Paparata Station achieves full clearances and improved average prices at two large on-farm sales.

King Country farm Paparata Station ticked off two significant livestock sales in November.

Located at Ohura 50 kilometres west of Taumarunui on the Forgotten World Highway, and carrying 65,000 stock units, the 7100-hectare genuine hill country farm offered 115 Romney rams at an on-farm sale in late November. PGG Wrightson Livestock Genetics rep for Hamilton and Waikato Cam Heggie said this year’s rams were as good as Paparata has ever offered for sale.

“The quality of the rams at this sale was the best ever, with strong supporting records, higher FE tolerance and high fertility, meaning they sold at better average prices than ever before.

“Paparata has a loyal following of local clients. Most of the rams sold through eastern Taranaki or King Country and into northern Manawatu, with a few going to farms in the Taupo western bays. These are genuine, robust, hill country, station bred rams. Looking at the quality of the country gives an indication of how good these rams are. Although this sale has fluctuated, this year the response was excellent, for a total clearance, averaging $1576 per head,” says Cam.

A week later Paparata penned 616 yearling Angus and Angus-Hereford steers and 524 yearling heifers in yards across multiple locations for viewing in the morning, bringing 23 registered purchasers back to their woolshed for the sale of 40 lots, also using bidr to reach an additional 26 registered online buyers and an online audience of over 130. Marty Cashin, Taumarunui-based PGG Wrightson sheep, beef and dairy representative, organised the sale.

“This was the second year the sale has run with this format and we had an excellent day, ending with a total clearance. Demand for the steers was particularly strong, while the heifers were solid. Most sold to the wider King Country, Waikato and South Auckland, while our most active buyer, online from Northland, took six lines,” says Marty.

Averaging 306 kilograms, the Paparata steers sold on average for $1380, or $4.50 per kilogram; while at 297 kilograms, the heifers averaged $1167, or $3.92 per kilogram. Sixty per cent of the lots had bids placed by online buyers, while 18 per cent were bought by online buyers.

Paparata Station owner Trevor Johnson was pleased with the two sales.

“We are grateful for the valuable support provided by the representatives of PGG Wrightson, which helped give us such a gratifying result. We also greatly appreciate the ongoing business of the farmers who return year on year to purchase our stock,” says Trevor.

See all upcoming PGG Wrightson Ram Sales here.