Steer calves in demand

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 3

Steer calves in demand

] Steer calves met a good, solid demand at the annual Kaikoura and east coast cattle sale on Thursday, but 'the heifer market was again I very w'eak. ; The top draftings of steer cAlves improved $lO on last I year’s rates, while the me- ‘ dium to good average calves ; lifted $5 lo $7. The steer market, was frequently stronger than at Addington earlier in the j week. I This year's yarding was smaller than usual. Ihe calf 'entry was 1640, compared ;with 2135 last year. As .usual, it included a good selection of well-grown calves land, with the drop in num- ; bers, a much smaller proportion of tail-enders. ; Steer calf vendors must | have been fairly pleased | with the outcome of this part of the sale, for the top 'draftings regularly reached 's7o. : A small pen of Angus- ] cross and Hereford steer icalves from I. W. Muir fetched top price of $B3. Being 'early-born, these were in a (category of their own. Best spring-born calves Isold to $74; good average ■ $5B to $64, medium $4B to $55, and small and young calves at $3O to $45.

Heifer calves had a very .1 poor sale, with values no t better than those ruling last., t year. Buyers were prepared t.to take them only at nominal rates. r It was an unusual situt ation to see useful heifer . calves selling al. two-tooth 3 ewe prices, with younger calves at barely the price of a fat lamb. . I. W. Muir secured top ’price of $6O for a small lot " of choice Angus-cross and Herefords. Already they appeared to be an ideal” veal v proposition. Amons the main annual lines, D. E. and M. Aitken sold their top pen of ' Angus at $3B. Good average heifer calves jsold at $3O to $35, with odd ' pens to $3B; medium at $24 . to $2B, and small and young J at $l4 to $22. 5 Several district buyers again bought a fair share of j;the market. Their competition undoubtedly "made” . the steer calf sale. There i-'w’as again good inquiry from .Cheviot and Parnassus, , while other sales were made j to the Blenheim area and the Marlborough Sounds. s A selection of sales e is: ) Steer calves.—D. E. and M. /Aitken (Swyncombe), 94 Angus, 3 Angus-cross and Hereford at $53 to S7U, averaging $66; Mrs P. L.

Chanex (Surrey Downs), 841 Hereford and Angus-cross at $3O 'to $57, averaging $4B; W. J.* i Morgan (Okaialiia Downs i, 57 Angus and Angus cross at $4O to $66; M. and E. Boyd (Kaikoura),i 29 Angus and Angus-cross at •'s69 to $74; T. F. Smith (WaiauToa), 23 Angus at 572: W. F. i Broughan (Stag Creek). 25 Angus and Angus-cross at. $6O; G. King (Middle Hill), 33 Angus-cross atj 543 to $6B. 1.1 Hereford at $59: ' Rakanui Farm (Kaikoura), 26! Angus at *4O to S4B: A. D.l Appleby (Imphal), 29 Angus at $34 to $5O: H. J. Hewson 'Kaikoura'. 29 Angus-cross and; Hereford at $5l to $66; Mahunga 'Farm (Kaikoura), 36 Angus at| $64 to $67: D. S. Kennedy iPuke ' Puke). 91 Angus at $32 to $6B; , 1.. H. Weavers (Sawyers Downs', •25 Angus and Angus-cross at $7O; j J. G. Armstrong (Greenbraes), 61 (Angus and Angus-cross at $3O to | $4B; estate J. A. Dax ies iTawahoi,' 79 Hereford at §32 to $59; Fernleigh Estate (Fernleighi, 30 Herei ford at $45 to $66: J. E. Quaife 'Merriburn), 20 Hereford at §s6;i M. and M. Mackie (Kaikoura*.| 15 Angus-Shorthorn cross at §54 to $72; A. A. Boyd (Kaikoura), 14 Angus-cross and Hereford at $67. Heifer calves. —D. E. and M. -Aitken, 30 Angus and Angus- ( •cross at $36 to $3B; 11 Hereford! at $3O; G. King. 17 Angus andi Angus-cross at. 535; Mrs P. L. ‘ . Chaney, 53 Hereford at S2U to ; $26, 32 Angus-cross at $lB to $24: W. J. Morgan, 4! Angus at $17.50 I ito $32; T. F. Smith. 52 Anguscross at $34 to $36; Mahunga Farm, 40 Angus at $3l to $32; 1 A. D. Appleby, 28 Angus at $22 to $2B; estate J. A. Davies, 35 Hereford at $22 to $3O; J. E.; Quaife. 22 Hereford at $33; L. H.j Weavers, 18 Angus at $24: MJ and M. Mackie. 10 Shorthorn-’ ; cross at $37; Rakanui Farm. 25 Angus and Angus-cross at $25. ‘