It was the second sale at Naracoorte for the year and attracted buyers from northern Victoria, Gippsland, western Victoria as well as a few South East buyers.

The Tintinara-based herd was being sold on behalf of the appointed receivers Ferrier Hodgson with cows grouped into pens of three to five animals.

Buyers recognised the opportunity to get their hands on some good quality cows which had been purchased during the herd's establishment about 3.5 years ago with the herd averaging 8235 litres per lactation with 271 kilograms of protein and 337kg fat.

Brett Scirillo, Irrewillippe near Simpson, Victoria, selected a pair of cows for the $2400 top price in the June-August calving run and said he was looking for "big, tall dairy cows which milked."

The latest production figures on the 2005 drop female was 44L/day with a cell count of 50, while the 2006 drop cow was producing 36L/day with a cell count of 956.

* Full report in Stock Journal, December 3 issue.