Prices reached $21,000 at Murray Sowter’s Murribrook sale at Moss Vale, NSW, in April.
Breeders from all parts of NSW, Victoria and South Australia were keen to secure the outstanding milking cows and in-calf heifers on offer.
The 113 Holsteins grossed $700,000 with an average of $6195.
The sale top of $21,000 came early when Lot 3 — Murribrook Octane Candace VG 87, PI of 128 on her first lactation and due to sexed Delta Lambda — sold to Eclipse Genetics of Warrnambool, Victoria.
This young cow was one of four daughters of former International Dairy Week winner Murribrook Goldwyn Candace EX 93 to sell, including Murribrook Sidekick Candace, a heifer due in June to Lambda, selling to Gorbro Holsteins of Cohuna, Victoria for $14,000; and Murribrook Doorman Clarity, recently classified VG 86 at two years, selling to Corra Lea Holsteins of Kerang, Victoria for $12,000.
Second top lot at $15,000 was the in-calf heifer Murribrook Kingdoc Tambourine, a daughter of a former Sydney Royal Junior Champion from the famed Toni family. She was purchased by Eloora Past Co of Deniliquin, NSW.
Victorian breeders Gorbro Holsteins bought several of the top lots in addition to the Candace heifer, including Murribrook Diamond Cabernet VG 89, backed by EX 96 and 95 point cows, for $13,000; Murribrook Solomon Tabby VG 87, on first lactation and due to sexed Chief, for $10,000; Murribrook Sidekick Rose, recently scored VG at two years, for $9500; and Murribrook Doorman Lynley VG 87 for $9000.
View Fort Holsteins of Tarwin, Victoria selected the outstanding heifer Murribrook Sidekick Lyster, sold due to sexed embryo from the great breeding cow Durham Lynley, for $12,000; and Murribrook Meridian Roxette VG 88, completing 10 generations of EX and VG from the famous Roxy family, for $9000.
Daniel Latham of Comboyne, NSW chose a tremendous heifer due in May to Genie in Murribrook Doorman Candy for $11,500.
Peter Fullerton of Niranda, Victoria bought Murribrook Doorman Lexi VG 87 for $11,000.
Other sales of note included Murribrook Kingdoc Candace VG on first lactation for $10,000 selling to Somerelle Holsteins of Timmering, Victoria; and Murribrook Unix Vanity, a daughter of the well-known Goldwyn Verbena EX 93, for $10,000 to Corra Lea Holsteins, Victoria.
Of the 113 lots sold by Dairy Livestock Services, 70 were purchased via the Elite Online platform by breeders from throughout three states.