Shepparton dairy dispersal sale: Vendor terms lift milkers

VENDOR terms helped push prices at a second stage dispersal at Shepparton last Thursday.

Quality counts: Michael Dikkenberg from Drumanure, at his herd dispersal at Shepparton last week, where his Holsteins soldto $2500 and averaged $1537, with the cows drawing praise from buyers because of their high quality.

VENDOR terms helped push prices at a second stage dispersal at Shepparton last Thursday.

Commercial Holsteins sold to a top of $2500 with an average of $1537 for about 75 offered on behalf of MG and GM Dikkenberg. The bulk of the offering for the final stage dispersal, calved in July and August with a few in September. One springer was passed in.

Nick Few, from Numurkah, bought the top priced lot — a September-calved heifer by Christmas that was producing 30.8 litres/day with a cell count of 32.

He also picked up two big-milk, July-calved four-year-olds for $2100. One, by Grand Prix, was producing 37.8 litres/day and the other by Packman was producing 43.8 litres/day.

His swag of nine averaged about $1977.

Nick confirmed he was chasing production and complimented the quality of the Dikkenberg offering.

“They will be replacements. Put nine in and take 12 out,” he said. “(The price) is not too bad for the quality, but it is a little high considering the season and how it is.”

Patrick McMonagle, from Echuca, was a major buyer, purchasing 21 for an average of about $1590.

“I’m topping up,” he said. “They are nice cows. I don’t think they are overpriced. Good cows have to bring some money.”

Chris Almond, from Kaarimba, bought 21 for an average of $1434. He said he would use the Dikkenberg cows as a way to improve the breeding in his own herd.

“For me, the particular cows were quite cheap, but in regards to the particular year coming up they were dear enough,” he said.

“If it had been a normal year, they were cheap.”

Maddison Livestock agent Craig Cox said there were up to 20 buyers registered for the sale, which also offered a spring-calving dispersal line of up to 30 Friesian, crossbred and red breed first to third-calvers from FJ Rourke.

The young crossbreds with neat udders sold from $800 to $1000.

Five Friesians and a crossbred were passed in at auction from this offering, with the average $892, according to Craig.

Another offering of up to 30 from S and A Christopher — their winter-calved herd dispersal — averaged about $800 for Friesians and crossbreds.

Craig said there were new buyers at the Dikkenberg sale.

“The first two sales there had been repeat buyers, but this was a different crowd,” he said. “They weren’t repeat buyers. (We called) a lot of them and they said they loved the cows, but couldn’t afford (to purchase) more.”

Craig said the Dikkenbergs offered payment terms for buyers, up to six months when purchasing $5000 worth or more with a deposit of 25 per cent, while three months was offered with the Christopher cows. This drove demand.

Craig estimated the terms lifted the average of the Christopher herd by “$150 if not $200”.

Vendors Michael and Gayle Dikkenberg, from Drumanure, are retiring from dairying after 35 years.