News

bidr sale showcasing rams with highest level facial eczema tolerance An online sale of elite FE tolerant East Coast rams is scheduled on bidr for 4 November. On behalf of St Leger Superior Genetics up to a dozen top Romney rams are on offer, all having tested to the highest level for facial eczema...

High clearance rates and firm pricing as buyers chase specific characteristics to suit breeding programmes Prices were strong and clearances high at more than 60 yearling bull sales around the country through the six weeks to mid-October. Purchasers have been buying to fulfil the needs of specific...

Lambing percentages good, though warm days late arriving In the South Island the main recent focus for the livestock market has been moving on last year’s lambs, and processing spring cattle sales. On the positive, it has been a good lambing season, featuring strong percentages on most farms and...

Solid schedules sustain positive values for cattle and sheep Wet weather resulting in slower spring grass growth has delayed the normal motivation to re-stock after winter, setting back the flow of cattle through the saleyards. However, demand for good well-bred cattle with weight on has remained...

Deer industry offering multiple options Steve Annan has been PGG Wrightson North Island deer and velvet coordinator since November 2021. While he cherishes the role, he concedes he has come in at a challenging time, when venison prices are struggling to recover from the economic after-effects of...

Working with positive people – in the saleyards and on the sports field Paul Mitchell has managed to combine livestock and rugby through most of his life. His first job out of school in 1983 was in the Te Kūiti Wrightsons store. However, he was a casualty of one of the stock and station mergers that...

New Zealand’s virtual saleyard now operating regularly in eight North Island saleyards Reflecting the growing appetite for online transactions in many other industries, bidr, New Zealand’s virtual saleyard, continues to make solid progress as farmers increasingly appreciate the convenience of...

High quality and firm values for most sought after likely to feature at this year’s sales This year’s yearling bull sale season will commence shortly. More than 60 sales are scheduled throughout the country during September and October. Considering the wet winter, the bulls on offer are showing the...

Defer-a-Bull proving a smart option to manage cashflow around bull procurement Sales of service bulls for dairy farmers are set to commence in mid-September. Those with a forward plan to secure their bulls for the season will stay ahead. Starting a discussion with your livestock representative early...

Northland bull "Reality" tops auction at $340 per straw PGG Wrightson’s second annual online bull semen sale, featuring some of New Zealand's premium Angus and Hereford genetics, was conducted on bidr on 24 August 2022. Northland Angus bull Matauri Reality 839 stole the headlines, with 43 of his...

Sunshine required to initiate spring flush – and re-energise livestock markets July and August are traditionally the quietest months for South Island livestock markets. This year has been no exception, in fact the wetter than usual winter reduced activity still further. Yarding numbers have been...

Values holding firm, though tallies reduced for cattle and hoggets Winter weather has impacted North Island livestock tallies, with a noticeable reduction of the flow of stock into saleyards. Solid processor schedules continue to underpin the strong market for cattle and hoggets. When hoggets are...

Second annual online semen sale will showcase elite beef genetics Trans-Tasman. PGG Wrightson’s second annual online bull semen sale is scheduled for 24 August 2022. This is an excellent opportunity for the country’s premier stud businesses to showcase their elite genetics to the Trans-Tasman market...

Right at home in Waikato North Waikato is home for Stephen Hickey. Not only did he grow up on his parents’ 250 hectare, 650 cow Te Kauwhata dairy farm, he sharemilked the property for them for 25 years. Then he became a livestock representative for PGG Wrightson in 2017, initially for two and a half...

Taking off your business hat and becoming a friend Before he went into livestock, Paul Anthony spent 25 years bringing machinery and cars to New Zealand from all around the world, which taught him a few lessons, and left him with a public health warning attached. “Dealing with different people in...

High demand from motivated gallery results in excellent competition and notable prices This year’s Temuka in-lamb ewe fair, on 6 July, attracted plenty of interest, with high demand from a motivated buying gallery. As a result the better ewes in each class sold well. Compared to the 2021 sale...

Good demand for both store and finished stock As the availability of processing space for cattle became easier to obtain, the South Island market for store cattle has lifted. Finishers are paying premiums for cattle that can be finished in the spring. Due to raising schedules premiums are being paid...

Store markets, bull sales season and dairy calf prospects all solid through the winter Variable North Island weather in June reinforced that winter is here, accompanied by a rapid decline in grass and a battle against the mud. Inevitably, stock flowing to market through June was inconsistent, though...