News

Spring grass growth provides buyers with confidence. Dairy beef is in solid demand at sales throughout the country, with North Island sales already under way, and sales in the South Island commencing before the end of November. The majority of sales are scheduled before Christmas, though a few in...

Growth, early weaning weight and fertility attracting top dollar. Ram sales started in the North Island in mid-November and are due to follow shortly in the South Island. Results have been mixed. While some studs are quietly satisfied, others have fallen short of expectations. The number of rams...

Early lambs sales more hesitant Spring cattle sales have just been completed in the South Island. Current positive schedules and good feed conditions throughout most South Island regions meant stock sold well, especially well-bred traditional cattle. Early lambs sales, including in paddock sales...

Unusual variant attracting attention for more than 90 years. While Hereford cattle are traditionally red bodied with white heads and other markings, a Wanganui cattle breeder has a theory, supported by more than 90 years’ of evidence, that there may be more to the breed. Lindsay Johnstone, along...

Giving it a good crack Like father, like son and like many others who trade sheep and cattle, Lars Hardy is a second generation livestock representative. His father Chris originally started as a rep with Wrightsons in Manawatu in 1990, before going farming himself, first on leased properties...

Relating to farmers Born and bred on Blackbridge, a Simmental stud 20 minutes south of Kerikeri, some of Troy Vujcich’s earliest memories are being out on the family farm. After school he went to Victoria University in Wellington where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce. “I quickly realised that I...

Exponential growth in demand for genetics Poor wool returns over many years, alongside increasing shearing costs, are inevitably leading to strong interest in shedding sheep. Although controversial alongside the history and traditional profitability of growing wool, many farmers are scouting the...

Esk Valley farmers with their own take on innovative Australian breed A recently developed Australian shedding sheep is making its first impact in New Zealand, with an on-farm sale scheduled for 16 November at a property that is pioneering the breed. Dean and Antoinette Martin farm 244 hectare...

Taihape farming family fully sold on shedding sheep On behalf of his parents Greg and Jocelyn, Charles Bennett manages his family’s property Waitui, on 343 hectares of hill country at Tiriraukawa, 26 kilometres southwest of Taihape. Faced with the ongoing challenge of minimising costs and maximising...

Record yearling bull sale achieved online bidr® continues to build on its reputation as a powerful force in the livestock market, recognised by buyers for the ease and convenience of procuring stock without leaving home, and providing sellers with a nationwide selling platform broader than...

Purchasers taking a functional approach to their bulls this year This year’s yearling bull sales have delivered good clearances, albeit the values of the bulls offered is down by $300 to $500 per head compared to last year. Dairy farmers have not been prepared to exceed the $3,000 mark with their...

Limited supply of cows means quality lines are selling fast Across the country dairy livestock market activity is heavily focused on quality in milk and close to profit cows. With limited numbers available over the past few weeks, cows that have come forward through the North Island auction system...

Livestock markets moving out of winter mode Overall the livestock market has been in winter mode, with relatively low numbers of sheep and cattle through the saleyards. Looking ahead, there are a number of cattle sales rostered during October. Good early spring rainfall through most of the South...

On the path he always wanted to take Alex Stuart started with PGG Wrightson Livestock as a trainee in August 2022, moving into the company’s academy programme at the start of this year, and taking up a permanent role as a Waikato based livestock representative in April. Growing up on farms managed...

Knowing how to look at a cow Bernie Cox became a PGG Wrightson Livestock representative in June this year, working with dairy farmers between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers. Although he is a newbie at this, Bernie brings 15 years in dairy farming to the role, plus high level experience as a...

Quality genetics continue to reap rewards This year’s two-year-old bull sale season finished recently as 130 studs nationwide put their best bulls forward at auction, private sales and paddock selections. Callum Stewart, PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics Manager, said the campaign exceeded...

Cautious optimism justified among deer farmers While for much of the year the venison price has held stable at around $9, a positive forecast indicates it will exceed $10 per kilogram before the end of 2023, a prospect that has slowed reduction of the hind herd. Demand from the growing United States...

Easy access to some of the country’s best beef genetics AI is becoming more widely accepted as a simple, efficient, and effective way to introduce quality genetics into a commercial herd. PGG Wrightson’s annual online bull semen sale is growing in popularity, providing direct and easy access to some...