By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor SIDNEY, Ohio — Dairy breeders from across the country battled for a chance to place the winning bid on one of 80 registered Jerseys at the state sale hosted by the Ohio Jersey Breeders Assoc. (OJBA).
On the afternoon of May 28 during the Memorial Day weekend, the OJBA and Ohio Spring Classic Sale staff witnessed the highest sale average in the association’s history, selling 80 head of Jerseys with an average of $3,373.
“Last year we broke the state record for the association, but this year was unbelievable,” said Stevens. “We have had the highest state sale average in the USA for the past five years except for Oklahoma, who sells about 20 head, they were No. 1.”
This year, the high selling animal was lot number 64, Gd Giller Alicia, consigned by the Gordon Jersey Farm of Lynn, Ind., and purchased by Richman Farms of Lodi, Ohio, for $8,700. Alicia is a fresh milking junior two-year old carmel-colored show cow sired by the bull Shamrock Giller.
The second high seller was 5TS Golden Gigli of Spahr Jersey Farm and Topp View Farm of Botkins, Ohio. Golden Gigli was purchased by Tanner May, Stetson Baird and Austin Webber of Shelbyville, Ky. for $8,200. Golden Gigli is a senior three-year old cow sired by Golden Boy of Ferreira with winning show records at the Ohio Spring Show, Ohio District 2 Show and the Ohio State Fair.
On Spahr’s April milk test, Gigli averaged nearly 84 pounds of milk.
In addition to the high sellers, a particularly interesting lot was number one, a first choice female clone of a popular show cow named Robin Acres Ren Alpha.
The Alpha cow was the 2004 Reserve National Grand Champion and 2005 Supreme Champion at the Spring Dairy Expo and 2001 Supreme Champion of the World Dairy Expo Junior Show.
The March-born Alpha clone was consigned by Ted and Diane Smart of Anna, Ohio and purchased by Norm Nabholz of West Union, Iowa for $6,250.
To clone a dairy cow, sources from the sale said the cost ranges from $10,000-$15,000 per clone.
While there may be skepticism in the industry on the use of clones in the dairy world, one thing is for certain, Jerseys are selling high and selling fast in Ohio as the second most popular dairy breed in the world, said Stevens.
One of the keys to the success of the Ohio sale, according to Stevens, is the selection and quality of animals consigned and sold.
Stevens and 16 sales staff members select elite, show quality animals based on genetics and showring appeal, “yet we try to have something for everyone,” added Stevens.
Something for everyone may include bred heifers, springers, fresh heifers and milking cows.
“We try to have the cattle look their best and decorate the sale ring and lead them in the ring,” said Stevens.
With buyers from nearly 12 states and the Sidney, Ohio fairgrounds arena bleachers packed to a tee, Stevens said it was the biggest crowd the sale has ever seen and one of the most successful sales hosted by the association in its multi-year history.
The gross for the states sale this year tipped the scales at more than $275,000, according to Stevens.
For more on the OJBA, go to http://jerseysites.usjersey.com/ohiojerseys |
