UPDATE: HOLSTEIN cows sold to $2300 today in one of the biggest dispersals in many years.
Almost 700 cows and heifers were auctioned at the Deniliquin selling centre in a sale that lasted many hours.While the sale slowed towards the end with cows making about about $800, they consistently made $1200 and more for at least three hours and spikes for different lots of cows saw rates reach $2000 well into the offering.
The cows, a mix of Holsteins and crossbreds, were offered following the disolving of the Willis family's farming partnership.
Harry Willis began dairying in 1957 and then his son Graeme joined the operation about 30 years ago.
So it was a sad time for the family today to be seeing the herd, which grew to almost 800 milkers, dispersed.
The small crowd bid up, with more than 100 of the offering going to a single buyer from the Western District, while a Leitchville dairyfarmer was active on some of the highest price cattle and paid the sale's top price of $2300.
Graeme Wallis said the sale had gone well, with particular interest for the spring calving cows which had sold above expectations.
"The sale has ended up about what we expected or a bit better," he said.
But while he was pleased with the prices, he was sad to see the cow herd dispersed.
"It is good that they are going to good homes, but is it sad? Absolutely, definitely," he said.
