Clydevale’s Golden Anniversary Sale, celebrating 50 years of breeding Holsteins by the Dee Family at Macorna, was well-supported by a large crowd.
It was held in-person on the northern Victorian property and online on Wednesday, May 21.
Dairy Livestock Services auctioneer Brian Leslie said it was an outstanding offering of young milking cows and joined and unjoined heifers, who were all presented in fantastic form.
Topping the sale was Clydevale Lambda Cleaver, a VG 85 two-year-old from the 2024 Reserve Intermediate Champion of IDW Clydevale Doc Cleavage, 11th gen EX, she was purchased by Jock Culton of Katunga for $18,000.
Rick and Tina Wishart from Rowlands Park Holsteins, Cohuna, purchased second top priced lot Clydevale Surgarush Integral for $10,000.
Rick said the nine-month-old daughter of the 2024 winning Semex on farm champion Clydevale Doc Integrity, EX 92 took his eye from the very beginning.
“I think she is going to be cracking cow and she really intrigued me. I thought she might be out of our league, but I thought I would have a go and see where she landed, and lucky for us, we got her,” Rick said.
The couple also selected Clydevale Lambda Sunsilk, a 10-month-old granddaughter of Bolton Sundae, EX 95 for $6000.
“The sale was an opportunity for us to get in and to buy some great cattle from some great people, and if you are going to support anyone, it might as well be your neighbours — it was a classy line of cattle right through the catalogue.
“We are looking forward to taking them both to the Winter Fair in July,” he said.
Other local buyers included Gorbro Holsteins, who paid $9000 for the classy yearling Clydevale Davinci Vera backed by the Jacobs Goldwyn Valana, EX 95 cow family.
Master Breeder herd, Clydebank of Ross and Linda Somerville, purchased Clydevale Davinci Sunburn, a spring calving daughter of the EX 90 Piston Sunsmart cow for $8000.
Adam Dee said the family was happy with the support and happy with the sale result, considering the current situation of the dairy industry.
“The sale has been a great way to celebrate all of mum and dad’s hard work over the years,” Adam said.
“We were extremely happy with the support, particularly from the local members of our sub-branch, which was really great to see.
“Over the last month or so it has become pretty tough out there in the dairy industry with fodder becoming scarce and prices going through the roof.”
He said many people commented on the quality of the animals presented.
“I am sure there were some people out there that wanted to buy, but couldn’t due to the season,” Adam said.
“We will get through this lull and there will always be more animals for sale in the future.”
Adam said the family had been working on the sale since February.
“It’s a lot of work to first pick out the animals for sale, organise the catalogue and pedigrees, prepare the animals and then get everything else ready,” he said.
“We are just so glad it went well and we had a good crowd.”
Across the sale, 61 Holsteins averaged $4587, with buyers putting their hands up from all mainland states, including Western Australia.