Positivity in the market, continued high beef prices and breeders who stuck to their guns with genetic decisions drove good sales and top prices over the last week.
A new Angus record bull price was set when Lot 3 from the Taimate Angus sale, from Ward, sold for $168,000 to Tangihau Angus.
Taimate Angus owner Paul Hickman, who owns the stud with wife Nadine, sold 100/100, and set a new national average high of $23,750.
Hickman told Farmers Weekly Taimate Angus V15 Lot 3 was described at the sale as being “as close to the perfect all-round bull as you’re going to get”.
He said the bull’s breed data and his phenotype are extremely good.
“It’s a very good bull for breeding offspring and selling individuals that look just like him.”
Hickman said across the Angus breed, all sales are a big step up on last year, a consequence of the outlook for beef.
General manager and stud master at Tangihau Angus, Dean McHardy, said Taimate Angus V15 Lot 3 was a particularly good bull, with a good head and some of the best breeding values he had seen.
Tangihau Angus set the previous record for the highest priced bull in New Zealand across all breeds, selling Lot 16 to Oregon Angus for $161,000 in 2025.
Hemingford Charolais, Culverden, set a record for the breed, with the highest number of Charolais bulls ever sold at an on-farm auction in New Zealand, and a record average price of $18,871, achieved with 80% of the bulls sold to repeat clients.
Hemingford cleared 72/72, with the top price of $55,000 for Lot 7 Hemingford Valentino to Rimu Charolais and Silverstream Charolais.
Sam Holland, who owns Hemingford with wife Viki, said cross breeding has come back into favour, with people wanting to use hybrid vigour and realising they need a terminal sire.
Charolais bull sales have been very strong nationally with more people recognising the profit driving attributes the breed delivers.
He said younger farmers are measuring more to get breeding values accurate, realising that is what makes them money.
Burtergill South Devon, West Melton, cleared 15/15, with an average price of $9,226 and a top price of $19,000.
Brackenfield Angus, Blenheim, sold 17/20 with an average price of $9000 and a top price of $15,500.
Blacknight Angus, Rai Valley, sold 16/18, with an average price of $10,093 and top price of $15,500.
Kakahu Angus, Geraldine, sold 55/55, with an average of $13,407 and top price of $27,000.
Matariki Hereford, Kaikoura, sold 70/70, with an average price of $19,014 and a top price of $48,000 to Locharburn Hereford Stud.
Woodbank Angus, Kaikoura, sold 70/70, with an average price of $19,442 and a top price of $38,000.
Kaiwara Angus, Culverden, sold 24/27 with an average price of $10,500 and a top price of $20,000.
Snake Gully Limousins, Maungakaramea, sold 17/18, with an average price of $6547 and top price of $14,000.
Red Oak Angus, Weka Pass, Amberley, cleared 32/32 with an average price of $15,666 and a top price of $28,000.
Leefield Station Angus, Blenheim, cleared 17/17 with an average price of $8823 and top price of $12,000.