By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor LITCHFIELD, Conn. — Ever wondered what a million-dollar cow looks like? Well, she comes in the form of a leggy red-and-white Holstein, with a top as smooth as ice and the world’s most perfect pedigree – and they call her Apple.
Certainly she was the apple of someone’s eye. When the four-year old show cow paraded down the runway of the Global Glamour sale on July 28 at the famous Arethusa Farm in Litchfield, Conn., the crowd hushed and bidding kicked off at a whopping $200,000.
After bids of $400,000, $600,000 and $900,000, $1 million closed the unbelievable bidding for KHW Regiment Apple-Red, which the auctioneer referred to as “the queen.
“She walks like a winner, she knows she’s a winner, she could walk in the show ring right now and take on any competition she wants, she is a red-and-white queen,” said David Rama, who served as the auctioneer for the “once in a lifetime” million-dollar sale.
Apple, rumored to be the most expensive publicly sold show cow, was purchased by Apple Partners, LLC, including Tom Schmitt, Tim Rauen and John Erbsen of Iowa; Mike Deaver of Wisconsin and George Kasbergen of Illinois.
Rama credited her steep price tag to her genes, her breeding potential and rare red color. And it may not hurt that Apple was ranked Very Good 89 and was nominated as the unanimous All-American as a Junior two-year old in 2006.
Sale average tops $97,000
A sale unlike most, 54 of the world’s best consignments – with Apple obviously leading the bidding – averaged $97,491 and grossed a total of more than $5.2 million.
“Each one of these consignments has been selected based on their ability to impact the global market for generations,” said the Global Glamour Sale Manager Terri Packard. “We asked the consignors to dig as deep as they possibly could. They made their premier bovines available and we are truly grateful to them.”
With more than 700 people in attendance on a sunny day in New England, the Global Glamour sale crew spent the day selling only the best show calves and cows they could find from across the country, according to Packard.
“The 54 Holsteins and Jerseys available at Global Glamour offer unmatched investment opportunities. If properly managed, these consignments will sell embryos and daughters, and have sons sampled around the world,” said Packard.
The second high-selling individual was Wabash Way Emilyann-ET, a black-and-white speckled two-year old Holstein, ranked as a leading candidate for top genetic female in the country. Emilyann sold for $630,000.
For $320,000, a conglomerate of buyers were able to take home the third high-selling cow, Quality-Ridge Stormi Hazel. Hazel, was nominated All-American Junior two-year old in 2005, unanimous All-American Junior three-year old in 2006 and Honorable Mention All-American as a four-year old in 2007.
For Jerseys, two choice daughters of Huronia Centurion Veronica sired by Primetime and Signature sold for $36,000 and $27,000, respectively.
Rounding out the bottom of the bidding was Calbrett Jasper Deb, daughter of Allyndale-I Durham Debby, who was All-Canadian 4-H Junior calf in 2006. Deb sold for a comparatively measly $9,000.
According to Packard, the Global Glamour sale attracted buyers from Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States, including Iowa, Connecticut, California, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, New York, Wisconsin, Delaware and Oklahoma and Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.
In addition to the sale, buyers were able to tour the facilities of Arethusa Farm during the open house and sale preview on July 27. Established in 1999, Arethusa was purchased as a horse farm by owners George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgaitis. Soon after converting the horse stable to a upscale dairy farm, new barns were built, old ones were remodeled and the New York pair were quickly introduced to the “show cow” business when they attended the Royal Winter Fair in 2001.
Malkemus and Yurgaitis entered the show business with the purchase of two young Holstein cows named Ernest-Anthony SC Vivian and Brigeen Skychief Rose.
For more information about Arethusa or Global Glamour, visit www.arethusafarm.com |
