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19 New Feds boss sets ambitious course Vol 24 No 2 | January 19, 2026
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Ewes plant a flag for sheep prices Neal Wallace
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Livestock
NPRECEDENTED breeding ewe prices have been hailed as a turning of the tide for the sheep industry. This month a line of 2-tooths sold by J and MS Wilson from Onga Onga made $382 at Stortford Lodge while the McNeill family from Puketoro Station in Tairāwhiti sold Coopdale 2-tooth ewes for $302 and 2-tooth Romdale ewes $294. Onga Onga farmer Jim Wilson said several factors have aligned for the sheep industry, among them a shortage of ewes due to forestry conversions and a high lamb schedule due to global demand for meat. “All of these circumstances have come to a head at the same time,” he said. Wilson farms in central Hawke’s Bay, where he sources ewe lambs from Brent Mathews from Ormondville, grows them out and sells to a network of repeat buyers. He said the ewes have exceptional breeding values and production traits. The prime lamb schedule was last week still above $10/kg at a time it traditionally starts to ease, while store lamb prices at sales in the South Island last week were $30-$50/head higher than last year.
AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner said that confidence signals what she called a turning of the tide for the industry, adding that it shows few signs of easing. “There is so much demand for lamb and we are finally seeing that flow through to the market for breeding ewes, which we haven’t seen for a long time.” At North Island ewe fairs, 2-tooths have made $220-$330 compared to $220-$250 a year ago. Most sales have been to regular buyers. Bremner expects South Island markets will be equally strong when they begin later this month. “It’s long overdue for the farmers who have stuck with breeding ewes to finally be rewarded.” Another factor underpinning current ewe prices is the high cost of cattle. At a recent Feilding sale, 15-18 month traditional steers made from $2000, heifers $1600 and yearling bulls more than $1500. Dairy cattle for finishing are also an expensive option. At a recent sale in Taranaki 130kg dairy weaner bulls made $700 and 120kg steers $900. Bremner said those cattle would last year have sold for around $600-$650. Indications are that yearling calf prices this autumn could be even higher than last year. Donald Baines, the livestock Continued page 3
Shane Scott from Central Livestock looks for bids at the annual on-farm ewe and cattle sale at Puketoro Station in Tairāwhiti. The top line of 2-tooths sold for $302, continuing the strong demand for ewes this year. AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner says confidence signals a turning of the tide for the industry. Photo: Central Livestock
Kinder, safer bale net garners interest The Southland inventor of edible bale net wrap KiwiEconet, Grant Lightfoot, is exporting the first containers of the product to Europe this year. He is also attracting some royal interest.
NEWS 11 Regulations hinder plans to be buried on family farms.
Landowners must be accountable for uncontrolled deer.
Farm service co-ops are ‘sticking to their knitting’.
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