Holstein enthusiasts from all over Australia and New Zealand were onsite and online for the Avonlea Invitational Showcase Sale.
The sale was held in May at John and Cherrie Gardiner’s property at Nar Nar Goon and included lots from Avonlea, Gorbro and Maxmount Holsteins.
Top lot of the sale was Avonlea Gator Shakira (Imp.ET) who sold for $37,000 to Grantie Hills Holsteins of Cobram.
The 13 month old heifer is backed by eight direct dams all class EX 93 or higher. The same buyer also selected Avonlea Sidekick Velvet (Imp.ET) for $20,000 - a July calving two year old and direct daughter of MS Beautys Black Velvet, EX 96, two time All American and WDE winner.
Second highest lot seller was Avonlea Tatoo Satin a six month old grand daughter of the record priced cow View Fort Jagger Satin, EX 93 (selling for $54,000 last year). She sold to Rockstar Holsteins, Cobargo, NSW for $21,000.
WA buyer T McSwain selected Avonlea Delta Bindi an eight month old Lambda from a Harris daughter of Jacobs Octane Babe, EX 96 at $18,000.
The Benlargo herd of the Tweddle Family, SA purchased Avonlea Dylan Alana who sold carrying an embryo from Glenunga Wind Butterbrook, EX 95 at $16,000.
There was a lot of praise for Avonlea Lambda Camino, a daughter of Royal Champion Cow Linsand Aspen Cinnamin, EX.
The yearling sold for $15,000 to S and J Oslear of NSW.
Other noted sales included Avonlea Captains Timeout backed by many generations of EX and All Canadian winners for $13,000 to Clydevale Holsteins.
Avonlea Crushabull Princess, an exceptional milking two year old sold for $12,000 to M and A Taylor.
Avonlea Tatoo Mistress a top young second lactation cow sold for $10,000 to P Latimore from NSW.
Avonlea WB Jagger Lynzi bred down from Idee Windbrook Lynzi, EX 95 sold for $10,000 to the Walters Family, Tasmania and Avonlea Sidekick H Ruth also sold for $10,000.
Gorbro sold a wonderful line of milking two year olds along with spring calving heifers.
They started off with the recently scored VG 86 two year old Gorbro Lambda Vienna, bred from three generations of EX dams with the second dam Murribrook Goldwyn Verbena, EX 92 the 2025 Holstein Cow of the year.
She sold for $20,000 to Tim and Kellie Walden of Muswellbrook, NSW.
Gorbro Shimmers Lambda, VG 86 and from an eighth generation EX dam, sold for $15,000 to Distinctive Dairy, SA.
Other noted sales for Gorbro included Gorbro Perennial Noni from an EX Chief dam sold for $12,000 to Weventure Farms, Kyabram.
Two year old Gorbro Dazzle Marra, VG 85, sold for $10,000 to M and A Taylor and Gorbro Parfect Mildred due to an embryo from VWF Champion Reginal Victory also sold for $10,000 to Burn Brae.
Maxmount Holsteins sold a wonderful line of young milking cows including Maxmount Isnt She Elegant, VG 85.
The two year old sold for $11,000 to Llandovery Farms, Girgarre.
Cattle were sold to all states in Australia accept Queensland and Dairy Livestock Services report 76 Holsteins gross $603,600, averaging $7,945.
Avonlea – 39 females averaged $9,182, 1 Bull at $4,000
Gorbro – 22 females averaged $7,340
Maxmount – 14 females averaged $5,715