Grass growth has been fuelling better demand for stock out of Waikato, as well as a competitive schedule from processors – and the proof is in the elevated returns at the weekly Frankton sales.
Frankton presents two large cattle sales each week. The Tuesday sale is hosted by PGG Wrightson and supported by the online auction platform bidr, while the Wednesday store sale is run by New Zealand Farmers Livestock (NZFL) and the online auction platform MyLivestock. Both sales post similar throughput of prime and store cattle.
In stark contrast to the current dry conditions in the southeast and last year’s sodden paddocks, this year’s grass market lifted the average price across all stock classes at these sales. Prices are currently higher than year-ago levels and higher than most other saleyards in the North Island.
Compared to results out of Feilding, the average price for R2 Hereford-Friesian steers and heifers has been up by 10-14c/kg this month. Weaner Friesian bulls have been returning an additional 24c/kg.
At this week’s PGG Wrightson sale at Frankton, 507 store and 194 prime cattle were up for grabs. Over 60% of the store offerings were R1 Friesian bulls that weighed 274-321kg.
The growing per-head price of older Friesian bulls and the lack of supply have turned a lot of buyers towards the market for younger bulls with plenty of weight, making this class a popular option at the yards.
The sizeable supply was easily absorbed by strong demand as they returned $980-$1095. Boner Friesian cows made up most of the prime sale. Better presented types weighing 471-807kg topped the section at $1.96-$2.06/kg.
At Wednesday’s NZFL sale, 156 prime and 183 store cattle were yarded. The top R2 dairy-beef steers made $3.04-3.10/kg, and weaner/R1 dairy-beef heifers, 158-227kg, returned $550-$730. Prime heifers, 456-536kg, lifted and most sold for $2.92-$3.03/kg. Boner Friesian and Friesian-cross cows, 403-533kg, made $1.80-$2.06/kg.
