Record price for butcher ewes

02-08-2010 | Not Specified


NORTHLAND
The market was definitely a lot stronger across all classes of cattle at KAIKOHE on Wednesday, Vaughan Vujcich of PGG Wrightson reported.
About 600 head were on offer.
Angus 2-year steers made $2.09/kgLW while Herefords and whiteface made $1.90-$2/kgLW. 1-year Simmental-cross steers $2.35/kgLW and lighter 1-year Angus steers $2.40-$2.50/kgLW. R2 Friesian and beef bulls $2.04/kgLW.
Yearling Friesian, exotic and Hereford-cross bulls $2.10-$2.35/kgLW, 2-year beef-cross heifers $1.80-$1.90/kgLW. Reasonable lines of Simmental, Angus and whiteface yearling heifers made from $2/kgLW with lighter lines making $2.25-$2.30/kgLW. In-calf and empty cows made $1.40-$1.55/kgLW.
There was a smaller yarding at WELLSFORD last Monday but 2-year steers were still a wanted commodity, PGG Wrightson agent Grant Pallister said.
Two-year steers 480-560kg, $1.92-$2.06/kgLW, 350-420kg, $2.03-$2.06/kgLW. 2-year heifers 250-300kg, $1.71-$2.03/kgLW. 1-year steers 170-210kg, $1.86-$2.57/kgLW, 115-165kg, $2.17-$2.83/kgLW. 1-year heifers 150-200kg, $2.03-$2.43/kgLW, 120-145kg, $2.21-$2.48/kgLW.
All classes, especially boner cows were keenly contested at WELLSFORD on Tuesday, Pallister reported.
Heavy steers $2.08-$2.12/kgLW, medium $2.05-$2.09/kgLW, light $1.98-$2.02/kgLW. Heavy heifers $2-$2.03/kgLW. Heavy cows $1.51-$1.63/kgLW, medium $1.35-$1.46/kgLW, light $0.85-$1.27/kgLW. Medium bulls $1.99-$2.05/kgLW, light $1.84-$1.91/kgLW.
Prime lambs and ewes sold very well though store lambs eased back on the previous week's market.
Heavy prime lambs $101-$103, medium $84-$97, light $74-$79. Heavy store lambs $61-$72, medium $53-$57, small $37-$48. Ewes with lambs at foot $38-$47 all counted. Heavy cull ewes $71-$78, medium $58-$61, light $25-$45.

AUCKLAND
The market at PUKEKOHE on July 24 was strong for any killable cattle on offer but any lighter, lesser quality cattle continue to be very hard to sell at a good price, Chris Humphrey of Livestock Mart Auctions said.
Recent mild weather might help buyer confidence as should a rising local trade schedule, however, any gains in these areas can be offset by a very strong dollar and more rain.
Medium-good 2-year steers $865-$1180, medium crossbred yearling steers $390-$462, weaner steers $350-$380, prime heifers $802-$1050, medium crossbred yearling heifers $380-$482, weaner heifers $180-$330, boner cows $365-$815.

COUNTIES
Most classes of cattle held value at TUAKAU last Thursday, with the exception of two-year heifers which were back by around 5-10c/kgLW on the previous week, Elders agent Craig Chamberlain said.
The 440-head yarding included some heavy R3 steers, 450-600kg, which traded at $1.98-$2.04/kgLW. R2 steers, 400-480kg, returned $1.89-$2.11/kgLW and 320-400kg steers earned $2.02-$2.18/kgLW. R1 steers, 200-260kg, sold at $460-$575 with 150-200kg steers making $380-$475.
R2 heifers, 330-380kg, made $1.83-$1.95/kgLW and good quality 18-month whiteface heifers at 250kg earned $2.51/kgLW. R1 heifers, 170-220kg, sold at $370-$475 and 140-170kg heifers returned $320-$430.
At last Wednesday's prime sale, heavy steers, 650kg-plus, traded at $2.02-$2.18/kgLW, with medium steers, 550-650kg, making $1.97-$2.03/kgLW and trade steers $1.96-$2.02/kgLW.
Heavy heifers returned $1.96-$2.01/kgLW and trade heifers earned $1.80-$2.02/kgLW. Chamberlain said beef cow prices were particularly strong, with heavy cows making $1.53-$1.74/kgLW and medium types $1.42-$1.51/kgLW.
Heavy Friesian cows also sold well at $1.51-$1.68/kgLW and medium boners returned $1.37-$1.48/kgLW.
The offering at last Monday's sheep sale included some very good prime lambs which sold at $104-$131. Medium lambs made $88-$96 and lighter lambs $75-$86. Medium store lambs traded at $68-$73 with lighter sorts making $53-$65. Heavy prime ewes made $70-$83 and medium ewes $52-$62.

BAY OF PLENTY
Small yardings are becoming the winter norm across the North Island and Tuesday's RANGIURU sale was another example.
Better conditioned cattle are selling well as are yearlings and feeder calves are starting to appear.
Older steers made to $1050, $1.98/kgLW with 400-480kg steers making $820-$880, $1.96-$2.00/kgLW. Younger steers in the lower weight ranges produced some good returns with 250-350kg lots peaking at $2.12/kgLW, $475-$678, lines between 150-250kg fetching $290-$540, $1.53-$2.53/kgLW and smaller, $230-$370, $1.81-$3.03/kgLW, depending on quality.
It was the same for young heifers with rates of $2.54-$2.68/kgLW. A pen of 110kg heifers went at $295, $2.68/kgLW. At the other end $845-$900, $2.02/kgLW, was paid for heifers weighing over 400kg and $600-$725 bought 350-400kg lines, $1.66-$1.86/kgLW.
Yearling bulls made $390-$490, $2.04-$2.43/kgLW and 362kg bulls made $635, $1.75/kgLW. $1480 was paid for 698kg ox, $2.12/kgLW and 561kg prime heifers fetched to $960, $1.71/kgLW. Boner cow numbers were very low, the market steady. Heavy lots made $860-$1050, $1.48-$1.62/kgLW and light were down to $330, $1.07/kgLW.
Prime lambs returned $117 and average ewes $77.

WAIKATO
A very small entry of ox caused a price rise at Frankton with per kilogram rates rising to as much as $2.23/kgLW.
Almost all lots fetched better than $2/kgLW. Heavy ox over 600kg brought $1225-$1458 according to information from Allied Farmers and lots weighing over 500kg realised $1126-$1279 and 448kg ox sold at $930. Prime heifers also sold well, all selling above $2/kgLW. The heavier lines brought $1107-$1214, $2.05-$2.18/kgLW and $980-$1042 was paid for heifers over 450kg, $2.10-$2.16/kgLW. The majority of the heifers were whiteface and those that tipped the scales at just over 400kg returned $814-$888.
The short yarding of prime cows made $758-$946, $1.54-$1.66/kgLW while one 625kg lot went at $1006, $1.61/kgLW. Few boner cows came forward and they made $483-$627, $1.18-$1.49/kgLW.
Prime lambs made to $125 for heavy, $105 for medium weights and $80 for light. Best trade ewes topped at $80 selling from $53 and store lambs ranged from $40-$80.

TARANAKI
Prime heifers, steers and heavily conditioned cows sold well in the prime pens at STRATFORD on Tuesday.
Prime Hereford/Friesian steers 650kg $2.14/kgLW, prime Hereford-cross heifers 610kg, $2.03/kgLW, prime Hereford/Friesian heifers 455-560kg, $1.40-$2.09/kgLW, 4-year Jersey bulls 670kg, $2.03/kgLW, 3-year Angus bulls 575-657.5kg, $1.97-$2.055/kgLW, 2-year Hereford bulls 565kg, $1.99kg, 2-year Hereford-cross heifers 395-435kg, $1.60-$1.65/kgLW, 2-year Angus/Friesian heifers 395-425kg, $1.84-$1.85/kgLW.
Hereford/Friesian cows 375kg, $1.25/kgLW, Angus-cross cows 375kg, $1.25/kgLW, Simmental-cross cows 605kg, $1.725/kgLW, once-calved Angus/Friesian heifers 370-405kg, $1.335-$1.36/kgLW, once-calved Hereford-cross heifers 370kg, $1.335/kgLW, in-milk Friesian-cross cows 420kg, $1.29/kgLW, empty Jersey heifers 385kg, $1.51/kgLW, empty Jersey-cross heifers 362.5kg, $1.095/kgLW, empty Friesian heifers 325-457.5kg, $1.14-$1.80/kgLW, empty Shorthorn heifers 405kg, $1.88/kgLW, empty Friesian cows 415-515kg, $1.18-$1.285/kgLW, empty Shorthorn cows 485kg, $1.90/kgLW, empty Jersey cows 377.5kg, $1.145/kgLW, empty Ayrshire cows 375kg, $1.165/kgLW.
In-calf Shorthorn cows 600kg, $1.40/kgLW, store Friesian cows 325-525kg, $1.045-$1.64/kgLW, store crossbred cows 398.3kg, $1.13/kgLW, store Jersey cows 290kg, $0.82/kgLW, crossbred cow & calf 295kg, $0.97/kgLW.
Dairy shed: close to profit Jersey heifers $1050, close to profit crossbred heifers $1250, Friesian heifers & calves $650, in-milk Jersey heifers $500, in-milk crossbred Friesian heifers $775-$900, in-milk Friesian-cross heifers $1000, in-milk Friesian heifers $625-$850, in-milk Jersey cows $525-$850, in-calf crossbred heifers $900, in-calf Friesian heifers $575-$800, in-calf Jersey heifers $600-$1100, springing Friesian-cross cows $600, springing crossbred heifers $650.
Prices remain steady on a very small yarding at STRATFORD on Wednesday.
Twenty-month Hereford/Friesian steers 455kg, $892, 20-month Friesian steers 380kg, $678, 20-month Angus/Friesian heifers 340kg, $535, 18-month Friesian-cross steers 290kg, $525, 18-month Hereford-cross heifers 289.2-310kg, $600-$610, 18-month Hereford/Friesian heifers 370kg, $630, 1-year Friesian bulls 238.3kg, $475, R1 purebred Dexter bulls 155kg, $220, R1 purebred Angus bulls 207.2-271.7kg, $560-$675, autumn-born Angus/Friesian steers 230-249.3kg, $455-$555.
Prime lambs $90-$111, mixed sex lambs $30-$60, 4-tooth mixed sex sheep $41, 4-tooth ewes $39, 2-tooth ewes $39, in-lamb Suffolk ewes $51, RWR Romney ewes $61-$71, RWR ewes $25.

POVERTY BAY
Store lambs keep coming out at MATAWHERO and last week's entry of 1944 did contain some lines with reasonable size and length although, once again, there were many very small lines penned.
Around 50 pens were used with only four lines numbering over 100 head.
Meat traders were hard to stop on the heavier lambs and there are still finishers who are in a position to handle more lambs.
Good ewe lambs fetched $80 and more, mediums $73-$76 and small $57-$62. Heavy male lambs brought $83-$94, mediums $71-$79 and small $60-$68.
Overall, the sale was firm to a little firmer than the previous week but small types are not attracting much attention.
CPK rates ranged from $2.07-$2.13 for heavy while the better store sorts made $2.29-$2.55/kgLW.
The prime ewe market firmed again with the heaviest ewes making up to $94 and quite plain ewes fetched $75. Lambs suitable for the trade made $105-$117 for heavy and $82-$95 for others.
Five year ewes, RWR brought $78.50 and low mouthed ewes SIL went at $76 while store ewes were $31-$62.50 according to condition. 2416 total sheep were yarded.

HAWKE'S BAY
Numbers were low and quality was varied and it did not take long to dispose of the 110 cattle at STORTFORD LODGE.
All bar two small lots of older steers were yearlings, Buyers paid reasonable money for the better lines with steers making $2.22-$2.65/kgLW.
A nice lot of solid Angus yearling steers topped at $722, $2.24/kgLW and South Devons just over 200kg brought $530-$585, $2.42-$2.65/kgLW. $505-$540 bought useful yearling heifers, $2.10-$2.31/kgLW but light crossbred heifers went at $210, $1.13/kgLW.
Four 547kg R3 steers made $970, $1.77/kgLW and nine R2 steers, 406kg brought $840, $2.07/kgLW.
In the sheep section attractive SIL 4-year ewes fetched $109 and 5-year ewes, also SIL, made $75-$85 while a small line of ewes SIL triplets made $103.50.
Store lambs numbered under 2000 head. Heavy mixed sex lambs over 40kg went to $112.50 and the best male lambs recorded $96 but with many lines in the lower weight ranges and quality varying and lot of lines traded at $54-$69.

MANAWATU
There was quite a lift in the market at FEILDING yesterday with most lambs up $5-$6 a head and some up $8-$10 on a couple of weeks ago, Elders agent Damian Clarke reported.
Though the market was strong for lambs the 5000 yarding was made up of many smaller lines. There were about 600 ewes on offer.
The best of the in-lamb ewes made $92 and a handful of ewes with lambs at foot, the first of the season, made $54.
The best male lambs made $100, with $82-$90 for good examples and $74-$78 for medium. The best of the ewe lambs made $90-$91 with $75-$80 for good and medium fetching $68-$72. There were still a few very small lambs on offer for $45-$55.
And there as a good all round but small cattle sale, Elders agent Rhys Staples said.
A good line of 30 2-year steers from Turangi made $2.12-$2.15/kgLW with the tops making $1335. 2-year Charolais steers made $2.15-$2.25/kgLW, good 2-year heifers $2/kgLW, R1 Angus steers $685 at $3/kgLW and good yearling Angus heifers 230kg, $2.35/kgLW.

CANTERBURY
This week saw a small yarding of quality prime stock at CANTERBURY PARK, PGG Wrightson livestock manager Shane Dickson said.
Prices for prime ewes and prime lambs jumped $3-$5 a head. Prime lambs trade up to $137 for the best sorts down to $50 at the bottom of the market with an average of $102 for the 414 head on offer. The 345 prime ewes traded up to $111 for the best with an average of $69.10.
There was also a small yarding of store lambs, prices lifted by $5 per head. The 313 lambs sold at an average of $74 and up to $93 for the best.
There was a medium yarding of quality prime cattle, prices lifted 4-5c/kgLW for steers and heifers. Prime steers 401-480kg sold at $1.71/kgLW, 481-580kg at $1.80-$2.07/kgLW, 581-650kg, $1.91-$2.14/kgLW. Prime heifers 401-480kg $1.88-$1.95/kgLW, 481-580kg $1.78-$2/kgLW. Prime cows sold for $1.33/kgLW or $924 a head.

MID CANTERBURY
A reasonable yarding of prime stock met with good demand at TINWALD with the top heavy prime lambs fetching $147 and top sales of store lambs up to $80, PGG Wrightson livestock representative Emmett Sparrow reported.
Heavy prime lambs earned $115-$130 while medium types realised $95-$107 and lighter lambs $81-$90.
The best of the heavy prime ewes returned up to $110 with good heavy ewes earning $75-$85, medium $57-$68 and lighter ewes $45-$55.
Good forward store lambs fetched $80 with medium types returning up to $65 and smaller lambs selling around $40-$45.

SOUTH CANTERBURY
A record was made at TEMUKA last week with the highest ever price reached for a prime ewe sale when an exceptional pen of adult butcher ewes fetched $177, PGG Wrightson livestock manager Joe Higgins reported.
In an otherwise reasonably mundane sale good heavy butcher ewes earned $98-$130 while medium types returned $77-$93, light $69-$75 and stores $57-$66. Heavy one-shear ewes earned $85-$99, medium $75-$84 and lighter types $58-$68.
Prime lambs held firm on the previous sale with good heavy types fetching $125-$154, medium $105-$120 and lighter lambs $85-$104.
Forward store lambs returned $78-$90 while medium types earned $65-$77 and smaller lambs $50-$62.
The prime cattle sale also held firm on the previous week with steers 600-750kg returning $1.97-$2.06/kgLW, 480-600kg $1.86-$2.08/kgLW, 400-460kg $1.85-$1.94/kgLW and dairy types 500-650kg $1.63-$1.92/kgLW.
Heifers 500-600kg earned $1.84-$2.06/kgLW, 450-500kg $1.76-$1.94/kgLW, 380-440kg $1.58-$1.71/kgLW and dairy types 380-500kg $1.53-$1.88/kgLW. Bulls 550-880kg sold from $1.49-$1.97/kgLW while lighter types 440-550kg returned $1.56-$1.92/kgLW.
Beef cows 580-750kg realised $1.20-$1.43/kgLW with lighter sorts 400-500kg earning
$1.15-$1.30/kgLW, dairy 500-750kg $1.10-$1.32 and poorer dairy types 65c-$1.10/kgLW.

OTAGO
Another good sized yarding of prime sheep was offered at BALCLUTHA on Wednesday with all categories selling on par with the previous week, Barry Osborne of PGG Wrightson, Milton, reported.
Prime sheep: heavy lambs $126-$142, medium $112-$121, light $92-$106. Good quality 2-tooths $90, medium $77, light $60. Heavy ewes $98-$116, medium $85-$94, light $68-$80. Lower condition ewes $25-$52.
A small but quality yarding of store lambs was offered and sold firm on the previous week.
Store sheep: top woolly lambs $85.50, medium $69, light $51. Top shorn lambs $86.50, medium $75, light $50.

SOUTHLAND
Lambs sold on a good market at LORNEVILLE on Tuesday but ewe prices eased on recent weeks.
Prime sheep: heavy lambs $120-$140, medium $110-$120, light $85-$105. Good quality 2-tooths $80-$90, medium $70-$80, light $50-$60. Heavy ewes $80-$95, medium $65-$75, light $50-$60. Lower condition ewes $25-$40. Heavy local trade rams $40-$50, medium $20-$30, light $10.
Store sheep: Top woolly lambs $70-$80, medium $60-$70, light $50-$60. Tail end lambs $30-$40.
Small yardings of prime and store cattle sold on a good market.
Prime cattle: Good cows 440-510kg, $1.20-$1.30/kgLW, medium cows 400-500kg, $1-$1.10/kgLW, light cows 350-400kg, 80c-95c/kgLW.
Store cattle: Medium 2-year-Friesian steers 403-428kg, $710-$720, medium 1-year Angus heifers 120-145kg, $256-$310, medium 2-year Angus-cross heifers 280-335kg, $480-$570.
Ewes sold on a par with previous weeks at CHARLTON on Thursday.
Prime sheep: heavy lambs $120-$140, medium $100-$115, light $85-$95. Good quality 2-tooths $77-$85, light $60-$68. Heavy shorn ewes $95-$100, medium $88-$92, light $78-$85. Lower condition ewes $40-$50. Heavy local trade rams $65-$68, medium $50.
Top shorn store lambs $80-$83, medium $68-$74, light $50.

  Printable View