News

Lambing in progress, markets historically high, store cattle demand strong and calf rearing grows in popularity as spring commences. Despite reduced seasonal throughput, markets for both sheep and cattle are holding firm at historically high levels. Lambing is under way in most of the country with...

East Coast farming fraternity goes above and beyond as record beating Cancer Society fundraiser tops $65,000. Generosity shown by farmers at an annual East Coast fundraiser has given one of the country’s most cherished charities a big boost. Raising more than $65,000 on the day, the 2025 Matawhero...

Performance of the dairy and beef markets, and the outlook for both, should spur yearling bull sales to greater heights. Yearling bull sales are upon us. More than 50 sales will take place throughout the country, running through to mid-October, with plenty of yearling bulls also set to sell via...

One time Riverton ‘Dag Basher’ now making his way as Invercargill-based trainee sheep and beef representative. Elliot Warrender grew up on his parents’ Craig and Debbie’s Riverton dairy farm. “They know how to work hard, which is what they’ve done their whole lives. They converted the farm, which...

Best sheep and beef markets in 45 years, says livestock expert John Duffy. The current upturn in the sheep, lamb and beef markets is the best John Duffy has seen, and he’s been in the business for 45 years. Duffy is PGG Wrightson’s Otago Regional Livestock Manager, a role he’s had for 23 years...

Optimism returns as farmers stand by to benefit from favourable export and climatic conditions, though stock shortages could impact the opportunity. As transactions of livestock go into winter mode, farmers can look forward to the coming spring and summer with some confidence. Global beef cattle...

Easier access to nationwide cattle market goes live on 1 September for farmers trading through Temuka Saleyards. Farmers selling cattle at the South Island’s largest saleyard will have more direct access to buyers nationwide from 1 September when bidr takes over as the online selling platform at...

Farmer generosity with sheep donations set to provide Daffodil Day benefit for the Cancer Society. On 13 August the annual Marton Hogget Fair is scheduled for the Feilding Saleyards. Over the past few years, the event has doubled as a Daffodil Day fundraiser, which this year in particular should...

Why a Whanganui based sheep and beef representative with a shearing background enjoys the farming variety of his home region. Whanganui raised, Jimmy McDonald grew up on a lifestyle block, which gave him all the motivation necessary to opt for a career on the land. Jimmy has been a Whanganui based...

It’s rare to know where your wool ends up. It’s even more uncommon to see it come full circle, from your farm through the supply chain and back into a finished product on a store shelf in New Zealand. For Andrew and Heidi Jamison of Meikleburn Station in Fairlie, the wool they produce doesn’t just...

Mark Cuttance, PGG Wrightson’s Dairy Sales Manager - South Island, came in from the cold for a yarn about the market today. Cuttance, who is based in Gore, told the Country’s Hamish McKay he felt like he’d been “living in a fridge” for the last 10 days. Luckily, he said, the outlook for feeder...

Longstanding PGG Wrightson Livestock genetics auctioneer Neville Clark reckons the recently concluded record-breaking bull sales season is the start of something even more rewarding for farmers. “For the last 10 years I’ve been saying that the world will face a protein shortage. I believe the record...

Epic season for breeders as farmers intent on securing the best genetics available drive this year’s two-year-old bull sales to new record levels. This year’s two-year-old bull sales season ranks as one of the best ever, with large crowds attending, full clearances the norm and record prices...

North Island tallies consistent and sales brisk, while South Island experiences reduced throughput after busy autumn. Although many eyes have been on bull sales, elsewhere in the livestock market customary seasonal ebbs and flows are evident. Tallies through major North Island saleyards remain...

Supply-demand likely to favour calf rearers, making forward contracts a worthwhile option. With values around livestock at present, anyone seeking to rear calves this year should be in for a rewarding season. However, to maximise on-sell values, lining up a forward contract is worth considering...

bidr Upper South Island territory manager combines skills honed in the outback, and on the laptop. Growing up on a 200 hectare family sheep, beef and mixed cropping farm outside Buchan, Victoria, in 2022 at age 22 Elle Woodgate ( pronouced Ell-e) became a livestock representative in east Gippsland...

Venison on the rise and taking up the slack as velvet returns are challenged by saturated market. While both products remain critical to keeping stock behind the wire, New Zealand’s deer industry production has always swung between venison and velvet. That pendulum has shifted again. Velvet volumes...

King Country beef and sheep sales: The good news and the bad news. It’s a case of good news, bad news at the beef and sheep sales in the King Country, says Kevin “Morty” Mortensen, PGG Wrightson’s Te Kuiti regional livestock manager. Let’s start with the good news. Morty said there were record...