Big increase in calf prices

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 15

Big increase in calf prices

Strong support from MidCanterbury farmers led to a buoyant sale for calves at the Addington market yesterday.

The yarding of 1960 calves was the biggest of the season, but was still too small to fill the demand from buyers. Buying power remained keen to the end of the sale when small lots of calves were offered, many selling for higher prices than calves in main lines. A feature of the market was a line of spring-calved Simmental steers and heifers from O. J. Osborne, of Doyleston. Sixty-six of his steers averaged $444 and ranged in price from $392 to $4BO, and 21 heifers sold between $3OO and $370.

Mr Osborne’s top pen of 10 steers was bought by a Methven farmer after a keen tussle with several other bidders. Last season Mr Osborne’s top price was $336 (the steers averaged $243) and in 1982 the top price was $242 (average $217).

Other good prices included $452 for Hereford steers from F. C. Ridgen and Company, of Greendale, and $430 for Angus-Hereford-cross steers sold by T. A. and D. R. Dale, of Oxford. An attractive line of 150 Hereford steers from Okuku Pass station sold from $3OO to $390.

Apart from the exceptional sales, top steer calves generally sold between $370 and $4lO and good calves were $3lO to $350. Few steers made less than $250.

Most top heifer calves sold from $3OO to $350 and many medium calves made between $260 and $290.

As well as Mid-Canterbury, buyers were present from the West Coast and local districts, including Banks Peninsula. STORE SHEEP Interest in store sheep remained at a lively level. A feature of the adult section was a line of over 3700 earlyshorn halfbred ’ wethers from Lake Coleridge station. The wethers included a selection of ages, from one-shear to aged wethers and averaged $19.80, with a top price of $24.50. A line of annual draft rom-

neys sold to $22.90. Most other lines of adult sheep were of mediocre quality. Sales included:—

Calves: G. L. and P. F. Ferguson (Sheffield), 40 Angus steers at $296 to $340; L. J. O’Carroll (Hawarden), 21 Angus steers at $276, 18 heifers at $248; Estate J. K. McAlpine (Spye), 56 Hereford steers at $328 to $364; T. D. Barwick (Birdlings Flat), 22 Shorthorn steers at $340, 17 heifers at $328; Gawler Downs (Methven), 15 Angus cross steers at $342, 16 heifers at $294; R. N. ActonAdams (Amberley), 38 Angus steers at $302 to $316, 36 heifers at $254 to $260; estate S. Hall (Peraki), 39 Angus cross steers at $338 to $364, 48 Angus at $304 to $326, 26 Herefords at $2BB to $232, 32 Angus cross heifers at $306, 34 at $262; Surrey Hills (Mayfield), 45 Murray Grey steers at $290 to $344, 55 heifers at $2BO to $312; Barrosa station (Mount Somers), 74 Murray Grey steers at $248 to $306, 94 heifers at $228 to $260; Estate E. W. Pawsey (Hawarden), 21 Charolais cross steers at $362 to $366, 63 at $298 to $346, 43 heifers at $240 to $306; estate E. C. Trewin (Kaikoura), 58 steers at $290 to $3BB, 64 heifers at $260 to $338; T. A. and D. R. Dale (Oxford), 12 Angus-Hereford cross steers at $430, 6 heifers at $366; F. R. D. Olorenshaw (Hawarden), 22 Hereford steers at $258 to $328, 32 heifers at $250 to $284; D. P. and P. J. Graham (Tai Tapu), 36 Maine Anjou cross steers at $268 to $340, 67 heifers at $254 to $308; Lands and Survey Department (Tiromoana), 20 Angus cross steers at $320 to $364, 76 Angus at $284 to $340, 14 Angus cross heifers at $286; 33 Angus at $264 to $270; O. J. Osborne (Doyleston), 66 Simmental steers at $392 to $4BO, 21 heifers at $3OO to $370; F, C. Ridgen and Company (Greendale), 11 Hereford steers at $452, 8 heifers at $332; M. C. Feary and Son (Oxford), 12 Angus cross steers at $396; Lands and Survey Department (Okuku Pass), 150 Hereford steers at $3OO to $390, 38 heifers at $248 to $284; J. P. and B. J. O’Carroll (Hawar-

den), 33 Hereford steers at $302 to $366; P. D. Hastings (Irwell), 8 Simmental heifers at $338; Hastings Estate (Sedgemere), 12 Hereford heifers at $350; Lands and Survey Department (Washcreek), 47 Hereford heifers at $244 to $286; K. E. A. Shadbolt (Ladbrooks), 18 Angus cross heifers at $346, 17 Angus at $292 to $324. Adult cattle: R. C. Reed (Dalethorpe), 29 20-month Angus steers at $446 to $482; Kaituna Holdings (Kaituna), 22 20-month Angus cross steers at $450 to $496, and 20 heifers at $3BO to $406. F. D. Bell (Bayfields), 17 Angus steers at $498; R. G. and D. R. Dailey (Ohoka), 10 20-month bulls at $440. Store lambs: Laidmore Farm (Waipara), 279 shorn

Corriedales at $lB.BO to $22.80; Wilson Brothers (Waiau), 82 Halfbreds at $19.80 to $27.20; P. H. Montgomery (Christchurch), 52 at $l5 to $19.80; K. D. Hamilton (Kaikoura), 39 at $l3 to $19.80; R. B. Pearson (Westport), 439 woolly Perendales at $12.20 to $19.60; E F. Barrar and Son (Gebbies Pass), 173 woolly Perendales at $2O to $22.80; Avoca Farm. 88 woolly Perendales at $19.40 to $23; B. Hutton (Springs Junction), 202 woolly Perendales at $2O to $21.20; G. Rolling (Oxford), 200 shorn Romnevs at $l5 to $21.20; W. turner (Buller Gorge), 367 shorn Romney cross at $14.80 to $21.80, R. J. Boleyn (Stoney Bay), 144 woolly Perendales at $15.20 to $19.40, R. Morgan (Westport),: 242 shorn Perendale cross at

$16.10 to $21.70; S. Harris (Hororata), 238 shorn lambs at $12.40 to $19.10; M. G. Worocr (Oxford), 101 woolly lambs at $16.40 to $2120. Philpott Brothers (Okuku), 50 woolly Corriedales at $19.60; E. A. Shand (Culverden), 319 at $l4 to $20.20; G. A. Heard and Son (Kaikoura), 552 at $lB to $20.40; C. Tuck (Rangiora), 342 at $17.30 to $2020; G. L and R. S. Fowler (Hororata), 260 at $21.10. Adult sheep: Murchison Brothers (Lake Coleridge). 623 one-shear Halfbred wetners at $2O to $24.50, 668 two-shear at $16.50 to $22.20, 2098 three and four-shear at $l7 to $2l, 390 aged wethers at $l7 to $2O. L. R. Rhodes (Tikao Bay), 172 annual draft Romneys at $22.90.