Solid demand at early weaner sales

Weaner deer prices at early season sales are back a little on last year but that is no bad thing, say sector leaders. “Generally speaking things are heading in the right direction,” says Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) chief executive Mark O’Connor. Tight supply is maintaining in market prices despite the economic downturn but a stronger kiwi dollar – or more accurately weak Euro – has taken the shine off schedules here reports The Rural News. “Our main markets are still in Europe so the Euro [weakness] is a challenge for us,” says O’Connor. “Things might be a little slower than last year but supply has dropped and our marketing continues unabated.” That said, frozen sales in recent months have been “at a reasonable level” which augurs well for the coming chill season. “We want to see a reasonable level of stability in the market and here in New Zealand. It’s important weaner prices are reasonable and offer a profit for breeders and there’s still a return in it for finishers.” The $6/kg plus prices of top end weaners last autumn were “way too high”, he adds. PGG Wrightson’s Paul Lamb says top prices for weaner stags at the recent Taihape sale was over $5/kg, with the average across the thousand head yarded about $4.75/kg.“It was a very good sale with a total clearance. There weren’t any pens under 50kg – they’ve had a pretty good season.” About 700 hinds were yarded the following day, with hybrid hinds averaging $4.30/kg and reds a touch under $4/kg. Early sales in the South Island have been similarly firm.“Demand has been strong and prices buoyant. They’re back on last year but that’s to be expected,” says Lamb’s Christchurch-based colleague Ron Schroeder. Top end hybrid weaners have made over $5/kg and even hinds have been in the “high fours, to early fives”. An on-farm sale in the Rakaia Gorge last Thursday was expected to give some indication of demand for reds. (See deer pages for sale report) With it getting dry in the northern half of the South Island, and already very dry further south, whether that will affect demand remains to be seen.