News

Livestock team members prevail with innovative solutions to clients’ on-farm challenges. Rising stars in the PGG Wrightson Livestock team took out the top three awards in the company’s prestigious Academy this year. A 12-month training programme offered each year to around 20 participants from...

Demand from safari park operators and specialised hunting guides motivates Clachanburn Station, Maniototo to put up trophy animals. Responding to demand from safari park operators and specialist hunting guides, in February Maniototo deer farmers John and Mary Falconer of Clachanburn Station are...

Changing mindsets, wider audience and continued response to feedback makes 2025 a watershed year for bidr. New Zealand’s most used online livestock sales platform and the sector’s predominant auction technology, bidr experienced phenomenal growth during 2025. More than 14,000 people have signed up...

Large volumes transact as growers hold firm and withstand market pressure to secure pay off for their commitment to value. After a slow start due to high stocks in market and low-priced activity by opportunist traders, uncertainty in the velvet market was resolved in late December. Large volumes of...

It was all go today when The Country’s Jamie Mackay caught up with PGG Wrightson Livestock Manager - Dairy, Barry Fox, live at the Temuka Saleyards. Fox was taking in the sights of the IHC Beef Calf Sale–and the sounds, with cattle bellowing in the background. It was day two of the sale when Mackay...

Demand prevails for spring lambs, rams and dairy beef weaner calves as farmers seek to re-invest recent red meat profits. Livestock markets throughout the country have eased into their busy late spring-early summer mode. Strong demand for all types of livestock prevails, supporting elevated values...

Leading western Waikato and King Country studs set the scene with encouraging clearances and average prices well in excess of last year. Indications from the season’s first few ram sales confirm the sheep and beef sector’s current positive outlook. Sales held by three leading western Waikato and...

Vendors maintaining control and purchaser convenience driving increasing popularity of bidr sale. A fully online auction of approximately 1200 South Island cattle in late November attracted firm values to achieve a strong clearance. Mainly comprising steers and heifers across various breeds, plus a...

December Temuka sale likely to transact 4000 100-kilogram calves, also doubling as an IHC fund-raiser. Traditionally one of the South Island’s biggest calf sales, at Temuka Saleyards on 3 and 4 December approximately 4000 dairy beef calves are set to transact, with a proportion of the sale...

Recent addition from Takaka to Mid and South Canterbury, stopping in Chile on the way. Originally out of Golden Bay, Simon Harwood recently joined PGG Wrightson as a dairy livestock representative, taking in a seven-year spell in Chile along the way. Most recently working in a similar role for...

Edendale Station, renowned Mid-Canterbury venison stud, presents terminal sires that will attract nationwide attention. At the Edendale Deer Terminal Sire Sale on 9 January, a handful of dual-purpose elk and wapiti are likely to catch the eye among Edendale’s renowned venison genetics. On-farm at...

The South Island has faced its share of wild weather recently, but PGG Wrightson’s Mid-South Canterbury Livestock Manager Joe Higgins says his region managed to escape the worst of it. Higgins put it down to divine intervention. “I think most of our Christians, you could say, must be going to church...

PGG Wrightson’s most accomplished young rural professionals test their skills against the best of the rest. Pictured is: Cam Gray, Peter Newbold (Livestock GM) & Lars Hardy (runner up) after last years competition. Four young PGG Wrightson livestock representatives are up for the challenge of taking...

Strong markets and favourable processor schedules spell good news for farmers, though some regions challenged by adverse climatic conditions. Strong demand for all types of livestock continues to support elevated values throughout the country. In a period where the last of the old season’s lambs...

After nine years as PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics Manager, he’s pulling on his boots and rolling up his sleeves. Callum Stewart has been a member of the PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics team since 2008, and its manager since 2016. Deciding it’s time for a refresh, both for...

Sixteen two tooth rams out of an innovative embryo transplant programme present improved shedding characteristics and better carcasses. Genetics to take shedding sheep to a new level in New Zealand, the result of a highly focused three-year embryo import programme, are available for the first time...

What makes a Forester stag ideal to breed replacement hinds? – and the easy cashflow option for farmers to defer payment on stag acquisitions. Looming large on the deer industry calendar, Peel Forest Estate’s upcoming on-farm Forrester Sire Sale, scheduled for 12 December, should test the strength...

It’s been a busy week at the Inglewood saleyards, with strong prices and solid demand across all categories, according to PGG Wrightson Taranaki Area Livestock Manager and Auctioneer Andrew Gibson. Speaking to The Country’s Hamish McKay from the yards — with a background chorus of cattle and...