at $420, or $3.35/kgLW.
Heavy older Friesian bulls made $1400, $1.86/kgLW and 490kg Jersey bulls fetched $975, $1.99/kgLW. R2 Friesian bulls made $530-$760, $1.77-$2.09/kgLW and light Jersey bulls $460-$665, $1.60-$1.77/kgLW.
Quite a few of the R1 bulls made better than $2.00/kgLW, bringing $2.02-$2.95/kgLW. Top money was $600, paid for 272kg Simmentals, $2.21/kgLW, while at the other end, Friesian bulls less than 100kg sold at $138-$205, $1.39-$2.08/kgLW.
The top-priced Hereford cows sold at $1140, $2.52/kgLW and the other VIC cows made $845-$880, $1.70-$1.97/kgLW.
R3 Hereford heifers fetched $710 to $850, $1.93-$2.10/kgLW and the better R2 heifers brought $630-$715, $1.84-$2.04/kgLW. $500-$510 was offered for good R1 heifers, $2.13-$2.54/kgLW and light heifers under 200kg returned $328-$405, $1.80-$2.11/kgLW.

POVERTY BAY
The 2300 store lambs at MATAWHERO last Friday were a bright healthy lot, but there were few larger lines, only nine pens holding 100 lambs or more.
Buyers were still lining up in spite of paddocks being sodden and while some of the better lambs may have been a shade easier, the market could best be described as steady.
Near-killable male lambs made $90 to $98, $2.30/kgLW and similar BF lambs were $86-$88.20, $2.45/kgLW.
The better ewe lambs, most of which would have been 31-33kg made $80-$84, $2.50/kgLW. Many lines traded at $70 to $77 and only quite small made less than $70, selling at $63-$69.
There is a very keen local demand for breeding ewes, scanned-in-lambs and a well-condition line of 393 5/6 year, scanned twins, were knocked down at $120 for 300 and $118 for the balance, after frantic bidding.
Mixed-age ewes, also scanned in-lamb, fetched $81-$82 and similar ewes RWR made $77.
Prime ewes continued to come out in good numbers, with 330 sold.
The trade paid for well-finished ewes, with $89 to $91.50 offered for them. But as quality dropped off, so did the prices, $76-$79 paid for those.
Prime lambs made $97 to $110 for heavy and mediums attracted $90-$92. In all, 3370 sheep were penned.

TARANAKI
Despite a cold and miserable day at STRATFORD on Tuesday last week prices stayed firm, with 31⁄2-year Friesian steers at 487.5-560kg returning $1.86-$1.895/kgLW and Hereford/Friesian-cross at 550kg making $1.96/kgLW. Three-year Brown Swiss steers at 500kg realised $1.80/kgLW.
Three-year Angus bulls 562.1kg $2.04/kgLW, Hereford 725kg $2.20/kgLW; 30-month Shorthorn bulls 522.5kg $1.96/kgLW, Friesian 528.8kg $2.005/kgLW, Angus/Friesian 498kg $1.97/kgLW.
Prime steers, Hereford/Friesian 540-620kg $1.98-$2.02/kgLW, Hereford-cross 590kg $2.015/kgLW, Angus/Friesian 598.8kg $2.04/kgLW.
Two-year Friesian steers 510kg $1.88/kgLW; Hereford/Friesian heifers 437.1kg $1.85/kgLW; Hereford/Friesian bulls 425-500kg $1.83-$1.97/kgLW, Hereford-cross bulls 462.5-505kg $1.935-$1.95/kgLW, Hereford bulls 470kg $2.00/kgLW.
Twenty-month Jersey steers 310kg $1.14/kgLW; Angus heifers 396.7kg $1.77/kgLW, Hereford/Friesian heifers 375-440kg $1.70-$1.775/kgLW; 18-month Friesian steers 382.5kg $1.60/kgLW.
Cows, VIC: Angus 457.9kg $1.38/kgLW, Hereford/Friesian 457.9kg $1.38/kgLW, Murray Grey 488.8kg $1.285/kgLW, Belgium Blue-cross 488.8kg $1.285/kgLW, Hereford-cross 445-554.5kg $1.295-$1.485/kgLW, Hereford/Friesian 445-554.5kg $1.295-$1.485/kgLW.
Cows: Angus 402.5-450kg $1.305-$1.495/kgLW, Hereford 540kg $1.50/kgLW, Hereford-cross 385kg $1.25/kgLW.
Empty heifers: MRI-cross 285kg $1.16/kgLW, Friesian 305-402.5kg $1.28-$1.56/kgLW, crossbred 250-410kg $1.06-$1.515/kgLW, milking Shorthorn-cross 465kg $1.745/kgLW.
Empty cows: Friesian 388-525kg $1.12-$1.23/kgLW, Friesian-cross 270kg $0.97/kgLW, milking Shorthorn 455-555kg $1.00-$1.36/kgLW, crossbred 270-420kg $0.95-$1.25/kgLW, Jersey 365kg $1.05/kgLW.
Store cows: Friesian 410-525kg $1.20-$1.27/kgLW, Jersey-cross 480kg $1.30/kgLW, milking Shorthorn 670kg $1.50/kgLW.
In calf cows: MRI-cross 348.3-476.3kg $1.045-$1.29/kgLW, Friesian 420-493.5kg $1.20-$1.23/kgLW, Jersey 305kg $1.02/kgLW, Belgium Blue-cross 455kg $1.275/kgLW.
Yearling Hereford-cross bulls 320kg $1.79/kgLW. Yearling Hereford/Friesian heifers 280kg $435. Empty crossbred heifers 241.4kg $260, Jersey 202.5kg $260.
Dairy Shed: In calf Friesian cows $400-$600, crossbred $450-$550. In calf Friesian heifers $575-$850, crossbred $475-$575, yearling $325.
A capacity yarding at Stratford last Wednesday saw 30-month steers sell well.
VIC Hereford cows 431-525kg $560-$740, VIC Angus cows 484.2-572.8kg $752-$900, VIC Angus heifers 466.9kg $940.
Steers, 30-month: Angus/Shaver 476.7kg $875, Shaver-cross 517.9kg $1035, Saler/Friesian 421.3-457.9kg $725-$812, Hereford/Friesian 466-577.5kg $855-$1150, Hereford-cross 542.5kg $1060, Angus/Friesian 460-540kg $910-$1080, Friesian 512kg $948, Charolais 525.7kg $1040.
Heifers, 30-month: Angus 361.9kg $600, crossbred 315.8-357.5kg $540-$600, Saler/Friesian 404.4-455kg $700-$800.
Steers, 2-year: Hereford/Friesian 462.5kg $800, crossbred 466.9kg $830, Hereford-cross 508kg $990, Angus-cross 472kg $895. Heifers: Hereford-cross 325kg $565, Angus-cross 325.6kg $565.
Steers, 20-month: Friesian 372.5kg $615, Saler-cross 293.8kg $630, Charolais-cross 414.5-501.3kg $825-$1010, Simmental 432.5-495.6kg $870-$1000, Simmental-cross 547kg $1115, Simmental/Hereford 469.5kg $910, Hereford/Friesian 337.9-469.2kg $742-$920, Hereford-cross 330kg $670, Hereford 333.3kg $700, Limousin/Hereford-cross 415kg $840, Angus-cross 344.2-520.8kg $750-$1025, Angus 417.1kg $840, Angus/Friesian 420-440kg $770-$850, crossbred 328.8kg $645.
Heifers, 20-month: Angus 357kg $635, Hereford/Friesian 298.2kg $500, Hereford-cross 315kg $510, Devon-cross 262.9kg $460.
Steers, 18-month: Hereford/Friesian 309kg $590, Hereford-cross 309-400kg $590-$610, Angus-cross 443.9kg $895, Angus 267.5-321.3kg $495-$590, Angus/Friesian 326.2kg $700, Red Devon 368kg $750, Simmental 462.5kg $950.
Heifers, 18-month: Hereford/Friesian 319kg $505, Hereford-cross 350kg $580, Hereford 281kg $500, crossbred 276.4kg $435, Angus 238.8-271.3kg $425-$460.
Steers: 15-month Angus-cross 355kg $780, yearling Hereford-cross 240kg $405, weaner Hereford-cross 185.8kg $500.
Weaner Hereford/Friesian heifers 167.1kg $355.
Sheep: Ewes RWR $31-$89; prime ewes $85; prime 2-tooth ewes $85; rams $25. Weaner pigs made $85.

HAWKE'S BAY
There was another big yarding of store lambs last week at STORTFORD LODGE, where over 7000 were penned and saw values a little erratic. The better lambs remained steady, but poorer-quality lambs lost ground.
Good breeding ewes, scanned-in-lamb, made $88-$97.50. Very heavy mixed-sex lambs topped at $95.70 and those around 35-37kg brought $84-$87, $2.37-$2.44/kgLW.
With quite a percentage of the entry in the lower weight ranges, buyers adjusted their limits and more lines than usual were knocked down at $50-$64, although these still traded at $2.50-$2.52/kgLW.
It was a smallish offering of cattle, with just over 300 head through the rostrum, reported Paul Bayes of PGG Wrightson. Good steers went well. R3 Angus steers made $860-$912, $1.85-$1.86/kgLW and Hereford/Friesian-cross went at $812-$880, $1.88-$1.92/kgLW.
Most R2 steers were close to 400kg and under, with the better lots making $800-$812, $2.03-$2.06/kgLW, 730-$748 buying others, $1.75-$2.10/kgLW. $822-$845 bought the best of the R2 heifers, $1.84-$1.89/kgLW, while any under 400kg returned $612-$785, $1.97-$2.01/kgLW.
Cows VIC sold at $730-$772 for good, with lighter making $610. The only line of R1 bulls fetched $645, $1.97/kgLW.

MANAWATU
Cooler, wet weather drew a large increase in second and third cut store lambs at last Friday's FEILDING store sale.
PGG Wrightson agent Dan Flanagan said the market eased on the previous week as buyers also "took a deep breath" after several weeks of increasing prices.
"The sale for lambs was back, but it wasn't down in the dumps. There were a lot of people there, especially early on," he said.
One pen of male lambs fetched more than $100 but Flanagan said "you could buy any amount of lambs at under $60".
He estimated the price on a cents/kg basis might have eased 20 cents on the previous week, reflecting the wintry conditions prevailing across the lower North Island over the past week.
The appearance of snow on the ranges and frosty conditions earlier in the week combined to reduce demand at the sale he said.
The small yarding of in-lamb ewes sold about on par with the previous week.
In the cattle sale, Flanagan said $2-plus/kg was obtainable on two-year heifers.

CANTERBURY
There was a large yarding of prime stock at last week's CANTERBURY PARK sale, where prices for lambs topped $149.
PGG Wrightson livestock manager Shane Dickson said heavy butcher lambs fetched $130 to $149, very good lambs earned $105-$120 and medium types realised $90-$100.
There was no change in the prime ewe market, with all types selling for $3/kgLW. Heavy ewes made up to $90, the next cut realised $72-$77 and lighter ewes were auctioned for $55-$65.
The best of the store lambs went under the hammer for $76 to $81, medium types fetched $67-$72 and lighter lambs sold down to $60.
In the cattle pens heavy steers 556-620kg realised $1.90-$1.93/kgLW, with exceptional sales to $1.95/kgLW. Medium steers earned $1.87-$1.88kgLW and off-types made $1.80-$1.81/kgLW.
Good export heifers at 520-560kg sold for $1.80/kgLW, the next cut fetched $1.72-$1.75/kgLW and store-types 380-420kg earned $1.63-$1.65/kgLW.

MID CANTERBURY
An average yarding of prime sheep was sold at TINWALD last week, with very heavy prime lambs fetching up to $150, PGG Wrightson livestock agent Emmett Sparrow said.
Good heavy lambs earned $120 to $135, while medium types returned $100-$110 and lighter lambs $85-$95.
Prime ewes sold similar to the previous week, with good heavy types returning up to $100, medium $70-$85 and lighter sorts $50-$65.
A small yarding of store lambs was sold, with prices ranging from $60 to $64.

SOUTH CANTERBURY
Prime steers strengthened 5c/kg on the previous sale at TEMUKA last week, while prime lambs also had another good sale lifting an average $2/head, PGG Wrightson livestock manager Joe Higgins reported.
Prime steers 600-750kg fetched $1.92-$2.00/kgLW, 480-650kg made $1.86-$1.94/kgLW and dairy types 500-650kg $1.70-$1.81/kgLW. Heifers 500-600kg earned $1.80-$1.92/kgLW, 450-500kg $1.67-$1.80/kgLW and dairy types $1.44-$1.70/kgLW.
Bulls 550-900kg returned $1.78-$1.86/kgLW, with lighter types at 440-540kg earning $1.59-$1.66/kgLW.
Heavy beef cows 500-800kg earned $1.15-$1.33/kgLW and 400-500kg $0.95-$1.15/kgLW.
Dairy cows at 500-750kg realised $1.08-$1.25/kgLW, with poorer types returning $0.68-$1.10/kgLW.
Just a small yarding of store lambs was offered, with forward sorts fetching $70-$76, medium $62-$69 and smaller lambs $50-$60.
Heavy prime lambs fetched $115-$142, while medium types earned $96-$114 and lighter sorts $85-$95.
Very few prime ewes were yarded, with the best of the good heavy types fetching $90-$95, medium $70-$85 and light $55-$65.
Heavy adult butcher ewes met good demand, lifting $5/head and fetching $100-$130, while medium types earned $84-$95, light $68-$78 and stores $55-$64.

OTAGO
Prime lambs sold on a par with the previous week, with a quality line-up yarded at BALCLUTHA last week, Barry Osborne of PGG Wrightson, Milton, said. A small yarding of prime ewes sold similarly to the previous week, with good demand, he said.
Heavy prime lambs made $116 to $134, while medium sorts returned $95-$112 and light $88-$94. Good-quality 2-tooths earned $89, medium $77 and light went for $52.
Heavy prime ewes fetched $82 to $97, with medium selling for $68-$77 and light going for $50 to $62. Lower-condition ewes traded at $25.
Local trade rams fetched $49 for heavy sorts and light returned $25.
Osborne said a small yarding of store lambs also sold on a par with the previous week. Top woolly store lambs returned $77, medium $65 and light $58.
Top shorn store lambs made $74, with medium going under the hammer for $68 and light $54. Tail-end store lambs made $45.
In the store cattle sale, a medium-size yarding of average quality cattle sold on a par with previous sales, Osborne reported.
Medium condition 20-month Hereford-cross steers at 427kg returned $725, $1.70/kgLW, with Angus-cross heifers, same condition, same age, at 403kg making $630, $1.57/kgLW.
Medium Angus steer calves 287kg earned $600, $2.09/kgLW, with heifers at 221kg going for $400, $1.81/kgLW.

SOUTHLAND
There was strong demand for what was a small yarding of prime sheep at last week's LORNEVILLE sale.
PGG Wrightson livestock representatives said heavy prime lambs fetched $115 to $129, the next cut earned $95-$100 and lighter lambs realised $86-$90.
Good quality 2-tooths made $100-$112, heavy adult ewes fetched $75-$85 and lighter ewes earned $50-$70. Very light ewes were auctioned for $35-$50.
The best forward store lambs fetched $65 to $78, medium lambs realised $60-$65 and lighter lambs went under the hammer for $50-$60.
In the cattle pens, prime cattle sold on a sound market with steers 550kg earning $1.60/kgLW. Heifers 420-480kg realised $1.60-$1.68/kgLW and cows 550-600kg made $1.60-$1.68/kgLW. Medium prime cows fetched $0.80-$0.90/kgLW and lighter cows were auctioned for $0.60-$0.70/kgLW.
There was a small yarding of R2 store cattle with beef-cross steers 399-427kg sold or $650-$700, beef-cross heifers 370-399kg earned $530-$625 and beef steers 209kg fetched $490.
Prime sheep sold on a firm market at last weeks' CHARLTON sale.
PGG Wrightson livestock representative Greg Clearwater said heavy prime lambs made $137, medium lambs realised $90-$110 and lighter types earned $83.
Heavy 2-tooths sold for $106 and the next cut fetched $80-$90.
Very heavy adult ewes earned $103, heavy ewes realised $90-$95, medium types sold for $65-$75 and lighter ewes fetched $40-$50. Very light ewes were auctioned for $20.
The best forward store lambs earned $78.50, medium lambs made $64-$73 and lighter types sold for $46-$50.

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