BEST CALVES RISE $l0 AT TINWALD

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 22

BEST CALVES RISE $l0 AT TINWALD

Very dry conditions throughout the autumn had no adverse effect on values when the first of the autumn calf sales in Mid and North Canterbury was held at Tinwald yesterday. A number of the top lots of steer and heifer calves rose $lO to $l2 on last year, while others of medium to average size rose $5 to $7.

At 240 head, compared with 540 last year, the yarding was quite inadequate for the demand. Considering the dry season, the calves came forward in quite good order, although some of the top lots did not have as much size as usual. If yesterday’s sale served as an indication of price levels for the remainder of the autumn, average steer calves will readily fetch $7O or more and better quality $BO and more. While yesterday’s offering was mainly of average quality, the lowest price for steer calves was $64, and for heifers $55. A pen of eight white Shorthorns from the estate of A. B. Fechney (Westerfield) topped the steer calf section at $B7. This was $9 better than the vendor's

top-priced calves last year. With four sales of Shorthorns ranging from $67.50 to $B7, the improvement on last year averaged $5.50 a pen. V. C. Latimer (Shepherd’s Bush) had a sale of 10 Herefords at sB3—a rise of $11.50 and Fechney Brothers (Westerfield), a pen of 16 Herefords at $7B, a rise of $6. Whitby Pastures, of Lauriston, showed a rise of $ll on three pens of Angus steers, with sales at $66.50 to $72.

Fechney Brothers topped the heifer section with a pen of eight Herefords at $73, a rise of $12.50. Whitby Pastures had sales of Angus heifers at $55 to $67, and C. R. Sparrow (Lismore) sales of Herefords and Angus cross at $65.50 and $66, a rise of $6. A range of values is: Best steer calves, $B3 to $B7; good average, $72 to $7B; small to medium, $64 to $7O. Best Angus and Angus cross heifer calves, $65 to $7O; medium. $5B to $63; smaller, down to $55. Good average Herefords, $66 to 's73.