The annual calf-selling season began on an optimistic note at Owaka last Thursday with plenty of buyer interest and a line of 12 Charolais-cross steers enlivening the sale by selling for $930.
Bruce Murray, of the Nuggets, had an exceptional sale, also topping the heifer offering at $720 and his 148 steer and heifer calves averaging $690.
PGG Wrightson Dunedin livestock manager Andrew Kelleher said the top steer calves offered by Mr Murray averaged 375kg and were some of the best he had seen.
While the strength of the sale was a cause for some optimism, Mr Kelleher said there was still a need for caution, given a recent appreciation in the strength of the New Zealand dollar.
Part of the strength at the Owaka sale was driven by an abundance of feed, but also because some farmers growing winter crop for dairy graziers were unable to secure grazing contracts.
Most of the calves were sold to Southland, but there were also some local buyers and others from South Canterbury.
The estate of T. R. and W. T. Burgess, of Puketiro, averaged $618 for 233 Simmental-cross calves with his top steers making $740, while E. C. and R. J. Pepperell, of Jacks Bay, sold 11 Charolais-cross steers for $710.
The Palmerston calf sale will be held on Friday.