Forty-five registered buyers from throughout New Zealand gathered at the Glenmarie Dairies Ltd farm, near Kaitangata, to see 358 dairy cattle go under the hammer at the five-hour auction.
Glenmarie Dairies Ltd was formed near Auckland in 1972 by the Taylor family and instigated a breeding programme which has produced a pedigree of dairy cow that has gained recognition in the industry.
Sale spokesman Brian Robinson said one of the aims of the Glenmarie operation had been to breed cattle for commercial farming, a move that created parallel success in the artificial insemination industry.
‘‘The cows are in excellent condition and a credit to the management. The cows were presented in full milk, presently averaging 1.65kg of milksolids per cow.''
Before bidding started, Grant Taylor said he was extremely proud of his cows because they were an example of the family's wish to produce top-quality animals. He also praised farm managers
Vance and Marianne Gemmell for their efforts on the South Otago property.
The loss of some leased land on the Smith Rd property and a change of manager at the Balclutha farm had forced the sale, which auctioneer Peter Kelly said was quite a rare happening in this part of the country.
The sale included 85 cows, 15 in-calf heifers, 24 yearling heifers, three yearling bulls and 231 Friesian, Friesiancross cows, in-calf heifers and yearling heifers.
PGG-Wrightson's South Island dairy livestock manager Paul Edwards, of Christchurch, who attended the auction, said the prices paid had settled almost exactly at the current market price for a commercial or pedigree dairy herd.
‘‘On the basis of what farmers are paying right now, this sale was just about spot on.''
The mixed Ayrshire herd sold for an average of $2740 while the rising two-year-old in-calf heifers changed hands for an average of $2426. The average price hovered at $2500.