Livestock News

The grass is lush and plentiful in Southland but that can bring both good and bad news, says PGG Wrightson’s livestock manager for the region, Andrew Martin. Feed-wise things were looking great, Martin told The County’s Jamie Mackay. “We’re probably as good as we’ve been for many a year.” Even...

Loving being part of a cool team of calm, collected people. Moving from a government agency into agriculture has been a change for a new member of the PGG Wrightson Livestock team. Gabby Swift started with the company in July having worked for the previous seven years in government positions, mainly...

Rare opportunity to buy ‘world’s cutest sheep’ . A reduction sale featuring a rare sheep breed that is winning fans the world over should attract plenty of interest in February, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Swiss heritage breed Valais Blacknose are reckoned to be the cutest sheep in the world...

Stag sale looking to capitalise on good news around venison schedule. One of the New Zealand’s top venison studs is holding its annual on farm sale this month. Located one kilometre northwest of Taihape, Ruapehu Red Deer’s two-year-old sire stag sale, on 13 December, will offer 30 plus lots. Click...

Final event at Netherdale will be a highlight of this season’s stag sales. One of Southland’s most respected deer breeders will end an era early in the new year. Netherdale Red Deer Stud, has been a key part of the deer industry in Southland for more than a generation. In 1979 David Stevens...

Spring grass growth provides buyers with confidence. Dairy beef is in solid demand at sales throughout the country, with North Island sales already under way, and sales in the South Island commencing before the end of November. The majority of sales are scheduled before Christmas, though a few in...

Growth, early weaning weight and fertility attracting top dollar. Ram sales started in the North Island in mid-November and are due to follow shortly in the South Island. Results have been mixed. While some studs are quietly satisfied, others have fallen short of expectations. The number of rams...

Early lambs sales more hesitant Spring cattle sales have just been completed in the South Island. Current positive schedules and good feed conditions throughout most South Island regions meant stock sold well, especially well-bred traditional cattle. Early lambs sales, including in paddock sales...

Unusual variant attracting attention for more than 90 years. While Hereford cattle are traditionally red bodied with white heads and other markings, a Wanganui cattle breeder has a theory, supported by more than 90 years’ of evidence, that there may be more to the breed. Lindsay Johnstone, along...

The sheep industry is doing it tough right now, and unfortunately, things could get worse, according to PGG Wrightson’s Kevin Mortensen. “It’s hard at the moment and it could even get harder,” the King Country regional livestock manager told The Country’s Jamie Mackay. Many farmers were “entering...

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...