News

Farmers increasingly recognise the need for a sound and factually based genetics programme to underpin their stud purchases and maximise revenue. Callum Stewart, PGG Wrightson Livestock Genetics national manager says such a programme needs to rest on knowledge of a farm’s characteristics and the...

Things may be quiet on the sheep front with lambing underway but there’s still plenty of cattle action about, PGG Wrightson’s Regional Livestock Manager Otago, John Duffy, says. The Otago Spring cattle sales kicked off in Balclutha a couple of weeks ago, where “a very good bench of buyers” turned up...

Giving it a good crack Like father, like son and like many others who trade sheep and cattle, Lars Hardy is a second generation livestock representative. His father Chris originally started as a rep with Wrightsons in Manawatu in 1990, before going farming himself, first on leased properties...

Exponential growth in demand for genetics Poor wool returns over many years, alongside increasing shearing costs, are inevitably leading to strong interest in shedding sheep. Although controversial alongside the history and traditional profitability of growing wool, many farmers are scouting the...

Esk Valley farmers with their own take on innovative Australian breed A recently developed Australian shedding sheep is making its first impact in New Zealand, with an on-farm sale scheduled for 16 November at a property that is pioneering the breed. Dean and Antoinette Martin farm 244 hectare...

Taihape farming family fully sold on shedding sheep On behalf of his parents Greg and Jocelyn, Charles Bennett manages his family’s property Waitui, on 343 hectares of hill country at Tiriraukawa, 26 kilometres southwest of Taihape. Faced with the ongoing challenge of minimising costs and maximising...

Record yearling bull sale achieved online bidr® continues to build on its reputation as a powerful force in the livestock market, recognised by buyers for the ease and convenience of procuring stock without leaving home, and providing sellers with a nationwide selling platform broader than...

Purchasers taking a functional approach to their bulls this year This year’s yearling bull sales have delivered good clearances, albeit the values of the bulls offered is down by $300 to $500 per head compared to last year. Dairy farmers have not been prepared to exceed the $3,000 mark with their...

Limited supply of cows means quality lines are selling fast Across the country dairy livestock market activity is heavily focused on quality in milk and close to profit cows. With limited numbers available over the past few weeks, cows that have come forward through the North Island auction system...

Livestock markets moving out of winter mode Overall the livestock market has been in winter mode, with relatively low numbers of sheep and cattle through the saleyards. Looking ahead, there are a number of cattle sales rostered during October. Good early spring rainfall through most of the South...

It’s dairy bull sale season and PGG Wrightson’s Taranaki livestock manager/auctioneer, Andrew Gibson is “in the thick of it”. Shadow Downs of Waverley had a Hereford Yearling and 2-year-old sale yesterday and Taranaki’s Mangaotea Blackwell Family is holding its 27th annual bull sale today, Gibson...

PGG Wrightson continues its unwavering support for the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme, a partnership that has flourished over four decades and continues to make a significant difference in the lives of some of New Zealand's most vulnerable individuals and their families. Recently, PGG Wrightson proudly...

Heavy rain in Waikato and South Auckland has been causing havoc for livestock markets, affecting supply and prices. PGG Wrighton’s livestock manager for South Auckland, Brad Osborne, said farmers had been doing it tough. “We’ve got a lot of rain here on the ground and it’s a real struggle at the...

On the path he always wanted to take Alex Stuart started with PGG Wrightson Livestock as a trainee in August 2022, moving into the company’s academy programme at the start of this year, and taking up a permanent role as a Waikato based livestock representative in April. Growing up on farms managed...

Knowing how to look at a cow Bernie Cox became a PGG Wrightson Livestock representative in June this year, working with dairy farmers between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers. Although he is a newbie at this, Bernie brings 15 years in dairy farming to the role, plus high level experience as a...

Quality genetics continue to reap rewards This year’s two-year-old bull sale season finished recently as 130 studs nationwide put their best bulls forward at auction, private sales and paddock selections. Callum Stewart, PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics Manager, said the campaign exceeded...

Cautious optimism justified among deer farmers While for much of the year the venison price has held stable at around $9, a positive forecast indicates it will exceed $10 per kilogram before the end of 2023, a prospect that has slowed reduction of the hind herd. Demand from the growing United States...

Easy access to some of the country’s best beef genetics AI is becoming more widely accepted as a simple, efficient, and effective way to introduce quality genetics into a commercial herd. PGG Wrightson’s annual online bull semen sale is growing in popularity, providing direct and easy access to some...