News

Leaving school, which was in Oamaru, Kevin Waldron went straight into wool. Forty two years later, and the fibre has been his career ever since. Kevin joined Wrightson NMA in July 1978 as a trainee wool classer, at first in the store. Times changed however, and with more wool classed in the shed...

Known for being straight up, honest and to the point Marcus Loader is sold on wool, and recommends everyone else in the sector should take the same approach. “We need to believe in what we produce. When you look at competing synthetic products, they are promoted by big companies. Those that shout...

By Laura Pattie, PGG Wrightson Veterinary Nutritionist BVSc (Dist) Many factors affect wool growth, including nutrition, genetics, the environment, the season and animal health. Nutrition is one factor a woolgrower can manage to improve wool quality and production. Wool is a complex protein compound...

Growing demand from overseas mills has pushed up crossbred prices at wool auctions throughout February and mid-March to prices at least at pre-Covid levels. There has been a slight tempering of these increases throughout late March as overseas markets adjust to these increased values. Crossbred wool...

Rangatira Angus, among the East Coast’s most respected studs, is bringing a six decade era to a close. Its mixed age cow, heifer calf and bull calf dispersal sale on 22 March offered 244 lots for a full clearance through a six hour sale. Emma Pollitt, PGG Wrightson East Coast Livestock Genetics...

Mark Leishman catches up with Hamish Black at the South Island Fieldays, Kirwee.

Good crowd at first Ahuwhenua Trophy field day More than 150 people attended the field day of Pouarua Farms, one of the finalists in this year’s prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori Dairy farm. Pouarua Farms are a large Māori owned dairy operation located near the township of Ngatea on the...

Manawatu dairy farmer Aaron Taylor talks us through his experience with PGG Wrightson Dairy. Aaron has been using PGW Dairy for 16 years and praises the team for the great service he’s received.

Wool report: New Zealand Shears around the corner This week The Country's Jamie Mackay is joined by PGG Wrightson's Grant Edwards to look at the wool market this month. Edwards was in Te Kuiti, the shearing capital of New Zealand and commented on the dry conditions. There had been a boost in the...

The Neonatal Trust can expand its Otago-Southland operation after receiving $58,522 from the PGG Wrightson (“PGW”) charity auction held at the Wanaka show. One of the features of the show is the annual PGW charity auction, where PGW, suppliers and clients generously donate items which are auctioned...

PGG Wrightson's General Manager for Rural Real Estate Peter Newbold joins The Country's Jamie Mackay to take a look at the rural property market this month. The rural real estate market is heating up as it has seen more activity in the past two months compared to the previous three to four years...

Listen now as The Country's Jamie Mackay is joined by PGG Wrightson's national velvet manager, Tony Cochrane, to talk about the fortunes of velvet versus venison. Cochrane reflected on the dry season in the Canterbury region. Mackay commented on the deer industry, labelling it "a game of two halves...

Nationwide roadshow aiming to add value for commercial beef farmers Maximising profit from beef is the aim for a nationwide roadshow running throughout New Zealand in March. ‘What's the Beef’ focusses on helping commercial beef farmers add value to their businesses by making the most of genetics. A...

Robust hill country genetics going under the hammer Farmers will this month have a rare opportunity to acquire some of the North Island’s premium Angus genetics. One of the East Coast’s most respected Angus studs is ending a 60 year era with an autumn dispersal sale. The Rangatira Angus Mixed Age...

Turning a love of animals into a career When Emma Pollitt was a schoolgirl in Gisborne she loved anything with four legs, particularly horses and dogs. Agriculture, and the opportunity to work with animals, was a logical step so when she finished school she took an 18 month course at Taratahi, the...

Ewe fairs and store lamb sales dominate South Island livestock market February was a big month in the South Island livestock market with the schedule of annual draft ewe fairs and store lamb sales dominating the action. Overall demand has been steady. Of particular interest: merino lamb and ewe...

Deer join sheep and beef on innovative programme aiming to improve farm cashflow PGG Wrightson’s Go-Stock, which has placed over $300 million worth of livestock with farmers over the past five years, comprising 1.2 million lambs and 200,000 cattle, has now extended to deer. Deer farmers are now able...