Demand prevails for spring lambs, rams and dairy beef weaner calves as farmers seek to re-invest recent red meat profits.

Livestock markets throughout the country have eased into their busy late spring-early summer mode. Strong demand for all types of livestock prevails, supporting elevated values at stockyards, on-farm sales, and paddock transactions throughout the country.

With fine wool and half breeds the only remaining lambs from last year still to sell, the focus has turned to new spring lambs. Those sales, including some on farm, have commenced in Canterbury. Looking for finishing lambs, Otago and Southland farmers have made their presence felt.

In Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa early signs of a dry season are evident, with persistent north west winds sapping potential grass growth. Some farmers are responding accordingly to the risk that this will continue.

Ram sales have started in earnest, initially at the top of the North Island, more recently gathering momentum throughout the country. Based on positivity in the red meat sector, demand for rams is steady as farmers seek to re-invest recent profits back into the farm, enhancing their flock genetics. In the initial stages of the ram sale season at least, prices are well above the corresponding sales from last year.

Cattle sales are following similar trends. In both the North and South Island, the market for 100 kilogram dairy beef weaner calves is now well under way. With plenty of these calves set to come through in the coming month, pricing will depend on the weather, while stock with weight and well documented breeding will fetch premium values. Demand for well-bred cattle, particularly those carrying a bit of weight, is firm.

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