Sale Report - Kakahu & Blue Cliffs In Calf Heifer Sale May 7th 2011

It is always a pleasure to see repeat buyers at any sale, but especially when it involves breeding. The in-calf Kakahu bred rising two year old heifers sold to a varied clientele extending from our next door neighbours to Murchison. The word was that previous heifers have bred on well and calve without any problems. They excel in production and type.

All the cattle looked well, and in particular the outstanding Blue Cliffs heifers which were in very forward condition.

People are starting to appreciate females with very easy calving plus outstanding performance in a commercial package.

The average was up from $868 in 2010 to $1185 with a top price for Blue Cliffs heifers of $1360.

Autumn 2010 sale

Statistics for the autumn 2010 sale are as follows: 93 bulls of 93 sold for an average of $6021.  Twenty five sold for over $7,000, 36 for between $5000 and $7000. Thirty two sold for between $2000 and $4800. A third sold for under $5000.

With only one bull in the sale under the New Zealand Average for Carcase Index
(API), it goes to show that top genetic bulls are not necessarily more expensive than ordinary bulls!
It is where you can go with these top genetics which is so exciting. For example, this season we have AIed 109 yearling heifers.  Seventy five percent are in the top 10% for the Self Replacing Index – possibly the first in the country for this to have been achieved.  This means high fertility, early maturing, easy doing cattle with great carcase attributes – what we all want! 
All but three of the heifers are in the top 25% for Angus Pure Index. 84% are in the top 25% for Calving Ease. Just four are below average for this NZ Index.
 
 Results of our calving for first calving heifers were very pleasing. Five of 144 (5%) were dry at pregnancy testing. One was assisted at calving. With a remarkably improved season the mob of young cows look great and their calves are impressive.

An excellent gallery attended the Kakahu Angus 34th Bull Sale held June 21st, 2010

It was a muddy day after 12 inches of rain and 4ml more the morning of the sale.

An even line of compact, meaty bulls sold mainly to commercial buyers, who showed an excellent understanding of EBVs.  With all but one of the bulls over the average for the Angus Pure Index, there was plenty of quality to select from. 
 
85 bulls sold of 85 offered

The average was $6021
Lot 35 sold to Totaranui Stud, Pahiatua for the top price of $17,000.

Kakahu Angus 33rd Annual Bull Sale.

Results of the 33rd Annual Bull Sale were very satisfying, with bulls selling to a predominantly commercial cliental at prices that are affordable. In the one of the larger private sales this year, eighty eight Angus bulls sold for an average of $4800 with the top price of $17,000 going to Totaranui Stud of Pahiatua. Following on from the Angus sale, we held our second Charolais sale. We sold 27 out of 28 bulls for an average of $3263. The bulls behaved quietly and we were very pleased with the way they looked. All in all a very big day for everyone.

Buyers came from all areas of the South Island, and we are delighted with continuing local support, as well as return buyers for the North Island.

We have been breeding Stud Angus cattle for over 50 years. After so many years of stringent selection, we offer efficient cattle, fertile and hardy, with the ability to grow fast to 18 months and finish with great eye muscle. We aim to breed average fats, well above intramuscular fat and well above average carcase size. Efficiency is a high priority and a proven factor at Kakahu through the use of EBVs. Through constant selection, we have one of the most fertile herds in New Zealand. As our comparison is done on an international scale as opposed to an in herd evaluation, the fertility and calving ease figures are truly exciting. We sell bulls from a 95% fertility background and better. Few studs are able to match this. Hardiness comes from our continued use of the Clayton High Country ranging from 2000 feet to 3500 feet. Our cows have wintered there for the last 10 years now. As well, this year 190 cows and calves spent from the end of January to August at Ferintosh Station, near Mt Cook.

Kakahu is the complete sale for buyers who want measured genetics that we guarantee will lift the bottom line of their herds – a claim few other studs can make – at affordable prices. We offer more than just phenotype. After all phenotype is a personal judgement. Measurement is a formatted judgement which compares all animals under the same regime. By using such comparisons, great progress can be made. DNA measurement at the moment cannot match the accuracies that EBVs at present provide, nor do they offer the selection of traits that EBVs do.

Sale catalogue reference link

May 15 - Kakahu In Calf Heifer Sale

Demand for Kakahu bred in calf heifers was very pleasing with new and repeat buyers attending from many parts of the South Island.

The average for 181 heifers was $906. A pen of 16 Blue Cliffs heifers sold for the top price of $1085.
We are delighted to be able to offer these cattle to breeders.

With Clayton Station as the testing ground for our stud cows, we have now developed a breed of hardy, fast growing easy calving and efficient cows, whose progeny will shift to all types of country.

For some years, Kakahu has been using bulls with low birth, easy calving EBVs combined with good growth and carcase figures.

Breeders following this programme have found that their steers are getting to Five Star earlier, at heavier weighs. This is very exciting as it is proving to us that our beliefs are very well founded.

Kakahu Annual Bull Sale, 2008 - Report

The Annual Bull Sale of June 16th, 2008.

Sold 94 bulls for an an average of $4275

Top price of $10,000 for Bull 07 82, one of the top bulls in NZ for Self Replacing Index. He went to Banks Peninsular - Faulty Tussocks.

20% of the 94 bulls sold between $2800 and $2200 25% sold in the $3000s.

Three bulls were passed.

Forty bulls were sold on Oct 9th at the 3rd annual Kakahu Spring Bull Sale. The Yearling bulls sold to a positive market, with low birthweight and high carcass yeilding bulls selling strongly. With an average of $1730, the top bull sold for $3100 to Mike Salvensen of Ashburton. Two year old bulls sold to $2200 with and average of just over $1700. Beef breeders and dairy farmers were looking for useful follow up bulls. Buyers came from as far away as Blenheim, as well as many from Southland. Rito 4L60 The new Rito 4L60 line was particularly sort after. His dam in the USA has sold $7million worth of progeny. 4L60 is renowned for his carcass and yeilding efficience, plus positive fat figures, low birth and extremely good growth. He is a trait leader for gestation Length. We put a few of his sons in the sale, and with a great phenotype as well, they were the feature of the sale. This year is the first of 4L60's progeny coming available in New Zealand, and we are very excited about his other sons Click for Rito 4L60 EBV's Click here for Online Catalogue.

KAKAHU – BLUE CLIFFS IN-CALF HEIFER SALE – MAY 16, 2008

Our second annual in-calf heifer sale was held at Kakahu before a small gallery.

A pen of 29 Blue Cliffs heifers topped the sale $950. The average for the sale was $751.

Feed back from last year’s sale has been excellent, with live calf ratio of 95%, and a 98% in-calf rate this autumn.

We are delighted to be able to offer these cattle to breeders. With Clayton Station as the testing ground for our stud cows, we have now developed a breed of hardy, fast growing easy calving and efficient cows, whose progeny will shift to all types of country.

For some years, Kakahu has been using bulls with low birth, easy calving EBVs combined with good growth and carcase figures.
Breeders following this programme have found that their steers are getting to Five Star earlier, at heavier weighs.

This is very exciting as it is proving to us that our beliefs are very well founded.

John and William Ralston with John McCauley


The auction in action with Tommo and Jonty Hyslop, PGG Wrightson.

Next Commercial Heifer Sale 2009, Friday May 15.

Previous Sale News

2007 KAKAHU ANNUAL SALE REPORT AND HEIFER SALE REPORT

Kakahu angus wishes to thank all our clients for the great support.

Note: Detailed results will be appearing shortly.

2006 KAKAHU ANNUAL SALE REPORT

(Results appear below - 17th August, 2006)

- 26th June 2006

Kakahu Angus held their 30th bull sale in snowy conditions, minus the power! The bulls had held their condition in spite of standing in snow for a week. A very even line of 105 was presented.

The sale was very pleasing for both buyers and sellers, with an average of $5100 for 103 bulls. Lot number 11 sold for the top price of $8800 to James Fraser of Stern.
One other stud bull sold, Lot 1 to John Bayley of Pahia, Bay of Islands for $8500.

 Bidding was generally brisk, with commercial buyers from all over the South Island able to purchase genetically superior bulls at realistic prices.  It was exciting that the bulls with high carcass EBV’s showed up as being superior.
It was interesting to see buyers of all ages seeking bulls with the best EBV’s.

Harry Lawson from the well-known Ythanbrae Angus stud at Yea, Victoria attended to see 8 Lawson Bulls sell for an average of $5500.

Thanks once again to all our clients.  We celebrated the 30th anniversary with white bait, as well as the usual Angus Pure and Five Star beef. Archie Reid won the shepherd’s crook. Guy Sargent scattered Angus Pure Sausages around amongst the buyers and Hamish Johnson of Cave won a Fairlie Show draw of $500 towards his bull purchase. Congratulations on the win, Hamish!

Images from the 2006 Kakahu Annual Bull Sale.
Click an image to see the larger view.

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2006 KAKAHU ANGUS SALE

19th June 2006

The 2006 online catalogue

Within this catalogue is also a number of Australian Angus Bulls ranging Lots 20 - 27

2005 sale results

Thankyou to all our clients for the great support. We look forward to hearing how the bulls go so please keep in touch with us. Be sure and read our advice on caring for your new bull.

Gerald and Sue Hargreaves.

Results of the Kakahu Annual Bull Sale were "the best we have ever had" said Gerald Hargreaves to the large gallery, after bidding came to an end. We sold all but one of our bulls to a predominantly commercial cliental at prices that are affordable.

In the second to largest private sale this year, ninety-two Angus bulls sold for and average of just over $5000 with the top price of $10,000 going to a Mangatu Holdings, Gisborne. This was approximately $1000 less than the 2004 sale, which Gerald stated, is a much more realistic price for most farmers.

Buyers came from most areas of the South Island, and "we are delighted with the local support," said Gerald.

"We are attracting buyers who are wanting to breed efficient cattle, fertile and hardy, with the ability to grow fast to 18 months, and finish with great eye muscle, intramuscular fat and above average carcase size. This will prove very productive in the long term for our clients who are following this breeding programme.