The shortest day has now past and while it is likely the worst of winter is still to come, in about three weeks’ time we will notice a real difference in longer daylight hours.  

Also, on the improve is the pricing of raw materials for the calf meal. Grain prices continue to ease, and we have also seen a drop in price for canola oil. Molasses has stayed steady, soy meal continues to act like a roller coaster, it was heading lower quite nicely before it jumped by over $100 per tonne in the last week.

However, we have enough soy contracted for July, August, and September at a really good price and hopefully by the time we need to buy more the price has dropped again.

We have continued to experiment with how we add the liquids during the mixing process. I don’t know how many variations we have tried but it certainly has been numerous. Thankfully sales of calf meal for autumn calves have allowed this testing to continue. We have settled on we think is the best way for our system and are now waiting for the stainless steel fabricators to finish the modifications.

Again, we have been fortunate to pick up a significant number of pallets from Oceania Dairy which means our policy of not charging for pallets will continue. Though its always great to have them returned if they are clean and not broken.

Our price for the High Octane was $996 +GST + Freight ($906 ++ for Low Protein) at the end of last season and at the beginning of June this dropped to $954 ++ ($884 for Low Protein) and it will drop again on July 1st as per below.

New Prices as of July 1st

High Octane Aoraki Calf Meal        40 x 25kg              $916 + GST ex our yard
Low Protein Aoraki Calf Meal        40 x 25kg               $852 + GST ex our yard

This price will be reviewed before October 1st, there is a chance grain prices will continue to ease and hopefully by then soy prices have also dropped. If this happens another drop in price is possible.

Kind Regards
Ken Buckingham