ALMOST three decades of Ayrshire breeding wrapped up for one Western District family last Friday at Colac, but their cows found brand new homes right across Victoria and Tasmania.
Brothers Scott and Greg Wilson, Irrewillipe, said the family farm was sold late last year, and the 320-head herd dispersal was the last step in the process of culminating the dairy operation.
Their parents Keith and Wendy began milking with the breed in 1985, establishing the Eastern View stud at about the same time. The herd, recorded last January, was averaging 22.2 litres, 4.06 per cent fat and 3.43pc protein on 3.5 kilograms of wheat.
It was one of the largest Ayrshire sales ever held in Australia, with an overall average of $1302.
The sale saw about 218 milking cows top at $3800 and average $1450, with a handful of autumn-calvers highly sought-after.
Joined heifers av $1230, while the run of yearling heifers av $1080 and topped at $1800.
Charles Stewart & Co agent Tim Gibson was pleased with the outcome, saying it was solid, without being "over the top".
"People were chasing the better quality cows," Mr Gibson said.
"And there was a lot of demand out there for cows that were close to calving in the next month or so."
He said there was plenty of interest in the sale, because it was rare that a complete Ayrshire dispersal took place.
About 35 bidders registered, attending from Northern Victoria, Gippsland, South West Victoria and Tasmania.
And while milk prices were strong at the minute, Mr Gibson said dairy farmers across the board were still catching up as a result of poor farm gate prices and seasonal conditions from last season.
"The demand for cattle is there, but people don't have a whole lot of money, to spend on dairy cows," he said.
"They can't afford to go too hard... and they are really hoping these milk prices stock around for a few years."
However, well-bred cows attracted the best demand, and it was a result the vendors were more than happy with.
Tasmanian dairy farmers John and Katrina Sykes paid the top money on the day, shelling out $3800 for Eastern View Modem 1069, by Lagace Modem.
The seven-year-old cow, due to calve in May to Huntington Admiral, was averaging 23.2L.
The couple, who milk 600 cows at Ringarooma, Tas, bought seven Ayrshires altogether, including the top-priced yearling heifers at $1800.
Although they milk mainly Jerseys under the prefix Minstonette, Mrs Sykes admitted she had a soft spot for Ayrshires too, and had started her own stud, Hartwood.
"I've got about 30 at home," she said.
The plan now was to prepare some of the purchased Ayrshires for the local Scottsdale show, which will be shown alongside the Jersey team.
Other buyers on the day included Donald and Renee Ross, Heath Hill, who picked up about seven lots at an average of $1000.
The couple, who milk 260 split-calving cows, said they would have liked to purchase heifers too, but they were too expensive.
"The autumn-calvers were pricey as well," Mrs Ross said.
She said milk prices were good at the moment, which assisted the strong sale result.
"But I think it is unusual you get a whole herd dispersal of Ayrshires, so there was probably something for everyone here today," she said.
There was also about 20 Holsteins that topped at $2200 for a three-year-old cow that sold to Irrewarra dairy farmer John Martin.
