The new season weaner calf market opened at Owaka last Thursday with prices similar to last year's.
PGG Wrightson Otago livestock manager Chris Swale said steers sold for between 230c and 240c a kg liveweight, and heifers from 190c to 200c a kg.
Mr Swale said demand was consistent, especially for steers, and quality was up with that expected from the Owaka region.
The top price was $790 for a pen of 12 Charolais-cross steers sold by R. B. and Y. S. Murray, of Kaka Point.
The same vendors topped the heifer offering, selling two pens of Charolais-cross heifers for $740 and $705.
Karl Burgess, of Lake Edge Farms, sold seven Charolais-cross steers for $760 and the estate of T. R. and W. T. Burgess, Puketiro, sold 12 Simmental-cross steers for $700 and 13 Murray Grey-cross bulls for $720.
The estate of T. R. and W. T. Burgesss sold 13 Simmental-cross heifers for $580 and another line of 20 for $560 while A. L. Wilson, of Waikoata Valley, sold 12 Angus-cross heifers for $540.
The calf market starts tomorrow with sales at Heriot and Millers Flat, and at Palmerston on Friday.
Mr Swale said because of dry conditions in Central Otago and East Otago, farmers were having to sell calves at the autumn sales.