Strong dairy beef sale at Dannevirke

Carrfields sold these heifers for the average price of $500/head.

Keen interest from both local and Hawke's Bay buyers thanks to benign late spring/early summer weather meant prices soared at the Dannevirke Dairy Beef sale December 11.

A strong yarding of over 800 stock sold well, with prices for the predominantly Friesian Bulls $20-30 higher at the tops than at the last sale.

Friesian bulls dominated the sale at Dannevirke December 11.

Two thirds of the stock were Friesian bulls and only six pens of 40 sold for less than $500/head. Top price of $582/head went to a line of nine bulls from Joyce Henson and a further 17 bulls from Glenbervie Farms were next at $572/head, the average being $540/head.

PGG Wrightson's auctioneer Bjorn Andersen sold these Fourways Farms Friesian Bulls for $565/head.

Demand in the beef cross market was also strong for top animals, nearly 100 stock up for sale. Top stock reached $600/head but some mixed yardings failing to reach $500/head.

A similar number of dairy heifers averaged $500/head with the top stock from Wenn Farms reaching $655/head and white faces from DJS Farming reaching $570/head.

JE2 Farming of Kumeroa earned the top white-faced price of $625/head.

PGG Wrightson Livestock Agent Tim Pickering says the prices were very strong. The Dannevirke sale benefited from having a strong interest from Hawkes Bay.

These white faced steers from Ruby Farms sold for $572/head.

PGG Wrightson's Auctioneer Bjorn Andersen said stock were of very good quality, many having been weaned eight weeks and weighing in at over 110kg.

Phill Robson of Carrfields Livestock said it was the best of the three dairy beef markets so far and confidence is returning after farmers had sold well in the earlier yearling market.

The next dairy beef sale in Dannevirke is January 15.

Speckled Park X bulls are always in demand, this top line from Mitchells Milky Way of Pahiatua going for $590/head.