THERE was strong demand for early calving cows at the Moraine Jerseys complete dispersal sale at the Warrnambool Livestock Selling Centre on Monday where 162 of 188 Jerseys sold to $3500.
The sale summit of $3500 was paid for six year-old Jackiah Badger Quill 2382 EX90 who was part of the sought after early calving cows offering. The cow is a Badger daughter, out of Delweyn Park Kava Quill, and is due to calve to a Vanahlem bull this month.
She was part of the 140 cow offering that averaged $1262, while the entire sale av $1127.
The auction received strong support for the freshly calved cows on sale, selling 28 of the 29 between $1300 and peaking at $2400.
The top-price was paid by Tim Hore of Leitchville for a four year-old daughter of Gannon, out of 3040 Mediator.
Mr Hore was a major buyer at the sale purchasing 20 Jerseys that included 12 freshly calved cows.
The Gannon daughter was the third highest-price paid at the sale, equal to Moraine Larfalot Babe VG85.
The four year-old, sired by Larfalot and out of dam Kaarmona Manhatten Babe 84, is due to have a Valen-sired calve next month.
She was ranked third in the Moraine on farm challenge as a two year-old and at 25 months recorded 5114 for Milk - 5.0 Fat and 3.8 Protein.
The main bloodlines were Astound, Manhattan, Flower Power, Valerian, Bartpower, Badger, Mecca, Outinfront, Rocket, Blackstone and Larfalot.
Autumn calving heifers sold from $700 to $3000 for Lot 138, a Valerian daughter, out of dam 1011 who is a freshly calved two year-old.
The second top-price for an autumn calving heifer was $2200, paid for Moraine Sandblast 1211 who is sired by Sandblast and out of Jackiah Augustus Leonie.
The 13 yearlings sold from $400 to $1100, av $781, while the three of four Jersey bulls sold to $1400.
Another major buyer was Robert Langley from Nar Nar Goon, in the State's east, who purchased 20 Jerseys that were predominantly autumn calving heifers to $2000, and av $1124.
"There was tremendously strong demand for all the early calving cows and heifers, anything fresh sold really well," Dairy Livestock Services auctioneer Brian Leslie said.
"Competition was widespread with cattle going into the north and Gippsland.
"I thought it was a strong sale right the way through except when you got onto the older cows or the real backward cows that were light in condition which tells me what we've been saying for a while, 'people don't want to wait'," Mr Leslie said.