The Northland livestock market is best quoted as "very strong with a lot of quality cattle on offer" as we move into early summer. The weather is a bit of a mixture with a lot of strong wind, hot days, some cool nights and heavy local showers.
DARGAVILLE SALE:
After two large sales Dargaville was back to normal with a partial report on Thursday 9th. 2-year steers sold for $1190 to $1550, then 15-month steers for $905 and 1-year bulls $680. Good 15-month heifers made $705 to $765 and 1-year heifers $600.
PERIA SALE:
Peria had a good offering of 400 to 500 cattle on Thursday 9th which sold readily throughout to mostly local buyers. 2-year Whiteface steers sold to $1530, then Charolais $1100 down to Friesians for $900. 1-year Simmental steers sold for $900 to $1080 then $700 to $800. 1-year bulls fetched $725. Angus/Friesian weaner bulls sold for $560 to $600 and steers $600. 2-year Whiteface heifers made $1150 to $1200 with beef heifers $1100 and Brindle heifers $900 with other 1-year heifers Angus $1040 then Simmental heifers $1000 and Angus/Whiteface $900 to $960 down to $760 to $850. Weaner Angus Friesian heifers made $610 and Whiteface $600. Cows and calves sold for $1090 to $1280. A good offering of cows saw heavy ones sell to $1445, then $1000 to $1250 down to $850 to $900.
MATAKOHE SALE:
Matakohe had a good yarding of 400 cattle on 10th of November. The market was quoted as strong like all other sales. 30-month Angus cross steers sold for $1850 then Friesian steers $1450 to $1520, then Whiteface $1400 to Angus/Friesian $1424. 1-year Friesian cross steers made $830 to $1100. 15-month bulls sold from $800 to $950. Weaner Whiteface steers made $702. 2-year Whiteface steers made $1100 to $1230. 1-year Whiteface heifers made $830 to $1030 and weaner Whiteface heifers sold for $650. Heavy cull cows sold for $800 to $1230.
WELLSFORD SALE:
Wellsford was a bit smaller on Monday 13th prices were strong enough but the quality of the offering was plain to poor. Good rising 2-year steers made $1200 to $1310 (3.05c-3.52c) then $1030 to $1185 (2.93c-3.33c) down to $800 to $890 (3.14c-3.61c). 1-year steers fetched $560 to $750 (2.31c-3.54c). Good 2-year heifers made $1030 to $990 (3.04c-3.24c). 1-year heifers sold for $765 to $855 (3.30c-3.11c). Weaner steers sold for $540 to $750 (4.07c-5.80c). Weaner bulls sold for $430 to $500 (3.57c-5.06c) and weaner heifers fetched $300 to $545 (2.27c-5.00c).
Tuesday sale: Once again the Wellsford sale was small but strong. Prime ox made $1408 to $1583 (3.03c-3.06c). Prime heifers made $1534 to $1627 (2.90c-3.03c) heavy prime cows made $1232 (2.65c) and light cows $712 to $955 (1.78c-2.10c).
Sheep: A good entry of sheep sold very well. Heavy prime lambs made $140 to $165 then $110 to $141 and light lambs $78 to $95. Mixed age ewes made $131 to $147 down to $101 to $116.
KAURI SALE:
Kauri had a good medium sale on Tuesday 14th with 83 mixed cattle and a handful of 14 feeder calves that sold very well. Heavy 2-year prime Simmental steers sold for $1900 and 2-year Whiteface steers made $1110. 15-month steers made $830 and 1-year steers sold for $840 to $880 for Herefords and $770 for x-breads and Whiteface steers down to $600. 2-year Hereford bulls made $885 and 1-year bulls made $710 down to $505 to $590. Weaner bulls made $490 to $505. 1-year heifers made $800 for Whiteface and $600 to $670. Good feeder calves made $300 to $365 down to $160.
KAIKOHE SALE:
With 750 cattle offered on Wednesday 15th Kaikohe was much the same as last week only the Friesian bulls were a bit stronger. Several pens of heavy 30-month steers sold from $1400 to $1580 (3.08c-3.12c) then $1140 to $1380 (2.85c-3.09c) down to $1070 (3.23c). Medium steers made $900 to $905 (3.12c-3.63c). 15-month Jersey bulls fetched $830 to $900 (2.40c). Heavy 1-year bulls made $1070 to $1090 (3.23c-3.29c). 18-month bulls Charolais Angus and Whiteface made $830 to $870 (3.10c-3.20c). Weaner bulls sold for $550 to $650 (3.30c-5.70c) down to $370 to $420 (3.26c-4.26c). 18-month steers made $1240 for Charolais (3.40c) and Angus steers $655 (3.00c). Autumn born Hereford cross steers made $715 (3.60c). Heavy heifers sold for $1340 to $1530 (3.03c-3.06c) then $1140 to $1160 (2.89c-2.92c). Short Horn and Angus cross heifers made $1010 to $1100 (2.85c-2.90c) and 15-month heifers $840 to $920 (2.78c-3.07c). 1-year heifers made $700 to $720 (3.11c-3.30c). Weaner heifers made $600 to $670 (2.87c-3.22c) down to $455 to $510 (3.00c-3.60c). Heavy cull cows sold for $995 to $1070 (1.99c-2.08c) and Jersey cows $500 (1.78c).
- Brian Sills