More stock, big lines and higher values feature at the on-farm sale of one of the Tararua district’s most admired properties.

Big lines of quality livestock met a positive response at the second annual Waewaepa Station On-Farm Sheep and Steer Sale on 13 January.

Hardy hill country genetics, proven on the limestone of one of the Tararua district’s most admired farms, attracted plenty of local farmers, and good competition, despite the prevailing lower North Island dry.

The 7100 Waewaepa Romney, Hampshire Downs and Suftex lambs offered on the day averaged $142; 1880 two-tooths and ewes averaged $319; while the 150 15-month Angus steers averaged $2,087.

Waewaepa Station manager Tim Stevenson was rapt with the sale, with more buyers, more stock sold and higher values than the 2025 inaugural event.

“Now in the second year of our on-farm sale, it’s good to see plenty of repeat business, plus a handful of new registered buyers. The PGG Wrightson team was out in force, working hard in the days before the sale to ensure our stock were presented as well as possible.

“We offered a higher number of lambs than last year. Farmers have confidence in our proven genetics. Drench resistance is an important issue. What we are doing with our bloodlines seems to be well appreciated in the market, which validates our approach to genetics,” he says.

Bjorn Andersen, PGG Wrightson Area Livestock Manager for Dannevirke and Pahiatua, oversaw the sale. He said it was a gratifying result.

“Very little rain fell over the Christmas period and did not go far, leaving the district dry. Plenty of lambs are on the market, in which case the solid turnout of local farmers on the day was a real positive.

“In those circumstances, seeing farmers prepared to line up and buy the big lines Waewaepa Station had put up was excellent. Waewaepa Station works hard to present sheep and cattle that thrive in most conditions. They invest in the best rams and bulls. Our gallery at their sale responded to their progeny appropriately. While the bulk of the rest of the stock stayed local in Wairarapa, or were purchased by Hawke’s Bay or Manawatu farmers, some of the ewes went as far afield as Gore,” he says.

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