Farmers looking to move stock on sooner than usual has been the major influence on South Island sales of calves and store lambs.

Calf and store lamb sales have predominated in the South Island livestock market through late autumn.

In both categories widespread dry conditions pushed some to sell early, as well as holding prices below last year’s levels. 

From early April Temuka has been the hub of this activity. To de-stock for winter Otago farmers are sending animals north to meet the market. Canterbury cropping farmers are active, generating steady demand as they acquire store lams to finish through the coming months.

At the weekly Temuka sale in early May a big yarding featured, with over 11,000 sheep going through the sale, the bulk of them store lambs. Good prices are particularly being paid for the better types of lamb.

Cattle are also going through the Temuka sale yards in significant numbers, mainly boner cows, with the premium fetched on liveweight higher than schedule prices. This market is likely to continue until the end of May.

Bull sales become the South Island focus from late May until June. While commercial cattle farmers will be cautious when buying bulls, ensuring they make every dollar work as hard as possible, they are unlikely to compromise on genetics. Bulls have come through the dry summer and autumn in exceptional order, meaning plenty of quality animals for sale.