Sales of yearling beef bulls have begun with average prices down about 10% on last spring because of the difficulties facing dairy farmers, the main young bull buying group.
Multiple Steak of Origin award-winning Northland Angus stud Te Atarangi had an average price of $3457 for 112 sold out of 117 offered.
This was down $300 on last year, but vendor Chris Biddles said that is totally understandable given current farming conditions and confidence.
“Only a handful of bulls sold under what it costs to produce them, given the investment we make to produce a safe calving-ease product,” Biddles said.
Top price was $9200 paid for lot 12, Te Atarangi Wheta T020 by Robin and Jacqueline Blackwood at Mangaotea Stud, Inglewood.
A few days earlier Argyle Angus, Kaikohe, had a full clearance of 31 yearling bulls, averaged $3400 and had a top price of $6700.
Piquet Hill Farms Angus, northern Waikato, sold 28 of 33 and averaged $2596 with a top of $4500.
To begin the Hereford sales, Waimaire and Otengi studs in the Shepherd family, Kāeo, Northland, sold 41 of 61, averaged $2700 and had a top price of $5200 for lot 35, Otengi Echuca 415, paid by the Beard family, Kaitāia.
