Generous returns drive prime cattle through sales, while yardings of store cattle sit relatively high

Despite the traditional winter hiatus, on relatively low numbers, values through Mid and South Canterbury livestock markets are strong. Generous returns based on current schedules are driving a significant proportion of prime cattle through the yards.

Mid Canterbury lambs are selling direct to processors. Priced at $12 per kilogram or more, farmers are happy.

For several reasons yardings of store cattle have been relatively high for this time of year. First the number of dairy beef cattle currently being reared is up, leading to an abundance of two-year-olds. Farmers are capitalising on the price for store cattle, elevated on the back of prime prices. Second, to take advantage of these prices, farmers are sending stores in for sale now, not waiting until later in the spring. And third, prevailing predictions of an El Nino weather pattern in the coming months is prompting many to prepare early and provision accordingly, avoiding the prospect of overstocking in the event of the forecasted significantly dry summer.

A late August lamb sale, at Castle Ridge Station, Ashburton Gorge, demonstrated the present strong local market conditions. Buyers from Mid and South Canterbury were in attendance.

Castle Ridge stock have previously gone to the saleyards, though this year for the first time were sold through an on-farm auction. Eight hundred Merino wethers sold, ranging from $140 to $217 per head; Merino ewes sold for $110; and the Poll Dorset-Merino ewes sold for a top price of $312. 

One feature of the sale was the 750 Poll Dorset-Merino lambs sold, with $330 paid for the top pen. Castle Ridge separates out their Poll Dorset-Merino twins, leaving one only on the ewe, and bottle raising the other. They hold a lamb sale in February, where the twins left with their mothers are sold, then take the formula fed twins through to the end of winter, which this year worked particularly well. 

Castle Ridge Station was the 2026 Regional Supreme Winner at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Links to: 

https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/castle-ridge-station-canterbury-supreme-winner-2026