Taking stock to the people

Saleyard

SHENLEY Station managers

Kate and John Hughes had one of the biggest weeks on their farming calendar recently – the sale of nearly 700 AngusPure steers and heifers at the Temuka saleyards.

The calves came down from the hills of the 4000ha property in South Canterbury to Temuka, and though this year was the fourth offering at the yards, it was the first time the calves sold on a weight basis.

Kate Hughes is the fourth generation on the property, taking over the reins from her parents Rit and Sara Fisher, and it was the second calf sale of their own accord.

“We have a great relationship with our stock agent Greg Shearer [Hazlett] and he suggested weighing the calves this year as a younger buyer audience is coming through who like the numbers. It also gave us the opportunity to utilise online bidding at the yards,” she said.

Most of the calves were born in November, and until weaning ran with their mothers in a mob of 740 cows. Hughes said they are shifted every 24-48 hours into new blocks, a job that is made easier by the love affair the cows have with a mineral cart.

Hughes believes this early training on the calves is the key to their quiet nature and it is one of the main aspects that regular buyers return for each year. Also a big attraction for buyers is the commitment by the Fisher and Hughes families to breed top quality calves, and they source their bulls mainly from Kakahu Angus in Geraldine, and also Twin Oaks Angus.

After a good growth season, this year’s calves were in top condition coming to market and Hughes was very happy with the weights. The steers averaged 210kg and ranged from 134kg up to 259kg, while the heifers averaged 185kg and ranged from 132kg to 221kg. The top 140 heifers were not offered for sale as they were retained as replacements.

Sale prices were very much in line with recent results.

“It is a bit harder being the last offering of the season, but they sold in line with market values at the other sales,” Hughes said.

“The whole sale was very pleasing, especially the heifers. And it is always a relief to get this sale under our belt.”