A multi-breed multi-vendor sale of dairy heifers and young cows was held on Saturday evening, March 2, at Simpson, after the Heytesbury Show.
The Settlement Sale catalogue of 39 young cattle was brought together by Judson Jennings and Jason McVilly, leading the Western District HA Sub-branch, reaching out to breeders of Jerseys, Holsteins, Brown Swiss and Illawarras from throughout the Western District of Victoria and further afield.
Judson Jennings said the first The Settlement Sale, in 2023 after a hiatus of several years, was held using video of the cattle for sale.
After experiencing logistical challenges post-sale, the organising committee decided to hold a led cattle sale.
Holding a led cattle sale has seen the entries into the dairy section of the Heytesbury Show grow exponentially this year, with 140 head exhibited.
Judson said this year’s format was successful and would continue. Next year’s The Settlement Sale will be held on Friday, February 28, again after the Heytesbury Show.
A late entry saw the Heytesbury Show’s Junior Jersey Champion, Junior Interbreed Champion and Supreme Junior Champion entered into the sale, as lot 24A.
She was entered by the Hanks family and lifted the sale lot numbers to 40.
The heifer, Wellcoora Chrome Victoria, born July 5, 2022, is out of Wellcoora Galaxies Victoria and sired by River Valley Cece Chrome. She made $7500.
The highest bid was paid for lot five, Scotts Creek Altitude Apple-RC (Imported Embryo Transfer), a Holstein heifer born, April 19, 2023, and consigned to the auction by Tom Lindquist.
Altitude Apple-RC is out of Intense Nohl Ariana, classified VG88 as a three-year-old, and sired by Farnear Altitude-Red. She made $10,000 and was bought by Leslie Manor Trust.
The second-top price of $9000 was paid for lot 27, Rosemont Craze Charo-ET, born March 31, 2022, and pregnancy-tested-in-calf to Victory Rhondas Big Red.
This Jersey heifer is out of Aspire Vanahlem Charo 2, EX93, and sired by River Valley Circus Craze.
Lot 25, Ripponlea Roulette Bubbles 3456, a Jersey heifer born March 20, 2023, was sent in to the sale by Belinda Egan, and sold for $8000.
She was Junior Champion All Breeds at the Berwick Show this year and Reserve Junior Jersey Champion at the Heytesbury Show.
The only Brown Swiss in the sale, lot 21, Dusty Road Aldo Paris, sold at $7500. Her full sister was sashed Junior Champion at IDW this year.
This heifer was born on October 5, 2022, was consigned to the sale by Leah Dickson and is due to calve in August, PTIC to Collaps.
There were two lots sold at $7000. Both were Holsteins, but differed in age and PTIC status.
Lot one, a Holstein heifer born April 5, 2023, is Glenavon Park Lamda Linda (IMP-ET), was consigned to the sale by Issac Stephens, and sold at $7000.
Lot 13, a Holstein in-calf heifer born February 22, 2022, is Blueprint Chief Lady, sent in by Anthony Glennen. Lady was AI’d in August to Modena (sexed) and sold at $7000.
She is descended from Fairvale Morty Lady, 2014 All Australian Cow, only three dams back.
Several lots achieved $6000 – three are Holsteins and two are Jersey.
Lot nine, The Points Mirand Mable 3rd-PO, from IJ & KR McKie, was born on August 8, 2022. She is PTIC to Rocket (sexed) and sold at $6000.
The McKie family also sold lot 20 to $6000. The Points Chief Balmoral, born April 9, 2022, PTIC to Hanske-P (sexed).
Lot 12, Saw Dust 1st Grade Roxy (ET), from Nico Nieuwenhuizen, was born on August 14, 2022, and was AI’d in November to Hulu (sexed).
Lot 24, Jugiong Leonie 8561, born April 11, 2022, is a Jersey heifer consigned by the Nicholson family. She is PTIC to Transit Park Cavalier.
Lot 26, Miami Chrome Faithful, VG86 as a two-year-old, birth date September 8, 2021, sold at $6000. The Jersey cow was consigned by the Philmar Dairy Company, and is PTIC to Bigtop.
Among the Illawarra cattle, lot 15 was bidder’s choice of a calf born on February 2 this year. Dam is Bluechip Windbook Dancer 3-IMP-ET-Red, EX92-2E, EX94 MAM, and sire either Farnear Delta Lambda or Woodcrest King Doc.
The choice of calves was provided by Adam Nelson. In the end, he provided two heifer calves; both sold at $4500 each.
The Jersey cattle averaged $5690. The Holstein cattle averaged $4875. The Illawarra cattle averaged $2750. There was only one Brown Swiss lot, sold at $7500.
Judson Jennings said The Settlement Sale was a good opportunity for people to access good genetics.
“It’s a good opportunity for people to get into some of the best cow families in the country and around the world,” he said.
“This sale also brings more dairy cattle to compete at the Heytesbury Show.”
This year saw growth in sale numbers from northern Victoria, underpinned by Gippsland and western Victorian studs.
“The sale is somewhere for people around here to sell their genetics,” Judson said.
Bidders were in the room and online from right throughout NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
The sale was facilitated by Dairy Livestock Services with support from Stocklive.