Buyers motivated for sales at Tuakau and Frankton through March, April and May, set to peak at 1600 calves per week.

Autumn calf sales in Waikato look set to endorse the positive mindset around red meat at present. With plenty of feed on the ground, farmers are well placed to take advantage.

Judging by a short run of sales proceeding the main selling season, which runs through March, April and May, values should be considerably stronger than last year’s already elevated prices.

PGG Wrightson Waikato Regional Livestock Manager Dean Evans expects above average demand at the sales, running on Mondays at Tuakau and on Tuesdays at Frankton.

“Demand is set to reflect the market for store cattle. Yearling and heifer prices are strong. With limited sales of Waikato autumn calves so far, a few days prior to the first of the main sales, prices for calves were $150 to $200 above where they were last year. While that will likely ease as the season proceeds, there is ample feed and a genuine shortage of cattle, which means prices should remain comparatively high. 

“While this season’s price for 100-kilogram weaners has not yet been established, early indications are that black and white face weaner bulls will sell at around $1050 per head. Prices for calves are likely to reflect that, giving buyers the prospect of earning a margin of up to $600 per head once they have taken them through to that weight,” he says.

Early indications at the pre-season sale saw Friesian bull calves range from $450 to $530, Hereford/Friesian cross bulls from $420 to $600, Charolais bulls from $350 to $600, Hereford/Friesian heifers from $400 to $600, and Charolais heifers from $400 to $500.

Buyers as far afield as Northland and Hawke’s Bay are expected to attend the Waikato autumn calf sales, particularly as the season progresses. At peak levels up to 1100 calves per week will change hands at Frankton, and up to 500 at Tuakau.

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