Favourable weather positive for both stock and support from buyers

Weaner fairs are benefiting from the abundance of feed across all North Island regions, which is boosting the condition of stock coming to market, driving values up by as much as 50 cents per kilogram liveweight compared to last year. Although support from buyers attending sales from beyond local areas is slightly lower than previous years, possibly due to the cost of transport, that has had minimal market impact and local buyers are out in force.

At auction and on farm the cattle market has remained solid, driven by demand for mouths to optimise excess feed. 

These conditions should also result in reasonable tallies of lambs out of the hills over the next period. Volumes of lamb traded to the start of autumn have been below normal as farmers have been maximising production based on exceptional pasture growth, while more sunshine would assist these lambs to come out with a bit more polish.

Matt Langtry, PGG Wrightson North Island Livestock Manager