Gate shuts on jersey stud
It was the end of an era for the Madeley Park Jersey Stud, which ran its 61st and final jersey sale on April 8.
The entire pedigree jersey dairy herd, in- calf heifers, empty cows, and bulls went under the hammer at the sale, which was attended by hundreds of buyers from as far away as Invercargill and Kaitaia.
The stud was established by late jersey breeder and senior judge Rion Belfield, who passed away in October.
Belfield developed the family farm in Ngarua into a world-leading jersey breeding stud over many decades.
Family spokesperson Richard Smith said it was Belfield’s wish that the herd be sold after he passed away.
‘‘It was Mr Belfied’s dream, it’s a massive job,’’ he said.
‘‘It was time to go, it was time for the cows to move on.’’
Belfied’s wife Trish had been milking on the farm since 1969, he said.
Family members were not willing to continue with breeding or milking the pedigree jerseys but were keeping the land, he said.
The family also retained about 40 yearling heifers, which will be sold next year.
The legacy will continue though, with plenty of interest at the sale from those wanting to breed pedigree Madeley Park stock, Smith said.
One young farmer bought 36 of the cattle to start a pedigree jersey herd in Canterbury.
The
top
auction
price
of $8500 was paid for an in-calf cow. There were a total of 166 head of cattle sold, with an average price of $2014.
Belfield also trained upcoming show judges and was on the Thames Valley panel of judges.