Record audience at bull sale
A record number of farmers took part in the largest service bull sale in New Zealand – many from the comfort of their own homes.
Tainui Group Holdings' annual Hereford sale at Hangawera Station this month was a sellout; all 159 bulls were sold for an average $2800 per head.
Prices were markedly up on last year's sale and bids reached as high as $3200.
Rural operations manager Ian Mathieson says the bidders were eager.
"We had 60 registered buyers at the station Monday and we sold all the Herefords presented. The weather was fine and it was a family day out for many, given that it was school holidays."
Mathieson says its finance plans were a magnet for would-be buyers.
"We had some positive feedback on the finance plans available this year. It's been a tough season, particularly for dairy, but we worked hard with our agents PGG Wrightson and RD1 Livestock.
"Months of preparation went into this day and it was great to see it go really well," he says.
All the Herefords sold were purebred, aged 18-30 months. They were fertility tested and double vaccinated and tested for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL).
New Zealand’s dairy sector cannot expect India to be a market for all its dairy products.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods’ net profit has plunged on the back of lower market returns which squeezed margins and impacted business performance.
OPINION: Most people will be aware of the Government's plans to boost coal, oil and gas production to meet energy requirements.
AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Twenty rural community hubs across New Zealand will receive $5,000 to upgrade their facilities having been selected as the winners of Rabobank's Community Hub Competition.
As the dairy industry prepares to celebrate its top achievers at an awards night this Saturday, attendees are being warned to be aware of protests planned outside the venue – Baypark Arena, Mount Mauganaui.
OPINION: Farmers won't get any credit for this from the daily media, so Milking It is giving the bouquets where…
OPINION: The Advertising Standards Authority’s 2024 report revealed that not only is social media rotting our brains, it is also…