David and Trudy Fiebig of Warramont Holsteins were back in the dairy milking the last 25 cows after the third of their staged dispersals on March 8.
In the past two years, the Mt Gambier dairy farmers have sold almost their entire herd.
“These last cows are old and they’ll go in about six weeks,” David told Dairy News Australia.
The couple will then invest in breeding beef, with Angus and Speckle Park genetics.
After 40 years in dairy, they are retiring from the industry. Like many, their decision was impacted by workforce, or the lack of available farm workers.
“I was reliant on backpackers and that dried up,” David said.
David and Trudy began in the dairy industry 40 years ago, sharefarming for his parents. Then they bought 40ha and their career as dairy farmers began.
“Our herd and farm slowly grew over 27 years,” David said.
The Master Breeders established Warramont Holsteins at Mt Gambier in South Australia and their genetics have spread throughout southern states.
The top selling cow at the first stage dispersal, held on March 15, 2021, Warramont Diamondback Fondue, was bred from the former Melbourne and Adelaide Royal Champion Warramont Winluke Frosti. The young second-calving cow was bought for $24,000 by Simon Wilkie of Bacchus Marsh.
At the same sale, Warramont Doorman Daybreak 10, bred down from Elite Mountain Dreamer, was bought for $13,500 by Peter Fullerton, Nirranda South. He also bought maternal sisters, Warramont Heath Dallas at $6750 and Warramont Xmas Dallas for $6000.
There were 50 females on offer from the maternal line established by Elite Mountain Dreamer.
Forty autumn calving heifers sold to a top of $5750, for Warramont Solomon Lady, bred from the Glomar Lucky family.
The first dispersal sale averaged $3910, for 92 cows and 38 in-calf heifers, with buyers from Victor Harbour, Mt Gambier, Gippsland, and south-west and northern Victoria.
There was strong demand for the 66 tested A2 cows and heifers, which the Warramont Holstein herd is renowned for.
The second dispersal sale, also held at Mortlake Western Victoria Livestock Exchange, on August 13, 2021, saw a top of $4750 paid and an average of $3100 for 105 Holsteins. Unfortunately, the pandemic lockdown meant the vendors couldn’t cross the Victorian border to attend the sale.
Warramont Kingboy Daybreak 13, a six-year-old cow, was purchased by Peter Fullerton at the top price of $4750. He also purchased a heifer, Warramont Fedora Deluxe, for $4200.
The second-top price of $4700 was paid for another heifer, Warramont Pharo Faye.
Jancourt East buyer N. Niewenhuizen selected several lots, including Warramont Malonred Emblem, a young red cow that sold at $4600; Warramont Pharo Jessica for $4600, a heifer from a dam milking 10,000 litres; and Warramont Rager Flirt, a red heifer bred down from the Royal Champion Warramont Winluke Frosti, sold at $4300.
Warramont Meridian Frappe sold for $4500 to Leslie Manor Farm. Warramont Solomon Major, a heifer backed by eight generations of VG dams, sold for $4200.
Warramont Bardo Fleece sold for $4000.
The second sale saw Holstein cows and heifers dispersed throughout the dairy regions of Victoria.
The third and final dispersal sale, also at Mortlake WVLX, was held on March 8, 2023, and was notable again for the interest from buyers from across South Australia and Victoria.
There were mostly heifers for sale, many carrying sexed dairy heifers in-utero.
The tested A2 classified heifers were particularly in demand. The remaining 54 cattle sold for an average of $4025.
The top price of $7200 was bid for the A2 classified heifer Warramont Sidekick Lily, an ET twin sister to the champion cow, Warrabel Blade Lucky, bred from the Glomar Lucky line.
The bidding was swift for this heifer, in calf to an Angus bull, jumping in $500 increments to $6500, then by $250 to $700, before rising in $100 bids.
The heifer Warramont Rubels Flame-Red, also in-calf to an Angus bull, was also popular, selling for $6500. Bids jumped in $500 increments to $4500, then by $250 bids to $6500.
There were several Radio daughters that sold well. Warramont Radio Frequency, tested A2 and in-calf with a heifer to Carenda Varley, sold at $5000. Warramont Radio Flash, also tested A2 and in-calf to an Angus bull, sold for $5800.
Warramont Radio Jacinta, just on two years old and in-calf with a heifer to Delta-Lambda, attracted six bidders — three on the floor of the livestock exchange and three online — finally selling for $6250.
The Christmas line was also popular. Warramont Cold Delight, a heifer tested A2 and in-calf with a heifer to Winterfell, sold at $5500.
Warramont Cold Desire and Warramont Cold Sleet, both naturally polled and in-calf with dairy heifers, sold for $4500 and $3750 respectively. Sleet was also classified A2.
Warramont Cold Donna, tested A2 and in-calf with a heifer to Kings Ransom G Dylan, sold for $5300. Bidding by $250 increments rapidly rose to $5000, then $100 bids closed the deal.
Warramont Megasire Daisy, born in 2015 and calved in January this year, milking 844kg milk solids, with a cell count of 15, sold for $3250.
Prices held up well across the sale, with various A2 tested and in-calf heifers selling for $5000, $6000, $5300
Warramont Luster Milky, lot 37, a heifer in-calf to an Angus bull, is from a line of cows that milked 100,000 litres. She sold for $6750 after a three-way bidding contest on the floor of the livestock exchange.
Selling agents were Dairy Livestock Services and Elite Livestock Auctions.