The final stage complete dispersal sale of the Restdown Brown Swiss stud was held on March 1, where cattle sold to a top of $7200.
These were the final 57 heifers and a few young cows, bred from the number one BPI milking herd in the Brown Swiss breed in 2021.
The first stage dispersal of this herd began in 2021, with two sales — one in autumn and one in spring.
The Burgoines’ Strathallan farm experienced the extreme flood events that hit the Rochester area in October 2022, when, after inundation, the cattle had to be agisted elsewhere.
This followed the impact of a grassfire in November 2019, that swept through the farm and burned most of the dairy area.
These successive disasters and other impacts precipitated Andrew and Belinda Burgoine’s decision making to disperse the herd.
“It’s unfortunate we’ve had to sell the herd, we’ve enjoyed being in the dairy industry,” Andrew Burgoine told Country News.
“Fortunately, we’ve been well supported by repeat buyers as each dispersal sale.”
He and Belinda have remained in the Rochester district and moved their agribusiness into the beef and hay cropping industries.
The heifer and young cow lots up for sale on March 1 were pregnancy-tested-in-calf to sexed semen, and due to calve down later in March.
“The Restdown Brown Swiss cattle have tremendous productive backing and a wealth of the breed’s best sires from all over the world,” said Brian Leslie, auctioneer with Dairy Livestock Services, before the sale.
Live online bidding was possible at the sale, held at the Echuca Selling Centre, through an interface with Stocklive.
Buyers were from the dairy regions of NSW, Tasmania and Victoria.
The highest price of $7200 was paid for lot 15, Restdown Dairystar Luscious, born March 27, 2021 and PTIC sexed to BSCaviezel. She was purchased by Greg Meyland, of Waaia.
Bidding climbed nimbly to $5000, then continued to climb by $100 bids until the final price of $7200 was reached.
“He arrived with the intent of picking up some good cows. He went away with a few of them,” Andrew Burgoine said.
Ray Perkins and Shirleen Evans, from Laceby, Victoria, purchased lots 7 and 17, two heifers at $6000 each. Lot 7, Restdown River Sarajeveo, born April 29 2021, is PTIC (sexed) to BSCaviezel and registered A2A2. Lot 17, Restdown OMalley Nanda, born April 15, 2021, is PTIC (sexed) to STGDairystar.
“Ray and Shirleen bought at every sale we’ve had,” Andrew said.
Lot 13, Restdown OMalley Sally, born October 6, 2021, PTIC (sexed) to BSCaviezel and registered A2A2, sold at $5500 to Emily Brown and Stephen Fisicaro, Katunga.
The sale average was $3326.