National Heifer Sale 2020
New Series High Average for National Heifer Sale
It was with faith that consignors stepped up to the plate for this year’s National Heifer Sale on June 26. Though the live annual meetings held in conjunction with the sale had been cancelled and businesses were taking baby steps to reopen post-quarantine, Jersey Marketing Service (JMS) forged ahead, optimistic Jersey breeders would come through for their premier event to fund youth programs. They did just that in spades, purchasing 16 consignments for a series high average of $10,996.88. Conducted entirely online through JerseyAuctionLive.com, the average for the 63rd sale of the series beat the historical high average posted last year by nearly $700.
This year’s sale also gives validity to the phrase: the best things―Registered Jerseys, in this case―come in small packages. Though lot quantity was small, quality was big. Selling in the group were three of the breed’s top 100 heifers for Genomic Jersey Performance Index (GJPI) and several others ranked on the top genetic lists. Many tested A2A2 for beta casein. All were genotyped and backed by deep pedigrees.
It was the third lot auctioned and the breed’s #21 heifer for GJPI that garnered the high price of the day: $42,000. AJ Chief 4611, consigned by Allen E. Albright and Family of Willard, Ohio, was purchased by Sexing Technologies of Navasota, Texas. The four-month-old daughter of JX River Valley Chief {6}-ET, GJPI +138, ranks #24 among all genotyped females today with an index of +153. She has GPTAs of +1,252M, +62F (+0.01%) and +50P (+0.02%) and is +562 for CM$.
AJ Chief 4611 was the high seller of the 63rd National Heifer Sale. She was purchased by Sexing Technologies, represented by AJCA-NAJ Area Representative Erica Davis, right, and consigned by Albright Jerseys, represented by Joel, Mary Beth and Lauren Albright, left. Also pictured are JMS Manager Greg Lavan, left rear, and Chris Hill, auctioneer.
| Number | Average Price | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3 bred heifers | $2,866.67 | $8,600 |
| 13 heifer calves | $12,873.08 | $167.350 |
| 16 lots | $10,996.88 | $175,950 |
| Median Price | $4,450.00 |
Her dam is sired by JX Sunset Canyon Got Maid {5}-ET, GJPI +158. Her Very Good-80% grandam, sired by Sunset Canyon Daybreak-ET, GJPI +97, has a two lactation m.e. average of 21,150―705―700. Her third dam is a daughter of Sweetie Plus Iatolas Bold {5}, GJPI +7. Her fourth dam is a Very Good-85% daughter of Mason Lemvig Jacinto-ET, GJPI -45, with five lactations―four over 23,000 lbs. milk―and a top record of 6-2 305 3x 29,720 4.1% 1,228 3.3% 97 99DCR.
Jer-Z-Boyz Chief 70930-Twin, a paternal sister to the high seller, sold for the second-high price of $36,000 to 2017 Master Breeder, David Allen of Reedsburg, Wis. Allen purchased the eight-month-old “Chief {6}” daughter consigned by Jer-Z-Boyz of Pixley, Calif. She ranked #76 among genotyped heifers on sale day and today ranks #136 among all genotyped females with a GJPI of +142. She has GPTAs of +641M, +59F (+0.13%) and +40P (+0.08%) and is +1.4 for Type, +1.1 for Cow Conception Rate (CCR) and +1.5 for Heifer Conception Rate (HCR).
Her dam is a Very Good-85% daughter of Missiska Mackenzie-ET, GJPI +78, with an m.e. average of 24,049―1,047―913 on two lactations. Her grandam is sired by CRF Legal Promise, GJPI +31, and her third dam by Sun Valley Lirsk Diesel, GJPI +20. Her fifth dam is a daughter of JVB Red Hot Count-ET, JPI -160, with a three lactation m.e. average of 18,429―860―700.
The third heifer to rank among the top 100 heifers for GJPI on sale day, Four J Altamontra 19154-ET, was the third high-seller at $28,000. The three-month-old daughter of JX Peak Altamontra {6}-ET, GJPI +116, was consigned by Four J Jerseys, Tipton, Calif., and purchased by Bos Dairy LLC, Lovington, N.M. She currently ranks #91 among genotyped females with a GJPI of +145. She has GPTAs of +907M, +39F and +43P. She is +2.0 for CCR, +3.5 for HCR and +5.4 for Productive Life.
Her dam, Four J Change Up 13721 {6}, was the fourth high seller of the 2019 National Heifer Sale, purchased for $18,000 by Select Sires Inc., Plain City, Ohio. The Very Good-83% daughter of River Valley Char Change Up-ET, GJPI +95, ranks on the top genetic lists with a GJPI of +126. The next dam is a Very Good-84% daughter of Buttercrest Gameday-ET, GJPI +71, with a three lactation m.e. average of 23,143―1,158―849. The next dam, sired by Boyd-Lee T Bone Bruno, GJPI +13, is appraised Very Good-88%. She has four records―three over 22,000 lbs. milk―and a best record of 26,020 lbs. milk, 1,104 lbs. fat and 924 lbs. protein at 3-8.
Joel Albright accepts the Kenny Stiles Memorial Award on behalf of Albright Jerseys for consigning the high seller of the 2020 National Heifer Sale.
Bringing the fourth high price of $21,000 was TOG Ruby 38565-ET, purchased by Sexing Technologies and consigned by Trans-Ova Genetics of Sioux Center, Iowa. Several generations of the cow family rank for genetic merit and can be traced to the “Tiffany” cow family developed by Ahlem Farms Partnership of Hilmar, Calif.
“Ruby 38565” is a high component daughter of CDF Irwin Steve, GJPI +125. The four-month-old heifer calf ranks on the list of the Top 500 Females for GJPI with an index of +137. She has GPTAs of +37M, +73F (+0.33%) and +29P (+0.13%).
Her dam, sired by ISDK VJ Hjortvangs Holmer Hjort, +99, ranks among the top 1.5% for genetic merit with a GJPI of +108. Her Very Good-80% grandam is sired by TOG Altablitz-ET, GJPI +114. She has a first lactation m.e. of 16,846―951―641 and ranks for genetic merit with a GJPI of +105.
Her seventh dam, Ahlem Jace Tiffany 15140 {6}-ET, Very Good-85%, has a top record of 3-3 263 19,850 5.9% 1,163 3.3% 659 73DCR. The next dam, Ahlem Berretta Tiffany {5}, Excellent-91%, has eight lactations―five over 20,000 lbs. milk―and a best record of 26,410 lbs. milk, 1,009 lbs. fat and 961 lbs. protein at 5-3. The next dam is Excellent-90% with more than 18,000 lbs. milk.
In all, 14 buyers from nine states made purchases. Sexing Technologies was the volume buyer, with three head for $68,300. Bos Dairy LLC was the final bidder on five lots for a total $39,650.
Reigning National Jersey Queen Gracie Krahn donated this basket of goods to celebrate Oregon agriculture and raise funds for the National Jersey Queen Fund. AJCA Director John Boer and his family purchased the basket for $375.
Other Activities
Items were also auctioned to raise funds for the AJCC Research Foundation and youth activities. Legacy bull semen donated by Cedarcrest Farms, Faunsdale, Ala., generated $1,995 from the sale of units or ampules from Belles Expo-ET, Lester Sambo, Milestones Generator and Sooner Centurion-ET.
A pair of face masks with “The Jersey” by Bonnie Mohr were purchased by National All-Jersey Inc. President John Kokoski of Hadley, Mass. A basket representing Oregon agriculture was purchased by American Jersey Cattle Association Director John Boer and his family of Dalhart, Texas. The basket had been donated by the reigning National Jersey Queen, Gracie Krahn, who hails from Oregon. The two items contributed another $475 for the foundation and youth programs.
The sale was cried by Chris Hill for the seventh time and conducted virtually in the Embassy Suites hotel in Columbus, Ohio, by JMS through JerseyAuctionLive.com. Pre-recorded vidoes of lots were promoted on social media in the weeks leading to the sale and shown live during the event.
This was the third consecutive year the National Heifer Sale broke a record for series high average. In 2018, the event auctioned 41 lots for an average of $7,190.85. That year, the series’ historical high seller, JX Pine Tree Disco Paris 1696 {5}, was auctioned as well for $67,500. The next year, both records fell, with a posted average of $10,308.57 on 35 lots and a new and current historical high seller, Wetumpka Viceroy Java-P at $103,000. This year’s average of $10,996.88 is the series high and ranks the sale as sixth high in breed history as reported to the Jersey Journal.
Beyond Buyers and Sellers
Since 1958, the National Heifer Sale has been the single largest contributor to national youth development activities of the American Jersey Cattle Association. It is standard for each consignor to donate a portion of the animal’s selling price to the fund. This year, $17,595 will be contributed in support of the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and the National Jersey Youth Production Contest, to fund travel for Young Jersey Breeder Award recipients to annual meetings and to sponsor other youth activities throughout the year.
AJ Chief 4611 in her working clothes at Albright Jerseys before the sale.