Farmers from all over the country lined up – either ringside or online – to buy a line of elite, high BW, young Jersey cows and heifers at Matamata on 5 April.

The on-farm sale was held by NZ Farmers Livestock and vendor agent, Michael Conwell, said they anticipated the quality of the stock would result in significant demand “but we were delighted that that demand equated to record prices.

“Farmers clearly appreciated the quality and value of the stock on offer – 96 2-5 year old cows had average indexes of BW255 and PW289, with 26 x R2yr heifers having average BW of 255 and PW253.”

Average price for the year cows was $3,125.

The top cow, with BW345 and PW746, realised $8,500.

Average price for the heifers was $2,335 with the top heifer, with BW300 and PW319, realising $3,500.

The cows have 22 years of selected breeding behind them, vendor Herb Wuest recalling he “bought the nucleus of the herd in the mid 1990s and since then had personally selected and nominated AB sires (from the two big New Zealand genetics companies) to complement each cow.”

Wuest admits he never chased BW, his priority being to breed cows “that have exceptional functional traits – capacity, fertility, stature, protein, temperament and udder conformation. The fact they have high BW is just one indication of their quality,” Herb Wuest said.

NZ Farmers Livestock agent, Michael Conwell, said the on-farm sale saw a “good turnout of local farmers ringside with many more, from all over New Zealand, bidding online via MyLivestock.co.nz.

“The cattle came forward in exceptional condition and buyers can be confident they will shift well.

“It has been an honour facilitating such a positive sale result for a vendor who has bred a line of cattle which will put many a smile on farming faces in the years to come,” Michael Conwell said.

Further information can be obtained from NZ Farmers Livestock agent, Michael Conwell on 027 226 1611.