Ohio Ayrshire sale averages $1,444

COLUMBUS – The 2007 Ohio Ayrshire Spring Expo Sale lived up to its reputation as one of the top Ayrshire sales in the United States. The near capacity crowd paid an average sale price of $1,444.19 on the 43 consignments sold at auction at the Spring Dairy Expo in Columbus.
This sale was held in conjunction with the National Ayrshire Spring Show and sale animals are automatically entered in the show.
Sale topper. A 4-year-old dry cow consigned by Dale and Paula Baumann of Bottom Line Farm, Blanchester, Ohio, took top sale honors of the evening. Emerald-Farms Cecille Pamela 2, originally purchased by the Baumanns as a bred heifer in the 2005 Ohio Spring Sale, was due again in mid-May to Visserdale Herman. Ruth and Robert Martin of Manchester, Md., held the final bid at $3,050.
The second high selling animal of the sale, at $3,000, was a young cow consigned by Don McNeil of Ellenburg Center, N.Y. The cow, Bonnie Brae Kellogg, just fresh a couple weeks sold to Rousell-Ayr Farm and Eric Stowell of North Bangor, N.Y.
Young stock. Especially impressive this year was the caliber of young stock in the sale line-up.
The third high seller and top-selling yearling of the sale came from Robyn Smith of Cushing, Okla. Edd-Ayr Select Josephene was junior champion at the Tulsa State Fair last fall. She sold to Kylie and Salem Ward of Lexington, N.C., for $2,600.
A summer yearling also from Robyn Smith, Edd-Ayr Conn’s Jazz, sold well at $2,300 to Lee Wallace of Twilite Farm in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
The Ron Kennedy Family of Harrod, Ohio, consigned the top bred heifer of the sale. Hall’s Alydar Starshine had been purchased in the 2005 Ohio Spring Sale and placed first junior and second open at the 2005 and 2006 spring national shows.
This bred heifer was due to calve in two weeks and brought a $1,900 bid from Kathryn Dill of Jordanville, N.Y.
Top calf. The Kennedys reinvested their money in the high selling calf of the sale, Shiredale Galen’s Patricia, a September calf consigned by Robert Jump.
Also tying for top-selling calf honors at $1,900 was Duncan Wilton Bella, a December calf consigned Neil Duncan of Warsaw, Ohio. She sold to Chris, Megan and Breanna Raber of Creston Ohio.
Averages. The 43 animals in the sale grossed $62,100; six cows averaged $2,025; seven bred heifers averaged $1442.86; eight yearlings averaged $1606.25; 16 calves averaged $1406.86 and seven baby calves averaged $842.86.
Consignments came from eight states and went to buyers in 11 states.
The Ohio Ayrshire Breeders’ Association managed the sale.
As an incentive to buyers, the Ohio Ayrshire Breeders’ Association nominated and made first payments on the 50th Anniversary 2008 Ohio National Ayrshire Futurity for the eight eligible young animals in the sale.