A combination of the drought and economic pressures forced down demand and prices for breeding bulls at this week's Beef Expo in Feilding.
Stud bulls from seven beef breeds were auctioned on Tuesday.
Auctioneer Bruce Orr of PGG Wrightson says the number offered for sale and prices were generally well down on last year.
The champion bull selected by judges at Beef Expo, a Simmental, fetched only $6000.
Mr Orr says the Hereford breed had the strongest sale, but the Angus sale was the poorest he can remember in many years.
