Calf prices steady at opening SI sale
The new season weaner calf market opened at Owaka last Thursday with prices similar to last year’s. PGG Wrightson Otago livestock manager Chris Swale said steers sold for between 230c and 240c a kg liveweight, and heifers from 190c to 200c a kg. Mr Swale said demand was consistent, especially for steers, and quality was up with that expected from the Owaka region reports The ODT.
The top price was $790 for a pen of 12 Charolais-cross steers sold by R. B. and Y. S. Murray, of Kaka Point. The same vendors topped the heifer offering, selling two pens of Charolais-cross heifers for $740 and $705.
The calf market starts tomorrow with sales at Heriot and Millers Flat, and at Palmerston on Friday. Mr Swale said because of dry conditions in Central Otago and East Otago, farmers were having to sell calves at the autumn sales.
