Top herd nationwide, with cows averaging 800 kilograms of milk solids per annum, offered at on-farm and online auction. 

Update: Herd sold ahead of schedule!

Since the release of this article, there has been an exceptional level on interest in the herd. As a result, the vendor was offered a deal on the herd with immediate delivery and has accepted the offer. It was the vendors decision to keep the herd together so this deal has worked out well for both parties.

We wish the purchasers all the very best with this exceptional herd. The vendor will still offer the young stock – In calf heifers and R1yr heifers in May 2026 which already is gaining widespread interest with such well grown dairy replacements.

Taranaki Livestock Area Manager, Andrew Gibson comments on the result,

“With the current demand for top dairy cattle, a herd of this quality wasn’t going to last long. Obviously, the on-farm auction would have allowed people to select individual bloodlines to purchase, but the paddock sale suited the vendor in their current farming situation” 

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Some of New Zealand’s most elite dairy genetics will be available to purchase when cows from one of the country’s top performing herds go up for sale by auction in October.

PGG Wrightson Taranaki Regional Livestock Manager Andrew Gibson is managing the in-milk on-farm herd dispersal on behalf of Stefan Buhler, of Manaia, South Taranaki. He says this is a rare opportunity to acquire premium dairy genetics that have been astutely collected, honed to perfection and proven their worth with numerous production awards.

“This is a highly productive herd, developed over the past 44 years by an owner who has now made the difficult decision to exit the dairy industry.

“This has been the top performing Taranaki dairy herd for the past eight seasons and top herd nationwide for five of the last six years. Over the last 10 seasons each cow has produced an average of 800 kilograms of milk solids per annum. During the 2024/25 season the top cow produced 1200 kilograms, and numerous others exceeded 1000 kilograms. Included in this are 70 two-year-old heifers that in 2024/25 averaged over 700 kilograms.

“Expertly developed over many years, the herd genetics have been carefully gathered from the best dairy cow auctions around the country, using production traits, capacity, confirmation and cow families as selection criteria. Genetics from the United States and the Netherlands have augmented the best that New Zealand has to offer. Stefan Buhler has successfully bred, raised and farmed a herd that has taken milk production to a level beyond anything else in New Zealand. Those cows are now for sale,” says Andrew.

The 240 in-milk Friesian and Friesian-cross dairy cows offered are predominantly G3 and 3GP profiled.

Since 1984 the herd has used nominated CRV and LIC sires, augmenting these for the last three years with nominated Semex, ST Genetics and Samen sires.

Cows will be sold individually and bidr will live-stream the on-farm auction, which takes place in Normanby Road, Manaia, from 11am on 9 October.

For more information, contact Andrew Gibson 027 444 0108, Andrew Reyland 027 223 7092, or Jamie Cunninghame 027 583 3533.

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