Demand for calves is showing little sign of easing judging by recent sales in North Otago, where prices were up to $220 a head better than last year.
Several lines sold for more than $700 at sales at Hakataramea and Omarama, with a top price of $765 for Simmental-Hereford cross calves sold by A. A. and E. Bell at Hakataramea last Tuesday.
The second top-priced pen at that sale was $760 for Simmental-Hereford steers sold by H. G. Bell.
A. A. and E. Bell also topped the heifer section with Simmental-Hereford cross heifers at $675.
Buyers from Geraldine, Cromwell, Gore and Winton competed with local buyers at the annual Omarama calf sale on April 2, where the offering reflected the excellent grass-growing conditions.
The top price went to Otematata Station with two outstanding pens of Simmental-cross heifers at $750 each.
Bog Roy Station was a close second with Simmental-cross heifers at $740.
The best of Otematata Station's steers made $730, followed by Bog Roy at $725.
The sale averaged $559, which was about a $220-per-head increase on last year.
Hakataramea
A range of prices at last Tuesday's sale: Glen Cary Station, Charolais-cross steers at $610-$670 and heifers at $505-$510; Table Top, Charolais-cross steers at $545-$670 and heifers at $445-$550; Dip Creek, Simmental-cross steers at $635-$640; The Hays, Simmental-cross steers at $660-$710; A. A. and E. Bell, Simmental-cross steers at $640-$765 and heifers at $580-$675; H. G. Bell, Simmental-cross steers at $610-$750 and heifers at $570; Taihoa, Charolais-cross steers at $640-$690 and heifers at $475-$540; Waikora Run, Simmental-cross steers at $590-$630 and heifers at $380-$485; Haka Downs, Simmental-cross steers at $545-$680 and heifers at $485-$515; Rocky Point, Charolais-cross steers at $590-$605, Angus steers at $580-$670, Charolais-cross heifers at $400-$440 and Angus heifers at $410-$460.
Omarama
A range of prices at the sale: Otematata Station, Simmental-cross steers at $540-$730 and heifers at $500-$750; Bog Roy Station, Simmental-cross steers at $660-$725 and heifers at $740; Ribbonwood Station, Charolais-cross steers at $550-$590, Angus-cross steers at $405-$415 and Charolais-cross heifers at $565; Twin Peaks Station, Simmental-cross steers at $650-$690 and heifers at $560-$715; Maryburn Station, Angus-cross steers at $630-$650 and heifers at $520; Ben Dhu Station, Angus steers at $500-$690; Hamila Holdings, Angus-cross steers at $465-$550, Limousin-cross steers at $460 and heifers at $400-$440; A. and E. Gibson, Santa Gertrudis-cross steers at $490-$660 and heifers at $540-$550; Lake Ohau Station, Angus steers at $480.
Waiareka
At last week's stock sale, prime lambs made up to $113 on a slightly lesser quality. Heavyweight prime ewes continued to sell strongly, with the best up to $87. Store lambs also had a good sale, with the best selling between $85 and $86.50.
Top prime lambs, $105-$113; good medium, $90-$99; medium, $85-$89; top 1 and 2-shear ewes, $79-$82; medium, $74-$75; lighter, $67-$70; top prime ewes, $77-$87; medium, $66-$75; lighter, $50-$55; very light, $31-$45; top store lambs, $85-$86.50; medium, $77; lighter, $42.
Prime cattle - Angus-cross steers, 495kg-538kg at $1.62-$1.63 per kg; Angus heifers, 460kg at $1.54; Murray Grey-cross heifers, 415kg at $1.54. Store cattle - Angus heifers, 251kg at $345; Hereford-cross heifers, 241kg at $355; Angus bulls, 298kg-365kg at $510-$570; Angus steers, 451kg at $820; Angus heifers, 362kg at $520; Hereford-Friesian steers, 418kg at $670; Hereford-Friesian cross heifers, 304kg-385kg at $450-$550; Charolais-cross heifers, 277kg at $425; Shorthorn-cross steer calves, 275kg-335kg at $440-$540; Hereford-Friesian cross heifers, 280kg at $430; Angus-cross steers, 303kg at $515.
Balclutha
At last week's sale, heavy prime lambs sold from $112 to $130, medium $98 to $110 and light from $83 to $95.
The best prime two-tooth ewes made $90, medium $80 and light, $72, while the top older ewes sold from $69 to $83, medium $58 to $67 and light $35 to $54.
On the store market, woolly lambs realised $78 to $84, medium $72 to $77 and light $64.50 to $70, while the best shorn store lambs made $82 to $88 and medium $74.50 to $79 and very small $20.
Breeding two-tooth Romney ewes fetched $130. Good-condition two-year Charolais-cross store steers, 483 kg, made $880, or $1.82 per kg, two-year Angus-cross steers, 450 kg, $860 or 1.91 per kg and two-year Angus heifers, 387 kg, $765 or 1.98 per kg.
Medium-condition 15-month Fresian steers, 383 kg, sold for $590 or 1.54 per kg.