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2003 Year-End Sales Analysis

February 2004

The year 2003 entered the record books as having the fourth highest average for Jersey auction sales. Characterized by unwavering demand and solid prices, the high-component Jersey thrived, despite the fact that the year was marked by some of the lowest milk prices in 25 years.

At $1,695.06, the average price paid for Jerseys during 2003 was the fifth consecutive time the average exceeded $1,600.

The 892 animals sold at the year’s top 10 sales averaged an impressive $2,959.73. By year’s end, four sales attained averages that were greater than $4,000, an amount typically landed by just one or two top sales. These averages were boosted by the sale of a number of high-caliber animals.

A new benchmark was reached in dispersals, as a herd with more than 400 lots grossed more than $800,000 in revenue. The close of the 50-year venture served as a testament to the value of Registered Jerseys and long-term investment in core programs.

The year saw continued growth in the popularity of volume sales, with consignors and buyers alike. For the second consecutive year, more bred heifers were sold than any other group, including cows. The 1,691 bred heifers sold is more than double the number auctioned just five years ago. The opportunity for quick milk and equity from a newborn calf made bred heifers, especially third-trimester bred heifers, attractive purchases at volume sales. On average, third-trimester bred heifers brought $150 more than their first-trimester counterparts.

Sales included in this summary were those held in the United States and submitted to the Jersey Journal prior to January 1, 2004. Only sales reported with complete catalogs marked with buyers and prices for all animals are included in the auction sale summary. Sales held in Canada with consignments from or purchased by United States residents are reported throughout the year by the Jersey Journal. These sales are not included in the year-end analysis, however, because of the monetary exchange rate differential.

 Top-Averaging Sales

For 13 of the past 15 years, the All American Sale has earned the distinction of being the year’s top-averaging sale; the remaining two years, it stood second. Although it continued with a strong performance again this year, three other elite consignment sales outdid the perennial leader with high sale averages.

The year’s top-averaging sale was Primetime in the Heartland, held June 7, at the Nabholz Farms, West Union, Iowa. The high-powered sale averaged $8,823.48 on 33 lots. The sale average broke the United States record for high auction sale averages, which was previously held by the 1999 Parade of Stars, with an $8,361.90 average.

Primetime in the Heartland’s average was advanced by the sale of the year’s top-selling animal, Vindication, and 10 of the top 25 high-selling animals.

Legends of the Fall took second-place honors among top-averaging sales, with a $5,799.22 average on 64 lots. The sale was held October 27, in Boonsboro, Md.

Like Primetime in the Heartland, the sale featured a number of the year’s top sellers, including the high-selling cow, Huronia Centurion Veronica 20J.

The Eastern Elite Sale, held in conjunction with the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pa., was third high-averaging sale. Held September 25, the auction found buyers paying an average price of $5,526.67 on 15 lots.

The Eastern Elite Sale’s top two consignments commanded a price that placed them among the year’s top 15 high-selling animals. Brenbe Sultan Feather, an eye-catching junior two-year-old, sold for $17,500 to Peter Vail and Ken Beneke, Millerton, N.Y. "Feather" is sired by SHF Centurion Sultan, JPI +229, and was consigned by Michael and Sheryl Deaver, Edgerton, Wis.

Spring Valley Jude Jetta, the 2002 All New York Junior Two-Year-Old, was purchased for $15,600 by the Poor Boys Syndicate, Blacksburg, Va. The Excellent-91% three-year-old was consigned by George and Karen Hanford, Marcellus, N.Y.

The All American Sale, with a $4,295.33 average on 75 lots, was fourth high-averaging sale. The 51st annual sale was held on November 9, in Louisville, Ky. In All American tradition, the sale featured superior genetics from some of the breed’s leading cow families.

The All American’s top-selling animal, Deboer Jace Jenetta Idatex, JPI +314, was the year’s third high-selling animal and second high-selling bull. "Idatex" was sold to a syndicate of 88 breeders and Select Sires, Inc., Plain City, Ohio, for $36,000. The high-indexing young bull is a son of Windy Willow Montana Jace, JPI +294. His dam, Mason Barretta Jenetta, Excellent-91%, produced a best record of 10-4 305 27,050 4.6% 1,244 3.9% 1,059 91DCR. "Idatex" was consigned by Nico de Boer, Chandler, Texas.

Enthusiastic Jersey youth were given the opportunity to invest in their futures with purchases at two Pot O’Gold sales. The combined sales averaged $2,791.67 and rank them as the fifth high-averaging sale. Nine foundation animals were offered at the Pride of the West Pot O’Gold, held in conjunction with the 15th Annual Pride of the West Sale, on July 19, in Tillamook, Ore. Twenty-seven head were auctioned at the Pot O’Gold Sale on November 8, in Louisville, Ky., during All American festivities.

In early September, a new high was reached for dispersals, as Butterfield Farms Dispersal became the top-grossing public auction. The two-day sale, held at Roger Mabry’s farm in Bentonville, Ark., grossed $823,850 from the sale of 448 animals. The solid $1,956.89 average ranked it number 10 in high-averaging sales for 2003.

The dispersal’s top seller was among the year’s top 25 high-selling animals. Butterfield Night Purshia, a Very Good-88% daughter of Midnight Observer-ET, JPI +31, sold for $13,200 to Waverly Farm, Clear Brook, Va.

Legends of the Fall, mentioned previously, was second high-grossing sale in 2003, with a total value of $371,150.

Three sales that gave dairy producers the chance to fill their tanks and stock their corrals rounded out the year’s top five high-grossing sales. Combined, the three volume sales, managed by Jersey Marketing Service, grossed just under a million dollars. They auctioned 825 head in all, of which 470 were bred heifers.

The Deep South and Southeast Heifer Growers South Sale grossed $343,225 from the sale of 221 animals. It was held on April 12, in Sylacauga, Ala., and averaged $1,553.05.

The 67th Vermont State Sale, held September 23, in North Haverhill, N.H., grossed $324,050. The sale gross was the third straight time it passed the $300,000 mark. The 319 head, 148 of which were open yearlings and heifer calves, averaged a strong $1,016.14.

The New England Spring Sale auctioned 285 head for $322,155. The sale averaged $1,130.26 and was held on April 26, in New Haven, Vt.

Number one and two on the high-selling list for 2003 are a young bull and his dam: Vindication and Huronia Centurion Veronica 20J. Both were consigned by Ernest W. Kueffner, Boonsboro, Md.

Vindication, JPI -23, led all purchases in 2003 when a $50,000 bid bought him from the Primetime in the Heartland sale in June. The nine-month-old bull calf is sired by Bonnyburn Ali Whistler, JPI -94, and was purchased by the Vindication Syndicate, Boonsboro, Md.

Vindication’s dam, "Veronica," was the second high seller and top-selling female in 2003. Four months after her son was put on the auction block, half interest in "Veronica" was sold to a partnership of Michael Duckett and Julie Junemann, Rudolph, Wis., for $42,500. The Excellent-94% three-year-old made a best record of 2-11 331 25,623 4.9% 1,263 4.1% 1,047. Kueffner retained half interest in the show winner, whose accolades include the Reserve Grand Champion of the All American Jersey Show, Central National Jersey Show and Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 2002.

The third high-selling animal, at a final bid of $36,000, was "Idatex," who sold in the All American Sale, mentioned earlier.

First-rate show type was the nature of the next three high-selling animals: two national class winners and one two-time National Grand Champion.

Snafu Extreme Gigi-ET was purchased for $32,500 by Peter Vail and Ken Beneke, Kinderhook, N.Y. The milking yearling class winner of the 2003 Central National Jersey Show was consigned to Legends of the Fall by Keuffner.

Also consigned to Legends of the Fall by Keuffner was Juliannas Deluxe Justine-ET. The Excellent-90% two-year-old was purchased by the partnership of William Holz, Terri Packard and Cybil Fisher, Hustisford, Wis., for $30,000.

Two-time National Grand Champion, Bolle-Acres MJ Willie May, Excellent-94%, sold for $30,000. "Willie May" was consigned to Primetime in the Heartland by Max Bollenbacher and Family and Steve Bachelor and Family, Argos, Ind. Five months later, she stood second in the aged cow class of the All American Jersey Show for new owner, Buster Goff, Hobbs, N.M.

At $18,000, the top selling bred heifer was Pearlmont Hallmark Calamity. The P9 daughter of Schultz Brook Hallmark, JPI +232, was also the top-selling female of the All American Sale. The Diamond Syndicate, Woodstock, Va., purchased her because she possesses a desirable balance of fancy type, popular genetics and a deep pedigree. The following day, "Calamity" placed third for her new owners among a strong group of junior yearlings at the All American Jersey Show. Her Excellent-95% dam, Pearlmont Choice Camille, has a four lactation m.e. average of 22,135–989–740. "Calamity" has a maternal brother in active A.I. service and sold with an A.I. contract herself. She was consigned by Daniel Pearl, Barnet, Vt.

Jewels Sensation-ET was the year’s top-selling open yearling, as well as the Field of Dreams high seller. A bid of $9,300 from Lorne Ella, Hornby, Ontario, purchased the stylish 15-month-old yearling. She is sired by Rock Ella Remake, JPI +119, and out of Hollylane Jewels Jasmine, EX 92 (Canada), five-year-old class winner of the 2003 All American and Central National Jersey Shows. "Jasmine" produced a 3-2 record of 20,430 lbs. milk, 1,200 lbs. fat and 802 lbs. protein. "Sensation" was consigned by the syndicate of Robert Yeoman, Mike Heath and Mike and Sheryl Deaver, Edgerton, Wis.

The year’s first and third top-selling heifer calves are maternal sisters out of one of the breed’s most recognized cows: 2002 National Grand Champion, Blacky Rose of Briarcliffs, Excellent-96%. "Blacky" made a 5-6 record of 24,739 lbs. milk, 1,414 lbs. fat and 964 lbs. protein in 365 days. The high selling heifer calf, Blackys Deluxe Rosebud, was purchased for $12,000 from Legends of the Fall. She is sired by Elliotts Renaissance Deluxe, JPI -14. Paramounts Black Raven-ET was purchased for $7,700 from Primetime in the Heartland. She is sired by Rock Ella Paramount, JPI +263.

Another benchmark for 2003 was a record-high price paid for a first choice female. Set at the All American Sale, the first choice female out of KJF Renaissance Lacy was purchased for $16,600 by Kevin Lutz, Lincolnton, N.C. The choice is sired by Sooner Centurion-ET, JPI +174, with pregnancies due in 2004. "Lacy" is Excellent-96% and best known as the four-time All American Junior Jersey Show Grand Champion. Not only excelling in the show ring, she also has an impressive, six lactation m.e. average of 20,514–862–743. Brady Core, Salvisa, Ky., consigned the choice.