Embryos reap $20K for stud
Atop price of $20,000 was paid for the ‘‘right to flush’’ a charolais cow at the Silverstream Charolais Stud’s female sale.
The right to take embryos from - Silverstream Jilly E105 was sold to Bardoo Charolais and Pasture Seeds, Western Australia during the sale earlier this month.
Anna Fisher said the final bids had been exceptional.
They never expected to make so much money from the five flushes, said Fisher, who owns the stud with her husband Brent Fisher and parents-in-law Bruce and Maureen Fisher.
‘‘One made $20,000; one made $15,000, one made $17,000, another two made $13,000, and they all went to Australia.’’
From the catalogue, 15 cows sold averaging $16,000, 12 heifer calves averaged $5300, and 14 incalf heifers averaged $6400.
The 20 straws from the Fishers’ top bull Silverstream Evolution made $9500 at an average of $475 per straw.
‘‘The semen could only be sold in New Zealand, as we’ve already sold the Australian rights for Evolution,’’ Anna said.
‘‘We put up two packets of 10 semen, and the proceeds went to a charolais youth group, to help out young breeders.
‘‘Because of Evolution, we have managed to create a brand that is now really well known.
‘‘And a reputation that lets people from around the world happily use our genetics.’’
The first cow up [lot one] sold for $16,000 and went to an Australian buyer, she said.
‘‘We will calve her here, then keep her dry next year and take embryos from her.
‘‘Lots one and 18 sold like that, both to Australia.
‘‘I had my two show heifers from the Christchurch Show last year in the ring.
‘‘People bid for them, and the highest bidder picked the one they wanted. There was fun stuff like that.’’
Fisher said there were a lot of new charolais breeders at the sale which was ‘‘encouraging.’’
‘‘New breeders from Foxton bought the six top priced heifer calves.
‘‘And they paid a lot - $10,000 for one and averaged $6000-$7000. Just phenomenal for a heifer calf.’’
At the sale were nine Australian buyers, including syndicates and some lots were bought over the phone, she said.
‘‘This interest all stems from how well Evolution is doing in Australia.
‘‘They have seen how well our genetics work over there.
‘‘It was humbling to have that support from the Australians.
‘‘We knew we would have to get our support from elsewhere because charolais breeding is not big in New Zealand.’’
Fisher said promotion for the sale was carried out almost entirely through Facebook. ‘‘We are big Facebook people. ‘‘We chat to a lot of people. ‘‘We are always posting photos and videos.’’And we aired the sale live on Facebook.’’
She said the sale wasn’t an easy feat to pull off.
Not just anyone could go out and run a successful female auction, she said.
‘‘I don’t know if we would do it again. It was a lot of work. We were lucky in that we had so many new breeders.
‘‘Maybe in three or four years time, there will be people looking for charolais cows and wondering where the hell do we get them from?
‘‘The sale was on-farm, and it was a lovely time of the year to have it, different from the bull sale which can be pretty chilly.
‘‘The preparation was huge, but the animals were just beautiful they were clipped and washed and brushed. We were so proud of them.’’