BUYERS came from across Victoria and southern NSW to throw their bids in at the 625-head dairy dispersal sale held at Naracoorte in South Australia last week.
Cows sold at an average of $1206 and prices peaked at $2400 for two four-year-old cows that had calved between June and August this year and had not been pregnancy tested.
Victorian dairy farmer Brett Cirillo, of Irrewillipe, bought these and eight cows in all.
He also paid $2300 for a dry cow, ready to calve, and from $640 to $1100 for the remaining cows.
"We were prepared to pay more for the better cows, and also managed to get a few very cheap," Mr Cirillo said.
"This will enable me to get rid of a few younger cows, and replace them with cows that are in full work now, instead of carrying them through until they are fully producing.
"Prices are too bad at the moment, and we're thinking about how we can get the most out of our herd," he said.
The Holstein-Freisians were offered by the Carilla dairy at Tintinara, which was recently put into receivership.
The herd had an average of 8235 litres, with 271 kilograms of protein and 337kg of fat.
Many of the cows had been artificially inseminated to bloodlines including Boliver, Drake, Brooknew and Diehard, with a Johne's disease score of four.
Meat buyers, although in attendance, were outbidded.
Dairy Livestock Services auctioneer Brian Leslie said better cows were in high demand.
"There was also exceptional demand for autumn calvers," Mr Leslie said.
Buyers came from Mt Gambier, Gippsland - particularly the Leongatha region - southwest and North East Victoria and NSW areas such as Wagga Wagga.
One of the few local buyers was Colleen Fox, from Wrattonbully. She bought 12 freshly calved cows, for an average of $1000.
"I could have bought a few more, but the prices were pretty high," she said.
"Things are going pretty well for us at the moment; we supply National Foods."
Onlookers commented on the variability of the sale, which rallied at times, but was then much more subdued in places.
