Jersey Australia’s Dairy’s Finest showcase sale highlighted the growing demand for Jerseys, with a strong increase in prices.
The sale average of $5800 with a top price of $13,000 represented a significant increase on the 2022 result of $5461 with a top of $9000.
Jersey Australia members also dug deep to aid cancer research, raising $44,000 in honour of member Robert Bacon, who died from cancer earlier this year.
The showcase sale and charity auction was held as part of Jersey Australia’s annual meeting and conference at Coffs Harbour recently.
The top price of $13,000 was achieved by Lot 2, pick of the pair of two daughters from the 2023 International Dairy Week champion, Impression LR MB Vanahlem Festive-ET from sellers M & L Flemming, Luke Randle and F & D Borba. It was purchased by a New Zealand partnership of Bellbrook Holsteins and Rachel Stewart.
Equal second highest price of $10,000 was achieved by Lot 5 Loxleigh Valant Bella EX91 Max, sold by the Akers family and purchased by Broadlin Jerseys, and Brookbora Eileen 141, sold by the Bacon family’s Brookbora Jerseys to John Lindsay from Hastings Jerseys, Wauhope.
The third annual Dairy’s Finest showcase sale attracted strong in-person and online audiences.
The sale was managed by Mitch Flemming and Daniel Bacon and conducted by Dairy Livestock Services (DLS) auctioneer Brian Leslie and online through Elite Livestock Auctions.
Mr Flemming said it was a great result that reflected the growing popularity of Jerseys.
“It was a very pleasing result,” Mr Flemming said.
“I watched it online and there was a lot of bidding activity, which was great to see.
“Jerseys are growing their stake in Australian dairy and this continued interest augers well for their future.”
In a separate charity auction, nearly $44,000 was raised for the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne as a tribute to long-standing Jersey breeder Robert Bacon.
Robert, with wife Sandra and their family, farmed the world-renowned Brookbora Jerseys at Tennyson in northern Victoria.
Brookbora Jerseys has been a regular top herd on genetic merit, champion breeder and exhibitor at major shows across Australia and a breeder of many elite bulls in AI.
The auction was organised by Luke Wallace and Mitch Flemming and Dairy Livestock Services and Elite Livestock Auctions and catalogue designer Hayley Boyd donated their services.
Mr Wallace said Robert left a lasting legacy on the Jersey breed and wider dairy industry both within Australia and across the globe.
“Brookbora helped to strengthen belief in Australian Jersey genetics here and overseas,” Mr Wallace said.
“We had terrific support from AI companies and breeders who donated on very short notice to this charity auction for a cause that everyone supports and terrific support from bidders.”
The auction featured all donated lots, including embryos and semen, paintings, prints, accommodation vouchers, calf feed, calf coats and a number of lots from the Dairy’s Finest sale also donated a percentage of the sale price.
The annual meeting and conference were hosted by the Beautizone Jersey Cattle Club.
During the annual meeting, Lisa Broad was returned as president and Geoff Akers was appointed vice president to replace outgoing member Brian Wilson, while Con Glennen was welcomed to the board.
