Confident local farmers show strong support as enthusiasm for beef remains high, while bidr generates plenty of interest from further afield.

A pen of Simmental weaners, offered by Barry Gledhill of Linton, Manawatu, and averaging 385.7 kilograms, sold at the first 2025 Feilding Weaner Steer and Bull Fair in late March for $1760 per head, at or close to a New Zealand record for weaners.

“I was pleased with the result. For our weaners at this sale, we tend to attract the same buyers year on year, generally locals, and this year they were keen to compete. These cattle were all born in August or September and have benefited from the moist spring and good early summer growth. We were pleased to bring them to the saleyard in excellent condition, and the market has responded accordingly,” he says.

Barry Gledhill sold a total of 29 Simmental weaners at the sale, for an overall average of $1600. Daniel and Alicia Gledhill sold a total of 44 Simmental weaners at the sale, for an average of $1592.

Manawatu PGG Wrightson Area Livestock Manager Maurice Stewart says it was an excellent sale for all parties.

“We sold 1400 weaners. Prices were as strong as I ever seen across all classes of stock. Plenty of enthusiasm around cattle is evident. Exotic and Angus cross bull weaners ranged from $4.80 to $5.50 per kilogram, depending on weight, while steers ranged from $4.80 to $5.30 per kilogram for the heavier types.

“As well as the Gledhill family, other vendors who did particularly well on the day include Hopelands Farm, Dannevirke and the FitzHerberts of Pakihikura,” Maurice says.

While predominantly well supported by local farmers, 44 purchasers registered to follow the Feilding weaner sale on bidr, it attracted 236 online viewers, 55 per cent of lots attracted online bids, and 16 per cent of the offering sold via New Zealand’s online saleyard.

Manawatu weaner sales are set to continue for the next six weeks, with 12,000 to 13,000 head expected to go through the Feilding saleyard in that time.

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