International buyers strong at Autumn Harvest Sale
New Zealand is well and truly on the world map for registered cattle and multi-breed appeal after the Autumn Harvest Sale at the Cambridge Raceway on April 22.
Of the 60 lots, the top price was $12,500, with an average across all breeds of $6013. More than 400 people attended the evening event.
Notably 10% of the sale sold to international buyers from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.
Sale organiser Dean Malcolm, of Bluechip Marketing, said the result [and the wash-up] proved they had the mix right.
“We had a huge crowd and a lot of buzz, which was extremely positive for the industry,” Dean said. “We had international enquiry before the sale, and to get six sold that way proves to me we had the product people wanted.”
Top price $12,500
He said the top price of $12,500 for the Ayrshire which sold at Lot 1, Kiteroa Cream Burdette, gave the sale a strong start. She was bought by Peter, Heather, and Jamie Baxter, from Tirau.
“With that top price and the final average made it a solid sale from start to finish for me.” Dean said. “There was still good buying for people as well.
“I think we broke down the breed barriers a lot for New Zealand in this sale. There was a lot of multi-breed bidding, a lot of young people bidding, and there was also a lot of online interest.
“We had about 150 bids that came through the two online selling platforms, in addition to our livestream video.”
The top Holstein price was paid for lot 6, Pincots Doorman Angel-Imp-ET-EXC. She sold for $11,000 to well-known Jersey breeders, Ferdon Genetics, from Otorohanga.
International buyers add hype
Frank and Diane Borba, from the United States, paid the second top price overall and the top price in the Jersey offering [$12,000] for Lot 4 – Fynreath Joel Dutchess-Imp-ET, in partnership with Bluechip Marketing. She will continue to be housed with her breeders at Fynreath Genetics.
“Frank and Diane are one of the biggest names in the world for registered cattle, and they are one of the most exciting buyers you can get,” Dean said.
The sole Milking Shorthorn to sell, Westell Supreme Abbie, sold for $4500 to Julie and Brian Pirie, from Thames.
The top Brown Swiss lot was lot 35, Topline Cadence Siena, offered by Topline Genetics. She was bought by Susie Woodward, of Woodward Farms, Otorohanga.
The top-priced embryo package, which was offered by Australian Declan Patten, included five Peak Jagger embryos from Murribrook Doorman Candace EX93. They sold for $1900 per embryo [$9500] to Bellbrook Farming’s Robbie Wakelin, in Canterbury.
The balance of the international buyers included Paul and Vicki Timbs, from NSW. They bought Ayrshire Glenalla Kingsire Delilah at Lot 3 for $6000. Delilah will continue to reside at her breeders, Glenalla and Snowfed Farms, at Ashburton, in Canterbury. The Jaspers Brush couple also bought Lot 25, an Ayrshire embryo package, which was offered by fellow Australian Munden Farms.
Lot 13, Arran Vitali Gracie, was bought for $5000 by UK Syndicate “The 3 Amigos”, which includes Alan Timbrell, Blaise Tomlinson and Lisa Window-Walker. Another UK buyer, Simon Gaskin, bought lot 53, Ferdon Chrom Brighteyes for $5250. She will be managed by Ferdon Genetics on behalf of her buyer.
A UK buyer bought Lot 30 – which included five embryos offered by a New Zealand couple who are now living in the UK – Brent and Ann Crothers, of Toi Toi Genetics. The embryo package – sired by sexed Sidekick from Knowlesmere Crush Diamond – sold to Robert Cowgill, of Lancashire.
An Australian buyer, Brett Hayter, was the last man standing on Lot 36, which was a package of five Brown Swiss embryos offered by arguably Australia’s most successful Swiss breeder, Tandara Farms. The OMalley embryos from Tandara Etvie Heidi sold for $1600 per embryo [$8000].
Finish on a high
Dean said it was pleasing to see the final live lot Tahora Pharo Lorraine, make $8500 for her sellers, Tahora Farms, from Tai Tapu, Canterbury.
“Duncan [Pipe, fellow sale organiser] and I put a fair bit of thought into the structure of the sale and what comprised the top 10 lots, what was mid-range, and what lots were going to finish,” Dean said.
“It was great to end on a great price, because that was a bit of the plan all the way through. It made sense to finish with Tahora because they have such a great name, and an extremely loyal following. So, we knew people would support that last lot, and that’s what happened.
“All our sale crew did a really nice job, and I was proud of the animals when they hit the ring. It helped that the vendors had done a nice job on-farm, and hopefully we finished it off for them.
“Everyone has been asking if we’d do one next year. But, my feeling at the moment is that this sort of sale is a biannual thing, if you want to sustain it long-term. We can’t thank everyone enough for their interest and support.”
Averages by breed:
Holstein: $6338
Jersey: $5571
Ayrshire: $6062
Brown Swiss: $4312
Milking Shorthorn: $4500
