Store calves down at Culverden

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 13

Store calves down at Culverden

The strong interest! shown in store calves at Addington on Wednes-! day was not repeated at the first Culverden calf sale on Thursday. It was far from a good] day for most vendors, and in sharp contrast to this sale! last year, when several pens of steers reached or exceeded SlOO. Values at this week’s sale 1 were anything from 30 to 50 per cent back on last year’s rates. The sale opened with) values about $8 a head' behind rates ruling at Addington the previous day,! and although there was?

! some improvement as selling progressed, they remained $4 : to $5 short of Addington ;rates. Although the sale drew a fair following of fanners, it iwas evident that manv had! come only to appraise the' market, for competition wasi nowhere near as strong as it! usually is at Culverden. The sale drew an entry of 14121 Jtead, of which 1640 were steers \ -Most of the calves were in the : medium-sized category, and as | such, ideal tor wintering over land, re-sale as stores, or for fattening on a longer-term basis f ew pens came within the scope >of the fattener wanting to have stock ready for the market from -November on. This fixture may be a little soon for calves in this area. An- . other month on the cow might, c e -a been their advantage, tor it was noticeable on Thurs-

day that the few calves with size drew quite brisk competition. As already mentioned, values were a long way back on last years rates. Vendors who last . year had Tegular sales at $65 to sold similar calves on I Thursday at $3B to $4B, with a tew sales at higher money. | 'Hie estate of D. W. O’Calj laghan again topped the sale . with 10 Angus aud Angus-cross . steers at $72, and a further 15 |at $7O. This was well down on ’last year, when the estate’s top pen made $ll5. J Hunt /Maruia), sold a pen of 15 Angus-cross at S6l, and A. K-. McLaughlin (Culverden). sold 24 Hereford-cross at $6O. Otherwise. there was only a small number of sales at more than $5O. Good average steer calves sold at $45 to $52. medium calves at $35 to $4O. and small and young calves at $2O to $32. HEIFERS FOR $55 Heifer calves met a very mod-! erate inquiry, and values were I

nominal. Where last year only five pens sold at less than $4O, this year only two pens made above this figure. The estate of O’Callaghan maintained its record for gaining top prices, with a pen of 13 Angus-cross at $55, and a further 12 at $49. Generally, average heifer calves sold at $32 to $36, with small to medium at $22 to $3O. A selection of sales included: Steers.—M F. Vernon, Toppesfield (Waiau), 164 Angus at $33 to $54, averaging $44.70; J. W. Cottier. Windford Hills (Waiau), 172 Angus and Angus-cross at $3O to $47. averaging $37.85; I.ands and Survey Department. Cheddar Valley (Waiau). 272 Hereford and Angus-cross at $29 to $5O, averaging $45; I. 11. Atkinson, Woodbank (Hanmer Springs), 98 Murray Gray-cross and Angus at? $36 to $44. averaging almost I $42; J. W. Thomson (Maruia), 78 j Angus at $33.50 to $49. averaging! $47; C. G. and W. S. Gardner, Emu Plains (Waiau). 44 Angus at I $52 to $56.50; Hitchin Hills, Ltd.' [ (Hawarden), 41 Hereford and; Angus-cross at $55 to $56; J. R. I Wilson and Son. St Helens (Han-' mer Springs) 45 Hereford and! 'Angus-cross at $33 to $4B; Lands! and Survey Department (Glenbourne). 119 Angus at $39 to 547; T. G. Kelly (Springs Junction). 42 Hereford and Angus-cross at $3B to $48.50; 11. T. Grigg, Cascade <Rotherham). 43 Angus at $45; J. Hunt (Maruia). 80 Angus and Angus-cross at $46 to $6l, averaging more than $5O; C. H. Gray, Longford (Waiau), 25 Shorthorn and Angus at $5O to $59; G. S Long and Son, Chatterton (Hanmer Springs), 33 Angus and Angus cross at $4O to $5O. Heifers.—C. W. Anderson (Murray Downs), 12 Herefords at $5O; J. W. Thomson (Maruia), 40 Angus at $2B; Lands and Survey Department (Glenbourne), 93 Angus and Angus-cross at $22 to $31.50; A. K. McLaughlin (St Leonards). 22 Herefords at $35; W. A. Newell, Wansden (Waiau), 19 Herefords at $38.50; G. S Long and Son (Chatterton) 31 Angus at $25 to $32; J. Hunt (Maruia). 26 Angus at $3l to $36; M. F. Vernon (Tonpesfield). 61 Angus at $27 to 30; J. McK. Pugh (The Conway). 31 Angus and Angus-cross at $30.50 to $32.50, 25 Herefords at $3l; 11. T. Grigg (Cascade) 24 Angus at $31.50; J. W. Cottier (Windford Hills).’ 48 Angus and Angus-cross at $25 to $26.