Bulls, cull cows, two-year-old cattle, store lambs and dairy herds all changing hands as livestock markets ease into regular seasonal shift.

Nationwide livestock markets are almost in winter mode.

Although dry districts in some pockets of the South Island would benefit from rain, most farmers have plenty of feed on hand and are determined to make the most of the continuing elevated markets. Winter and spring contracts for lamb and beef support their optimism. 

Commencing in mid-May, two-year-old bull sales have featured heavily as one of the most important periods of the beef calendar. Buoyed by continuing recent positive trends, initial sales saw a noticeable increase in demand for good bulls across all breeds. Farmers are looking to reinvest recent returns into the genetic base of their operations.

In the South Island dairy cull cow market the peak has passed. Demand, for cull cows has been solid, transacting through saleyards, privately, or direct to the works. A number of cows are being grazed for finishing.

Two-year-old cattle have featured regularly in recent sales as farmers offload a proportion to bring numbers in the paddock into line with winter stocking rates. Demand is reasonably solid, particularly for well-bred cattle. With an eye to the spring market, these are highly sought after. Anything off type, however, has been discounted.

Solid demand for store lambs is also evident. In response to the winter contracts on offer, plenty of lambs are transacting through the saleyards above $6 per kilogram.

Across both islands, dairy herd settlements are well under way. A greater volume of cows is moving across Cook Strait this year, and the delivery process has been lengthened to allow sufficient time for trucking companies to complete deliveries.

In the South Island, on the back of a vigorous property market, several recent clearing sales have offered plant and stock, generally to keen local galleries.
 

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