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The Country’s Jamie Mackay is joined by PGG Wrightson’s General Manager for Livestock and Rural Real Estate, Peter Newbold, to look at rural property this month with the market being worth more now than it was this time a month ago.

Newbold notes that they currently have more listings than they have ever had, and he puts that down to the quality of properties and the large numbers of enquiries. There continues to be a strong interest in dairy, and Newbold anticipates a large number of transactions in the 15 million+ bracket.

Mackay comments how the dairy industry has been “unfashionable” for the past 4 or so years, and how it has become popular again. Newbold agrees and adds that while it is a wonderful industry, it can be hard to find workers. 

Mackay asks about the sheep and beef market being driven by forestry, and raises concern around the impact from carbon farmers overtaking pastoral land. Newbold adds that maybe it has gone too far but it is a critical part of New Zealand’s economy. 

Horticulture is holding strong, and Newbold anticipates a few listings to come through.

The lifestyle market continues to entice new buyers. Newbold comments on the large numbers of purchasers coming from the metropolitan areas, the limited number of listings, and the trend of auctions being pulled forward due to the demand.

New Zealand’s first ever fully online bull semen sale attracted intense Trans-Tasman interest and achieved a record price recently.

PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics Manager Callum Stewart organised the sale, on 7 September, through New Zealand’s virtual saleyard, bidr®. He says it showed the level of demand for premium quality beef genetics.

“We offered 554 straws of semen, both Hereford and Angus, from several of the country’s foremost beef studs, who put up packages from some of their best bulls. Turnover across the sale was $41,000, with the top price of $420 paid for a straw from Braveheart of Stern, one of the premier bulls of Stern Angus, inland South Canterbury, purchased by an Australian buyer. This is a record for a straw of Angus semen sold in New Zealand.

“As the inaugural sale of its kind, we were looking to the market to gauge demand for bull semen online, receiving an emphatic positive answer. We know commercial farmers and breeders are increasingly motivated to enhance the quality of their stock, using artificial insemination to add value and advance herd genetics. Doing that with the convenience and competition of an online auction is an easy way to access suitable genetic material. This sale demonstrated that online semen sales are a viable option.

“Purchasers are making the decision: they want improved genetics, and are willing to pay, making commercial decisions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to their businesses. In future this will become an elite sale, with even higher quality on offer,” he said.

Stern Angus stud principal James Fraser was delighted with the auction.

“Braveheart has had an outstanding career. He was born in 2007 and bred sons to $95,000 and just this year a son sold at $72,000. His genetics are sought after in Australia and New Zealand. We previously sold full sibling embryos in Australia for AU$2000 each. The Braveheart bloodline is threaded through much of our herd to this day. A small quantity of his semen remains available for the market,” he said.

At the online auction, 78 registered bidders placed 299 bids, with demand for the Angus lots slightly ahead of the Hereford semen.

Find out more about how our Genetics team can help you plan for success.

Listen Now. PGG Wrightson Livestock Report on The Country 03 Aug 2021.

The Country’s Jamie Mackay is joined by PGG Wrightson’s national genetics manager, Callum Stewart, to talk about New Zealand’s livestock market.

Mackay comments how Fielding might be the nation’s capital for farming, especially since they have the biggest sale yards in the country. Stewart confirms that there will be a sale proceeding tomorrow within current government protocols.

Stewart notes that tomorrows livestock sale will adhere to strict social distancing rules, compulsory face masks, and essential people only.

Mackay queries the process for the upcoming semen sale being hosted on Bidr, 7pm on the 7^th September. Stewart adds that this technology has allowed them to reach commercial clients for a reasonable cost, and it is something that they have not done in New Zealand before.

Pre Covid19 and Bidr, semen sales took place privately with clients. Stewart adds that technology has allowed them to grow this area of the market and Bidr has become a great success.