The Ambrewlea Holsteins complete dispersal sale held at Colac Regional Saleyards on October 8 was well attended.
A large crowd showed their support for Master Breeder Brett Cirillo, of Bungador, who is leaving the dairy industry.
Brett was awarded Holstein Australia’s status of Master Breeder this year. He has spent a lifetime breeding and developing Holsteins.
Brett is the third generation of his family to be a dairy farmer, and started milking on the family farm when he was 15 years old.
The dairy farm is for sale, and he has received significant interest in selling the young stock privately.
“There’s two people interested in buying them,” Brett told Dairy News Australia.
“I wasn’t expecting to sell them yet, but it looks likely they will be sold privately.
“If I can sell them into a herd and follow their progress, that’s satisfying for me.”
Some of the important cow families in the Ambrewlea Holsteins herd include the Pam family, the Rose family and the Emerald family.
At the dispersal sale on October 8, the red and white cows demanded a lot of interest.
“They were big cows, with good udders and had lots of type. They were quite big capacity cows,” Dairy Livestock Services auctioneer Brian Leslie said.
“All lots for sale were backed by tremendous lifetime production, with families featuring two generations of 100,000 litres.”
A recent herd production average was 8074 litres, 268kg protein and 317kg fat.
Many lots sold bred to sexed AI.
There were 30 red Holsteins among the 115 lots on offer.
The Ambrewlea Holsteins sale began well and steadily gained momentum.
The sale topped at $6750 for lot 32, Ambrewlea Unstopable Emerald-Red, after 19 bids.
She calved in May and was bred by AI in August to Diamondback.
This three-year-old cow stayed local, purchased by Brad Salmon, Westmuir Holsteins, Bungador.
“She was a tremendous cow, and I think anyone wanting to invest in reds will do well by her,” Brian said.
Zac Anderson of Sun Vale Holsteins, Numurkah, selected two red and white cows that he paid $4300 each.
Lot 51, Ambrewlea Incredibull Leena-Red is a five-year-old Holstein, calved in March, and rejoined in July by AI to Diamondback. Lot 82, Ambrewlea Harley Vicki-Red, is a two-year-old milking heifer with a fine udder. She calved in August and was ready to rejoin.
J. Hand selected lot 73, Ambrewlea McApple Jacinta-Red, VG86, paying $4100. The five-year-old red and white Holstein is due to calve in February to Aquaman.
The Ewing family of Tarrone paid $4100 after 11 bids for lot 59, Ambrewlea Rose LG 71-Red. Born in 2020, this young cow was due in late October to Bodacious.
There were also a few Jerseys in the sale.
Lot 8, Ambrewlea Bella Rose, AI to Big Red in July, sold at $4800. Her two-year-old daughter, lot 9, and due in mid-October to Ambrewlea Phero Frisky, sold at $3200.
The sale average for the Ambrewlea consignment was $2785.
Guest vendors were Instyle Holsteins, the home of the current International Dairy Week Supreme Champion, Instyle Solomon Dahlia.
Brenton and Ellie Thomas, Instyle Holsteins, Cooriemungle, sold a small consignment of young cows to a top of $5400, for lot 113, Instyle Doorman Tilly.
The white and black lot 108, Kaloola Solomon Folly, sold at $4000 after 17 bids
Lot 104, Instyle Absolute Sunspot-Red, a red and white Holstein, sold at $3600 after seven bids.
“Buyers were from all over Victoria,” Brian Leslie said.
“This was one of the bigger crowds we’ve seen for a while at Colac.
“We think these cows will go away and do a good job for people.”
Selling agents were Dairy Livestock Services and Elders, with online interaction facilitated by Stocklive.