Strong support for bull sales

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 26

Strong support for bull sales

Commercial beef breeder? from many parts of the South Island gave very strong support to two North. Canterbury bull sales this week.

At a time when the immediate prospects of . the beef export trade are uncertain, the success of the two sales was a pleasant surprise for the seven vendors involved.

At the Kaikoura bull sale on Wednesday the average prices for eacli vendor rose between $365 and $1288.' At the Te Mania sale on Thursday the Te Mania stud (Conway Flats) average rose from $1230 last year to $2419, and the Anstey stud (Parnassus) from $1225 to $1437. Both sales were well supported by commercial and pedigree buyers at Te Mania one bull was sold to a Hawera family for $lB,OOO, three others sold for $5OOO or more,, and only four sales were below $lOOO. Prices paid by commercial breeders were particularly high. The top sale at Kaikoura was a $4500 bull which went to Marlborough station for mating with commercial breeding cows. Two similar sales of $4OOO were made. The sale of the 41 Te Mania Angus bulls started on a high note. The first nine lots sold for $3250, $2lOO/ $2500, $5OOO, $5OOO, $6500, $2OOO, $lB,OOO, and $4500 respectively, and this pace was maintained right through the sale.

E. O. and S.. P. Lander (Hawera) bought the $lB,OOO bull. One of the $5OOO bulls was bought by Australian . interests and another by’ a group of Hawke’s Bay breeders. D. L. Jiggs (Invercargill) paid $6500 for his bull. . Most of the support for the Te Mania animals came from North Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, and the West Coast. Four went to the. North Island and one to Australia. -

The combined offering of 49 bulls by the Te Mania and Anstey studs seeined about the right amount for the buying power. At other recent North Canterbury sales the buying power has not been strong enough for the total entries and values have suffered accordingly. The Anstey stud’s nine Angus bulls ranged from $lOOO to $2250 (last year’s top price was $3000) at an average of $1437. The bulls from both studs were well presented and had obviously benefited from the mild winter. .

The five Kaikoura vendors also did a commendable job of judging market requirements. With only an odd exception, these bulls wee in commendable order.

This year the Kaikoura vendors had two advantages. Last year the sale, which contained 112 entries, lacked enough support and competition, and consequently values did not Improve much over the previous year. The quality of the cattle offered in 1979 was godd but this year the bulls looked more forward and lively. . .. . Compared with the more ordinarysales at Cheviot, Culverden, and other southern locations in the last few months, the averages for the vendors increased dramtically. S. J. Chaffey improved his average from-$532 to $1468, J. G. Murray from $652 to $1940, Estate W. 14. Masefield! from $BBO to $1746, the Woodbank stud from $1075 to $1738, and P. S. T, Davies from $6lB to $933. For the first time in some years Hereford? topped the averages at Kaikoura. J. G. Murray

and Sons (Clarence Bridge) sold 15 bulls at an average of $1940. His best price was $4OOO for a horned - bull which went to Wyness Herefords (IVhangerei). This vendor had. sales at $3OOO, $2400, $2300, and others ranging down to.sBoo. . . The. 17 Angus bulls from the Woodbank stud (Clarence Bridge) fetched between. $BOO and $4500. The top priced, bull, which w-as the best price for the sale, went to Richmond Brook Station (Seddon). The stud’s bulls averaged $1738. The estate of W. N. Masefield (Kekerengu) had a remarkably consistent. sale of Angus bulls. This vendor sold 24 bulls at prices between $llOO . and $4OOO and at an average of $1746. The top priced bull went to J. Loe and Son (tVard).

S. J. Chaffey (Kekerengu) offered 14. Herefords which sold between $6OO and $2700 at an average of $1468. P. S. T. Davies (Kaikoura) sold nine Herefords at an average of $983. This vendor’s prices ranged from $5OO to $1250. The sale received more support than last year. Buyers were mainly South Island commercial breeders.. Two bulls went to the North Island.