Campaspe - Networks

North West Sub Branch dairy sale reaches new heights.
2011/11/30 | Sophie Bruns

A change of date and venue has seen this years Stars of the Future dairy sale achieve a price well above any previous average.   Hosted by the North West Sub Branch, the 44 lots sold for an average price of $4438 - $2000 better than the previous average.   Eight month old heifer Mitch Million Rae sold for the top price of $9500, delighting Lockington’s Mitch Holstein who bred her.   Sale manager Glen Gordon said he was very pleased with the sale results considering it were a bit of a gamble changing venues and dates for the first time.   “We changed the auction date to late November, a time where it suits more farmers and Echuca is a more central place for travelling, and there is also plenty of accommodation available too,” Glen said.   “We had a really good crowd with 74 registered bidders and quality cattle - the top end of the pedigrees.”   A selection of donated embryos by members of the North West Sub Branch raised over $4000 for the Sherri Martin fund. This fund is dedicated to encouraging young people in the dairy industry.   Mitch Million Rae breeders Brent and Kim Mitchell (Mitch Holsteins) were delighted with the price of the calf who sold as lot 6.   “She is one of the best animals we have from the Roxy family – she is a nice dairy calf and we got a great price,” Brent said.   Lot 21 Gorbro Sanchez sold on account of Glamorgan Holstein for $9000. She was the next best priced animal in the sale.   The North West Sub Branch consists of Holstein breeders from Swan Hill, Timmerang, Calivil Tennyson, Lockington, Gunbower and Rochester.   Cattle were sold on behalf of some of the sub branch members and bidders came from across Victoria and interstate.   The sub branch also recently hosted theSemex-Holstein Australia On Farm Competition with a total of 31 farms visited and 241 cows judged.   Judge Michael Boyd from Coomboona Holsteins said the quality and standard of cows presented were as good as you can get.