Calf prices recover at Kaikoura

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 19

Calf prices recover at Kaikoura

After a weak and uncertain opening, the calf-selling season took a turn for the better at Kaikoura last week. However, the market was still well short of last year’s rates, particularly for steers.

This < year’s Kaikoura offering was much smaller — 940 head compared with 1640 a year ago — and this no doubt, contributed....tp ...the improved tone of the market. Because of the very dry season, the offering was not as good as usual, although there was. not a large tailend as is often seen at this Shle.

Compared with earlier sales in the Canterbury area this season, the market for both steers and heifers was as miich as $lO a head stronger. It was alsb distinctly better than earlier sales at Blenheim. . Whereas calves in the medium grade have ' been struggling to reach $4O in Canterbury so far, similar steer calves at Kaikoura were reaching $oO. A comparison with last year’s market showed that values for steer calves were at least running $lO a head easier. However, in actual returns, most vendors experienced a drop of up to $2O on steers. Some of this decline was attributable to the smaller class of calf. Best steer calves sold at $55 to $6O, good average $4B to $52, small to medium $35 to $45, and young down to $25. H, J. Hewson gained top price of $6O for a pen of 13 Angus and Angus-cross, and the best of four pens from C. A. McGregor (Greenhills) fetched $59. For his line of 92 steers, this vendor averaged $5O, a good figure for this season. Heifer calves also met a stronger inquiry than at earlier sales this season. There were few strong prices, however. Compared with a year ago, the market ranged from firm to $5 a head easier. In spite of the much reduced offering, the heifers which came forward were fully adquate for the demand.

H. J. Hewson also topped; this section with a pen of nine Herefords at $5l, and; 13 Angus-cross at the same price. M. and E. Boyd had a sale of 13 Angus and Angus-i cross at $4B. Otherwise,; I sales ranged from $25 to I $35, with small calves down to $l4. i This year’s sale was the ; smallest seen at Kaikoura for many years, and stems from several factors. The main one, of course, was the very dry season, associated with the- very poor outlook; | for calf prices. This induced la number of vendors to I hold their calves, or send in reduced numbers. In the present situation some have decided to retain calves and book more cows into the freezing works. It is probably cold comfort to those who held back calves .to know that their decision did, in fact, help those who continued to sell as usual. Not an insignificant factor, also, in the reduced offering is the continuing decline ,in icow numbers. This follows jseveral seasons of rather depressed prices for calves. i Any further improvement lin the season’s calf market I still rests on further rain, I followed by mild weather. i Sales of store calves in-i I eluded: —

Steers.—D. E. and M. Aitken (Svvyncombe), 49 Angus and; Angus-cross at $4O to $49, 46 Herefords at $42 to $5O, the line) averaging $4B; Mrs P. L. Chaney (Surrey Downs), 52 Angus-cross and Hereford at $33 to $3B; C.l A. McGregor (Greenhills), 92 [ Angus and Angus-cross at $46 [ to $59, averaging $5O; M. and E. I Boyd, 45 Angus and Angus-cross! at $5l to $57; estate J. A. Davies I (Tawaho), 60 Herefords at $4O to $43; W. J. Morgan (Okarahia Downs), 53 Angus at $26 to $47; Fernleigh Estate, .21 Herefords at $42; H. J. Hewson, 24 Angus and Angus-cross at $45 to $6O, 34 Herefords at $49; Rakanui Farm, 27 Angus at $4l to $4B; Mahunga Farm, 19 LimousinAngus cross at $43; A. D. Appleby (Imphall, 25 Angus and Angus-cross at $34 to $47; R. G. Bairatt (Puhi Puhi), 22 Angus at $35 to $43; J. A. Paton (The Birches), 18 Angus at $37 to $49. Heifers.—C. A. McGregor. 47 Angus at $34 to $35, 25 at $lB to $2O; D. E. and M. Aitken, 33 [ Angus and Angus-cross at $2B to! $35. 30 Herefords at $25 to $35;! J. A. Paton, 28 Angus at $24 to I $25; W. J. Morgan, 45 Angus at| $2l to $25; M. and E. Boyd. 30

Angus at $4O to $4B; R. G. Barratt, 20 Angus at $l6 to $2B: H. J. Hewson, 13 Angus-cross at $5l, 20 Herefords at $3O to $5l; Fernleigh Estate, 19 Herefords at $32; Rakanui Farm, 14 Angus and Angus-cross at $22.