North Island purchasers eager to support 

Prolonged dry conditions starting to adversely affect Marlborough farms prompted an early calf sale in the region in late February, which North Island farmers supported enthusiastically to leave all parties satisfied.

With stock water dams running dry and farmers anxiously monitoring remaining feed, a decision to run the region’s first annual calf sale three weeks ahead of schedule was taken in early February, says PGG Wrightson Blenheim Area Livestock Manager Peter Barnes.

“On 28 February we offered 883 cattle: 574 steers, which sold for an average of $4.03 per kilogram, ranging from $3.50 to $4.43 per kilogram; 303 heifers, averaging $3.30 per kilogram in a $2.95 to $3.75 per kilogram range; and six bulls.

“Three main North Island buyers, from Waikato, King Country and Whanganui, took 70 per cent of the calves. All three are regular customers of these Marlborough sales. Mid Canterbury feedlots and more local Kaikoura farmers took the balance, the latter an area of higher rainfall.

“While the calves offered were 20 to 30 kilograms lighter than they might have been at a typical late March sale, they came forward in good health, were well presented, and the vendors were relieved to be able to take them off their mothers, and give priority to looking after their in-calf cows,” he says.

After monitoring levels of concern among farmers and discussing the issue with clients, Peter Barnes and the PGG Wrightson team decided to bring the sale forward.

“We managed to find the buying power and deliver a strong result for our vendors, who were pleased to see their calves go to areas that have sufficient feed.

“Usually we would put up 1200 to 1300 calves in mid-March. Some of the vendors that could have gone earlier opted to stick to that sale and are confident they can carry their calves through without compromise to their condition. We will combine two sales that we normally have in March into one, with the remainder of Marlborough calves going into the 20 March sale, after which we have a high country calf sale scheduled for 1 May, unless conditions demand that we bring that forward as well,” he says.