Bull prices high at Culverden

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 14

Bull prices high at Culverden

Strong buying power from the West Coast, particularly the Lands and Survey Department, Hokitika, led to a highly successful Culverden bull sale yesterday. All vendors recorded much higher average prices than at last year’s sale. The average price for 25 Hereford bulls was $2624 ($2090 last year), and 23 Angus bulls averaged $1965 ($1367). About a quarter of the yarding was bought by West Coast buyers who also were under-bidders on other occasions. As with last year’s sale, the demand fell away sharply in the second run of each breed where the bulls were not quite of the same good quality. Seven bulls (five Herefords and two Angus) failed to find buyers at auction and only one of these was in the first run. Other sales were well spread throughout North Canterbury and odd bulls were bought by Banks Peninsula, Darfield, Blenheim, and Waimate farmers. Only $2 separated the average prices of the two Angus breeders. P. J. Gardner, Scargill Valley, sold nine bulls, all from a Stem sire, at $1966, com-

pared with $l4OO last year. Mr Gardner’s leading price was $3700 and he had others at $2900 and $2BOO, and six between $l2OO and $l7OO. Fourteen Angus bulls from G. and W. Chisnail, Hawarden, averaged $1964, which was more than $450 better than last year’s. Their best sale was $3BOO and six bulls made $2OOO or more. The Hereford section was headed by G. L. C. and E. A. Dunster, Hawarden, who averaged $3200 for five bulls. Their top price was $4OOO and they sold others at $3400, $3OOO (two), and $2600. Last year’s average was $2542. R. J. and M. A. Burrows, Culverden, sold 12 Herefords at an average of $2208 ($lB7l last year). Six of these Beechview bulls made $2OOO or better and the top price was $3BOO. Two Herefords from Mrs G. M. Burrows, Culverden, sold at $3400 and $2200, and J. R. and A. J. Davison, Culverden, had sales at $2900 and $2BOO. A former Amberley farmer, C. D. B. Douglas, who now farms in Southland, sold four Herefords at

an average of $2950. The bulls had not been prepared in time for the local Southland sales so Mr Douglas entered them at Culverden where he had previously been a regular vendor. A bull from Mr Douglas topped the sale at $4lOO and the others sold between $2lOO and $3OOO. The Burrows Family tray for the best Angus bull was won by G. and W. Chisnail for the sixth time in seven years, and the South Island Breeding Centre Tray for the best Hereford bull was won by R. J. and M. A. Burrows.