Aldo Heidi is the current International Dairy Week intermediate champion and was bought by Lightning Ridge Genetics of Glengarry and John Tarpey of Ireland.
Ben said he was stoked with the results across the sale, which saw an average price of $8555 across 46 lots.
“We had been planning a sale for the last 12 months but with the downturn and the dry conditions we had put it off,” Ben said.
With the timing right, a large crowd made the trip to Tandara and there was equally enthusiastic online bidding from 300 registered bidders.
Ben said there was currently a lot of interest in the Brown Swiss breed, something he attributes to their easy care, great fertility and hardiness in dry conditions.
“Demand is high for quality Brown Swiss and a lot of young people are pretty keen to get them out in the show ring.”
He said some people were also looking to transition their herds across to the breed.
Ben said the successful sale now meant he could look at putting in a pivot and consolidate some debt.
He attributed some of the sale success to recent rains.
“We had about seven inches of rain which was very welcome but did make preparation for the sale a bit more difficult.
“I think the rain brought a change in attitude and gave people a bit more confidence for the year ahead.
“The rain has given up a full soil profile and means we can now start our autumn sowing program – another follow-up rain would be just magic.”
Other notable sale lots were Lot 1Tandara M Dependable Snickerdoodle, VG 86. Bred down from eight-time World Dairy Expo winner Old Mill E Snickerdoodle, EX 94, she sold for $12,000 to Munden Farms of Gippsland.
Second-top lot of the sale was Tandara Aldo Luna, VG 85 who sold for $16,000. This first lactation cow was the 2025 All Australian Junior Champion bred from Denver Lunda 216, EX, 3E the three-time IDW Reserve Champion Cow. She was purchased by Hunterfield Farming of Deniliquin, NSW. These same buyers also selected Tandara Avien Lunda 285, VG 85 first lactation for $10,000 and Tandara Bender Lotus 3, EX 90 from IDW Champion Miss Payssli Lola, also for $10,000.
There was demand for Tandara Dreamer Heidi 326, VG 86; this daughter of Arrow Heidi 283, EX was purchased by D and J Easterbrook for $14,000.
Tandara Dairystar Luna 14, a daughter of the IDW and Sydney Royal Champion Vivid Lunda 260, EX 92 sold for $12,000 and has found her way to M and F Harvey at Katunga.
Meyview Brown Swiss of Waaia purchased Tandara Aldo Heidi 339, an outstanding autumn calving heifer, for $12,000 along with Tandara Powerball Amy, VG 87, $11,000.
Across the sale 19 cows averaged $9947, 11 joined heifers $8727, and 16 unjoined heifers $6781. Animals were sold to buyers across Victoria and NSW and into WA and Ireland.
19°C