Busybrook Holsteins exceptional on-farm turnout, and heavy online patronage results in $863,000 turnover for the day.

A North Otago dairy family’s recent on-farm clearing sale set new records, illustrating the dairy sector’s resurgent confidence.

Busybrook Holsteins Platinum Edition sale on 21 May turned over $863,000. A hybrid livestreamed auction, the action on the Kokoama, Waitaki property of Nathan and Amanda Bayne attracted a large gallery in person, and an international following online. Featuring mixed age cows, heifers, calves and the buyer’s pick of unborn progeny, all 85 lots sold at an average of over $10,000 each.
Approximately 200 people attended the auction on farm, while the livestream was viewed on Facebook around the world. Some 100 buyers registered via bidr®, while an additional 40 to 50 logged in to watch.

Top price of $38,000 was paid for lot 14, a high BW heifer. 

Based on 18 years of elite breeding, Busybrook utilises international standard dairy genetics to produce New Zealand cattle for extreme BW, functional type, high components and fertility while retaining a medium body weight. This sale heavily endorsed their breeding philosophy. Twenty-four lots sold via the bidr® livestream, with plenty of others receiving bids. Successful online purchasers ranged from South Auckland to Southland, while in a first for bidr®, registered buyers logged in from Australia. Phone bids were also received from the United States.

Such a notable sale underlines what a fantastic year dairy farmers have had. Surplus stock is in short supply, demand for good dairy genetics is rising and confidence in the sector is once again heading upwards.

Baynes family, purchaser and PGG Wrightson Representatives along with top price heifer.

Jamie Cunninghame, PGG Wrightson National Dairy Livestock Manager