A well-established pedigree breeding business in NSW, Murribrook Holsteins, recently held its final dairy dispersal sale.
The Murribrook principals have moved into the beef industry, and retained their embryo transfer breeding business to growing demand.
Murray Sowter, Annette Barham and Jock Sowter, of Murribrook Holsteins, Moss Vale, held the final stage complete dispersal sale of 44 Holstein heifers on February 29.
Many of the heifers were sold pregnancy-tested-in-calf to sexed semen.
Murribrook Holsteins has a strong record of show champions, to underpin the excellence of the heifers for sale.
“We’ve had 47 Grand Champions at the Royal Sydney Show,” Murray Sowter told Dairy News Australia.
“The pedigree sector was a big part of what we did in the dairy industry.
“We’ve been involved with some groundbreaking events.
“If you continue to invest in pedigree cattle, at the high end, and take a long-term view to stick with it, they can give you a great return.”
The sale was facilitated by Dairy Livestock Services interfaced with Stocklive’s online platform. DLS auctioneer Brian Leslie has a long history of selling Murribrook cattle.
“I’ve been coming here for 40 years, and it’s always been great to sell cattle at Murribrook Holsteins,” Brian said.
“The heifers we sold today were cattle with a lot of quality. We knew they’d be big and we knew they’d be in great form.
“There were buyers from Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Many of the cattle were bought by repeat buyers.
“The IVF embryos were really well received and went into every state.
“Volume buyers, Kevin and Helen Jones, bought several heifers that will remain at Murribrook Holsteins to be AI’d before going to their new homes.”
The dispersal sale began briskly, and momentum was held throughout. There were 44 cattle on offer, and a number of embryo packages.
The average price for cattle was $6976, and they were sold into most dairy regions across Australia.
The highest price of $19,000 was paid for lot 6, Murribrook Solomon Cher-ET. She was born July 1, 2022, and is PTIC to Bullseye with sexed semen, and was bought by Olivia Millhouse, of Southwick Holsteins, Tasmania.
The next highest priced heifer was lot 1, Murribrook Chief Lexi, born January 3, 2022. She sold at $18,000. She is PTIC to Murano-P.
Lots 8 and 42 each sold at $12,000.
Lot 42 is Murribrook Chief Licorice (g), born September 2, 2021, is PTIC to Alligator. Lot 8 is Murribrook Lambda Char-ET, born February 16, 2023. Her full sister, lot 9, Murribrook Lambda Casino-ET, born February 16, 2023, sold at $10,000.
Other heifers sold for $10,000 included lots 4, 18, 19, 25 and 28.
Lot 4 is Murribrook Lambda Candace-ET (g), born July 1, 2022, and PTIC (sexed) to Bullseye.
Lot 18 is Murribrook Sidekick Cabernet, born January 17, 2022, and PTIC (sexed) to Brenland Denver.
Lot 19 is Murribrook Diamond Raven, born January 2, 2022, and joined to Sidekick with sexed semen.
Lot 25 is Murribrook Sidekick Gaynor, born January 18, 2022, and PTIC to Doorman.
Lot 28 is Murribrook Crushabull Pearl, born April 1, 2021, and PTIC (sexed) to Unstoppabull-Red.
There were 11 embryo packages sold at auction, ranging from a pair to six embryos.
Lot 50 was a pair of two IVF sexed embryos, out of MB Ladyluck Bullseye and Murribrook Windbrook Robina. They sold at $1500 each.
Lot 49, a package of five IVF sexed embryos, Kings Ransom Dropbox x Murribrook Atwood Ivy, EX93, sold at $1400 each.
Lot 45 was a package of 12 IVF sexed embryos, Kings Ransom Dropbox joined to Murribrook Goldwyn Candace, EX93. A package of six embryos sold at $1400 each; and the second package of six embryos sold at $1300 each.
Lot 46, a package of eight IVF sexed embryos, Kings Ransom Dropbox x Murribrook Lambda Candace-ET, sold at $1200 each.
Murray, Annette and Jock have now closed the dairy platform, but retained their Moss Vale property to continue breeding through their embryo transfer centre.
Murray and Annette added a Wagga property to their holdings about six years ago, buying a property well known for its history in Wagyu production.
That has enabled them to expand their commercial breed breeding enterprise.
“When we bought the Wagga property, we bought a few Wagyu cattle as well,” Murray said.
“Then we picked up a few more. In the last five years, we’ve had a bit of a play.
“Two years ago, we bought a well bred Angus heifer, then a few more. We also bought some embryos.
“We’re looking to grow our pedigree beef business, but stay small.”
They also run a commercial Angus herd, joined to Limousin bulls, and trade steers.
But their embryo transfer centre at the Moss Vale farm is where their main interest lays.
“We’re progressing our ET and IVF business. I wish I was 30 years younger,” Murray said.
“We’ve flushed dairy cows since the 1970s. We’ve grown that business in the dairy industry and moved into the beef industry by accident.
“We’re breeding Angus-Friesian cows to use as recipient cows, and other F1 recips to client demand.
“Now we’re busy with supplying and managing recip cows and IVF services for the dairy and beef industries.”