North Otago catalogue of international calibre cows set to raise the bar once again.

A Trans-Tasman sale of world-class dairy cows is shaping to reach new heights.

North Otago dairy genetics enthusiast Busybrook Holsteins has gradually built a unique offering of international calibre cows, alongside high indexing New Zealand bred cows, heifers and embryos. Backing up on their exceptional 2024 sale, owners Nathan and Amanda Bayne are preparing their latest sale, following a well-honed formula, though offering more lots and further enhanced bloodlines.

From midday on 10 April on-farm in Duntroon, Oamaru the Best of Busybrook Sale will offer around 150 lots, including approximately 30 held in Australia.  

Heading across the Tasman, from Shepperton, Victoria, elite dairy auctioneer Brian Leslie will conduct proceedings. He describes the Busybrook auction catalogue as simply world class.

“It is overflowing with the very best Holstein genetics available anywhere. Nathan and Amanda have searched the world for the best cows there are, and what they have come up with is truly special. Several lots, including those with New Zealand pedigrees, have maternal brothers in AI units around the world; and the cows with international bloodlines are related to some of the world’s most famous dairy cows: direct daughters of dams that have won Global Cow awards and others from major show winners, including World Dairy Expo,” he says.

Nathan Bayne says Busybrook’s breeding goals are simple.

“We aim for a medium size, efficient dairy cow with high components and total solids. While maintaining adequate body condition to give her the ability to breed back every year, we also select for an above average udder that outlasts the cow. Combining these attributes results in an animal we believe to be the most profitable, one that suits the majority of New Zealand farming systems,” says Nathan.

Sourcing genetics from around the world, assisted by embryo transplant, plus other cutting-edge techniques, Busybrook practices what it preaches in its 1200 cow milking herd.

“We have started using commercial North American bloodlines over our high indexing New Zealand bred cows. This season we milked our first large group from these genetics, and the results have been phenomenal. We are delighted with their productivity, which is well beyond expectations,” says Nathan.

PGG Wrightson National Dairy Specialist Andrew Reyland is helping co-ordinate the sale.

“Nathan and Amanda have a high-quality approach, selecting from the absolute top shelf of the world’s best dairy pedigrees. Their most recent sale achieved spectacular results, and two years on, with the dairy sector in such good heart, this time around we have high expectations for some outstanding sales,” he says.

Assembling top international genetics, the sale is attracting global attention.

“With a proportion of the lots domiciled in Australia, including several outstanding heifers, this is an international event. We have received buyer interest from around the world, and it will be intriguing to see where this year’s cows end up,” says Andrew.  

Busybrook’s partnership with South Australian-based New Zealand dairy farmers Rob and Bec Walmsley of Robsvue Holsteins comes to the fore on the day, opening the Australian market. Together each year Robsvue and Busybrook implant a large number of embryos. Several of the resulting progeny will be available at the sale. Robsvue also opens on sale day to host on-farm any Australian buyers who want to participate, which they are able to do via bidr.

In 2024 the equivalent Busybrook sale turned over $1.266 million, selling 136 lots, with a top price paid for a heifer of $63,000.

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