COLUMBUS — The 2009 Grand National Ayrshire Sale was one to go down in breed history. Iowa Ayrshire breeders are known to do everything in style, and this sale was no exception.
Consignments from across the U.S. and Canada congregated in Dubuque, Iowa, for the sale June 19. In spite of trying economic times, the sale averaged $2,747 for the 53 live animals struck off by auctioneer Lynn Lee of Smyrna, Tenn.
As Eric Lang’s voice rang out announcing the virtues of her stellar pedigree, excitement in the sale arena was at a high as Lashburn Belinda-ET paraded around the ring.
“She’s the number one conformation cow in Canada. She was nominated All-Canadian in 2008. And, just look at her momma’s outstanding production,” Lang said.
The dam is EX-93 6E, made over 26,700M at 10-07 and was grand champion of the 1997 World Dairy Expo. The grandam’s full sister was a World Dairy Expo champion, as was the third dam.
Highest-selling Ayrshire
At $24,500, the highest-selling Ayrshire at a U.S. public auction, “Belinda” was sold to the syndicate of Gerald Koss, Epworth, Iowa, Steve McDonald, Princeton, Ill., and Jim Tentinger, Remsen, Iowa.
The second high seller was another crowd favorite. A Calimero fall calf out of the Family-Af-Ayr Cornelius Daisy sold for $8,000 to Ferme Jean-Guy et Fils of Quebec.
The dam is EX-94 2E, has lifetime totals of 121,650M 4.1 percent 5028F 3.3 percent 4035P, was grand champion at the 2007 World Dairy Expo and Unanimous All-American Aged Cow in 2007.
The next dam is EX-95 3E, over 119, 730M lifetime, WDE reserve grand champion and All-American. She was consigned by Family-Af-Ayr Farm, the Gregg Borchardt Family of Caledonia, Ill.
The next high seller at $5,000 was a stylish Poker winter calf out of Old-Bankston Wandering Meg, EX-90 Elite with records to 4-09 365D 28,280M 3.2 percent 1,206F 2.8 percent 1,086P.
The next dam has records to 28,800M. She was consigned by Kurt Wolf, Epworth, Iowa, and purchased by Glen Malcolm Farms, Ontario.
Embryos packages
Eleven embryos packages sold, averaging $420 per embryo. The high-selling embryo consignment was Des Chamois Poker x Onword Calimero Addy-ET.
The dam was the 2008 All-American winter calf. The next dam is EX-91 and was the 2006 All-American Jr. three-year-old. She has production to 5-00 305D 29,870M 3.8 percent 1133F 3.0 percent 890P.
The embryos were consigned by Jonna Schutte of Oelwein, Iowa, and purchased by P&A Ayrshires, Dyersville, Iowa.
The volume buyer was Yarrabee Cows LLC, Maynard, Craig, Eric and Dane Lang of Brooklyn, Iowa.
The Lang Family has a long Ayrshire history. Maynard’s father, Howie, developed the family’s Iow-Ayr Farm Ayrshires starting in 1932. He was awarded the prestigious Ayrshire Distinguished Service Award in 1967.
