Trends Continue for Jersey Public Auctions in 2025
The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) has released its annual public auction summary, with results reinforcing patterns seen over the past several years. A total of 564 lots of Registered Jerseys sold for a historical high average of $5,143.97 and a gross of $2,901,200. Compared with 2024, the average price is up, the total lots have held steady, and the number of sales is down. The summary is based on sales conducted in 2025 and submitted to the Jersey Journal.
For those marketing Registered Jersey genetics, these results come as little surprise. Today’s marketplace continues to be shaped by strong demand for beef-on-dairy calves, fueled by a historically small domestic beef herd and sustained consumer interest in beef. At the same time, the high cost of heifer rearing and the widespread use of sexed semen allow producers to create only the replacements they need. The result is a tighter supply of premium-priced, Registered Jersey replacements, driven by the following key trends:
- Less dairy semen: Domestic dairy semen sales have fallen sharply, dropping from more than 3.4 million units in 2017 to roughly 2.1 million in 2024.
- More beef semen: Beef semen use has surged from 2.5 million units in 2017 to more than 9.7 million today, led by Angus and followed by heterospermic (from multiple bulls) and Simmental.
- Fewer Registered Jersey females: Registrations declined from more than 129,000 in 2021 to just over 80,000 in 2025—less than half the nearly 185,000 registered at the 2017 peak.
Despite the shifts, demand for high-quality and elite animals remains strong. Producers continue to invest in top genetics, pursue genomic opportunities for both females and males, and seek standout individuals for the show ring. Private treaty activity is also picking up as dairy producers look to move larger groups of cattle when market conditions align.
Encouraging market indicators include:
- Rising averages: Among the Registered Jerseys consigned to public auction, average prices continue to climb. Over the past four years alone, the average has increased by nearly $1,850, with this year’s figure surpassing last year’s record by $325.
- Steady performance program numbers: At year’s end, 979 herds and 133,944 cows were enrolled in REAP, remaining close to the 2022 record of 1,001 herds and 165,099 cows. Reduced culling has allowed producers to retain high-value mature females for strong production and use as dams of upper-end females and beef calves.
- Growing private treaty demand: In 2025, Jersey Marketing Service (JMS) connected buyers and sellers on nearly 2,000 lots of Registered Jerseys. Private treaty accounted for 80% of the $4.2 million in gross sales, with roughly 1,800 head averaging $1,860. Public auction lots averaged $3,901. Private treaty activity has climbed steadily since 2023, when it represented 66% of total sales.
The 13 public auctions included in the sales analysis were held in the U.S. during the calendar year 2025 and submitted to the Jersey Journal by January 15, 2026. Only sales reported with complete catalogs and marked with buyers and prices for all animals are included. Sales with fewer than 10 lots are included in the summary but not ranked among the high-averaging sales. Animals that were struck off in sales with fewer than 10 head, though, are included in the list of high-selling individuals.
High Averaging, Grossing Sale
Dreaming of Triple Crowns at Keightley and Core was the year’s high-averaging and high-grossing sale. The event held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the national Jersey organizations on June 28 was hosted by Jeff and Alta Mae Core and their family at Keightly-Core Jerseys in Salvisa, Ky. A total of 75 lots sold for an average of $8,696.67 and a gross of $652,250.
The lineup included lots from the Keightley-Core Jerseys herd and guest consignors across the country. Fifty-four buyers from 21 states, stretching coast to coast and border to border, made purchases.
The high seller, Schulte Bros Victorious Future, is also the year’s high-selling individual. Purchased by Glamourview, a partnership of Iager and Walton, for $200,00, she is the breed’s second-highest selling female at public auction behind Payneside Mac N Cheese, who sold for $267,000 in 2015.
“Future” is sired by River Valley Victorious-ET, GJPI -5. She calved in April with her second calf and was appraised Excellent-91% four days before the sale. She was Grand Champion of the Iowa State Fair and All American Summer Junior Two-Year-Old in 2024. For her new owners, she was named Intermediate and Reserve Grand Champion of the Maryland State Fair in August and then All American Junior Three-Year-Old in November.
Her dam is Schulte Bros Colt First Lady-ET, Excellent-94%. She has a four-lactation m.e. average of 20,676—975—763 on four lactations. Three of her maternal sisters have been named Junior or Reserve Junior Champion of the All American Jersey Show. The next dam is Pleasant Nook Guns Foxy Lady, Excellent-91%, who was Reserve All American Summer Yearling in 2015 and Reserve Intermediate Champion of the Iowa State Fair the next year.
“Future” was consigned by Keightley and Core, Schulte Bros. and Diane Borba, Salvisa, Ky.
Other Top Sales
The second high-averaging and third high-grossing sale of the year was the 73rd All American Jersey Sale, held on November 8 in Louisville, Ky. Managed by JMS, the sale perennially ranks among the year’s best, this year offering 56 lots that sold for an average of $7,779.46 and gross receipts of $435,650. The buyer’s list included 36 buyers from 21 states.
The lineup included a single young bull, JX All Lynns Chatham Martini {5}-ET, who was syndicated for $100,500, the second-highest price overall for the year. He was Tommy Allen of Reedsburg, Wis., and purchased by the Martini Syndicate, a group of 34 Jersey breeders, and Select Sires Inc. of Plain City, Ohio.
The young bull sired by JX Primus Enzo Chatham {4}-ET, GJPI +161, ranked #7 for GJPI on the list of bulls under two years of age on sale day and has a current index of +188. He is plus for the fertility traits Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR) at +1.9, Cow Conception Rate (CCR) at +2.4 and Heifer Conception Rate (HCR) at +2.4 and tested A2A2 for beta-casein. He has Genomic Predicted Transmitting Abilities (GPTAs) of +438M, +48F (+0.13%) and +24P (+0.04%).
“Martini {5}” is out of JX Jer-Z-Boyz Nicklaus Mara 83719 {5}, a female Allen purchased at the National Heifer Sale in 2023. She has a first lactation of 2-2 305 18,020 6.0% 1,080 4.0% 726 97DCR and a GJPI of +141, which ranks among the top 1% for cow genetic merit.
A sale hosted by the Steiner family of Marshallville, Ohio, was the third high-averaging sale of the year. The 17 Jersey lots offered in their Spring Opportunities at Pine Tree II averaged $6,340.59. Conducted at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wooster, Ohio, on March 18, the sale was managed by Modern Associates and cried by Chris Hill.
The high seller, JX Pine-Tree 2887 Call 1309 {6}-P, was struck off for $19,750 to ABS Global, de Forest, Wis. She has subsequently been sold to Martin Dairy LLC of Tillamook, Ore. On sale day, the July 2024 daughter of JX Primus Thrasher Callan {5}-ET, GJPI +134, was the breed’s #4 polled heifer. Today, she ranks #52 with a GJPI of +171. She has GPTAs of +924M, +33F and +30P. She is +448 for Cheese Merit Dollars (CM$), plus for CCR and HCR and tested A2A2.
South Mountain Jerseys and Interstate Heifer Care teamed up to host the fourth high-averaging and fifth high-grossing sale of the year, the Father’s Day Weekend Sale. Held on June 13 at Interstate Heifer Care in Hagerstown, Md., the sale auctioned 49 Jersey lots for an average of $5,711.70 and a gross of $285,585. Consignments came from the heart of the South Mountain Jerseys herd owned by Ernest Kueffner and Terri Packard of Boonsboro, Md., along with guest consignors.
The high seller, South Mountain Classic Rock-ET, sold for $60,000 to Glamourview-Iager and Walton. The Excellent-93% four-year-old sired by Mr Kathies Kid Rock, GJPI -215, completed a second lactation of 20,020 lbs. milk, 932 lbs. fat and 677 lbs. protein at 2-11.
Her grandam is Arethusa Veronicas Comet-ET, Excellent-95%, Grand Champion of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) and All-Canadian Four-Year-Old in 2010. The next dam is Huronia Centurion Veronica 20J, Excellent-97%. She was Reserve National Grand Champion in 2002 and National Grand Champion in 2004. She has also been the Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champion of World Dairy Expo. “Veronica” was named the winner of the 2015 Jersey Journal Great Cow Contest and Jersey Canada’s inaugural Cow of the Year in 2011.
“Classic Rock” was consigned by Kueffner and Packard.
The fifth high-averaging and second high-grossing sale of the year was the Kilgus Elite Sale, hosted by the Kilgus family of Fairbury, Ill., on March 15 at a facility about two miles from their farmstead. In all, 11 lots sold for an average of $4,831.08 and a gross of $536,250.
Kilgus VIP Margarita-ET was the high seller at $50,000. Misty Meadow Dairy of Tillamook, Ore., and Kilgus Dairy teamed to buy out the partnership of consignors Kilgus Dairy and Carla, Kamber and Ryker Kilgus.
Sired by River Valley Venus VIP-ET, GJPI -108, “Margarita” freshened in mid-January with her first calf and was appraised Very Good-88% at 2-2. A maternal brother, Kilgus VIP Mustang-ET, is currently being marketed by Kilgus Sires. Their dam, Kilgus Chrome Maci-ET, Excellent-95%, has a five-lactation m.e. average of 26,245—1,288—941. Their third dam is Pine Haven SSM Marmie, Excellent-93%, Supreme Champion of the 2011 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).
Rounding out the top five sales of 2025 was the fourth high-grossing sale of the year, Post Time at the Ratliff’s V, held May 10 at Ratliff Jerseys in Garnett, Kan. Hosted and managed by Ron and Christy Ratliff, the auction averaged $4,507.95 and grossed $396,700 on 88 lots. Chris Hill was the auctioneer and Norm Nabholz read pedigrees.
The sale was led by Ratliff Machine Velocity, a fancy-uddered two-year-old consigned by the Ratliffs and purchased by Ethan, Ella and Nora Marcoot of Greenville, Ill., for $24,500. The daughter of Mr Maddies Colton Machine, GJPI -110, appraised Very Good-89% at 2-2 and has a milking yearling record with an m.e. of 17,874—1,037—745.
At the Southern Spring National Jersey Show in 2025, “Velocity” topped her class for the Ratliffs. Her maternal sister, Ratliff Victorious Virtue-ET, was Intermediate Champion and their dam, Ratliff Ladd Vickie, was Reserve Grand Champion. The third dam of “Velocity” is the 2013 Junior All American Four-Year-Old, Ratliff Sultan Velvet, Excellent-93%.
Other High Selling Individuals
All 15 of the highest-selling lots of 2025 crossed the block at one of the previously mentioned sales. Several have been mentioned already.
The fifth-highest seller overall was South Mountain Dixies Dynasty-ET, who was struck off at the Father’s Day Weekend Sale for $34,000 to the All Fools Syndicate of Cornville, Maine.
The fall calf consigned by Kueffner and Packard and sired by River Valley Joyride-ET, GJPI -14, stood first in her class at the New York Spring Carousel in March. She hails from the “Dasher” branch of the “Veronica” cow family. Her dam, Crossbrook HG Dixie-ET, Excellent-94%, was Reserve Grand Champion of the RAWF and All-Canadian Senior Two-Year-Old in 2015. The next dam, Arethusa Veronicas Dasher-ET, Excellent-95%, is a full sister to “Comet.” She was Reserve All American Senior Two-Year-Old in 2008.
A daughter of the reigning Supreme Champion of the RAWF, Stoney Point Joel Bailey, Excellent-97%, was the sixth high seller overall. Offered at Dreaming of Triple Crowns, the partnership of Josh, Kate, Eli and Noah Arp and Delon Mortimer of Norwalk, Ohio, placed the final bid of $25,500 to bring home Vierra Baileys Brilliance.
The spring calf sired by St-Lo Video-ET, GJPI -41, was consigned by Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif. Her Excellent-97% dam was first named Supreme Champion at the RAWF in 2023 and also earned Reserve Supreme Champion laurels at World Dairy Expo the same year.
The two high-selling females of the All American Jersey Sale—both purchased by Select Sires and Jerseyland of Plain City, Ohio—were the year’s eighth and ninth high sellers overall. The pair contributed to the sale’s female average of $6,093.64 on 55 lots.
The genetics companies purchased the high seller, JX Ahlem Alicecooper Cara 69545 {5}-ET, for $24,000. The November 2024 daughter of JX Vierra Alice Cooper {5}-ET, GJPI +126, is among the top 1% for genetic merit with a GJPI of +167. She has GPTAs of +899M, +59F and +38P.
“Cara 69545 {5}” has four maternal brothers in A.I. and numerous maternal sisters ranked on the top genetic lists along with their dam, Ahlem Becks Cara 66159-ET, who ranks #518 among cows with a GJPI of +149. She has an m.e. of 26,568—1,471—1,049 on her first lactation as a milking yearling.
“Cara 69545 {5}” was consigned by Ahlem Farms Partnership, Hilmar, Calif.
The genetics companies chose JX Avi-Lanche Steed Sally 1458 {6}-ET for $22,000. The eight-month-old daughter of JX Cal-Mart Steed {6}-ET, GJPI +192, ranked #68 for GJPI on sale day and today is #74 with an index of +189. She has GPTAs of +483M, +57F, +25P and +522CM$.
Her dam and grandam are both Very Good and have m. e. averages over 21,000 lbs. milk, 1,000 lbs. fat and 845 lbs. protein. Her fourth dam is D&E Abe Sally 21275, with 10 lactations and a top record of 23,280 lbs. milk, 1,227 lbs. fat and 896 lbs. protein at 5-6.
“Sally 1458 {6}” was consigned by Richard and Jennifer M. Avila, Dalhart, Texas.
The Ratliff sale in May was the venue for the year’s 10th high-selling individual, South Mtn & Co Hidalgo Raelynn-ET, who sold for $21,750 to Kiliana Breuer and Brayden Carpio of Kersey, Colo. The fall calf is sired by SV Reviresco Hidalgo, GJPI -105, and from the “Rosebud” cow family developed by South Mountain Jerseys. She was first fall calf for her new owners at the Midwest Jersey Summer Show and third at the All American Junior Jersey Show.
“Raelynn’s” grandam is South Mountain Voltage Radiant-ET, Excellent-94%, winner of the National Jersey Jug Futurity and Reserve Grand Champion of the International Jersey Show in 2018. The previous year, she was the All American Junior Two-Year-Old. The next dam, Marynole Excite Rosey, Excellent-94%, was Intermediate Champion of the International Jersey Show in 2012 and Reserve Grand Champion two years later. The next dam is the family matriarch, Woodmohr Indiana Rosebud, Excellent-94%
“Raelynn” was consigned by Ernest Kueffner, Terri Packard, Kaitlyn Corbett and Nate Oleniacz, Boonsboro, Md.
The 11th high-selling individual was MB-Luckylady Joels Flare-ET, purchased by the Flare Syndicate of Salvisa, Ky., for $21,000 at Dreaming of Triple Crowns. The spring calf is sired by Guimo Joel-ET, GJPI -107, and out of Marlau Comerica Fabienne, SUP EX-94-3E (CAN).
A maternal sister to “Flare,” MB Lucky Lady Feliz Navidad-ET, Excellent-93%, was Reserve Intermediate Champion of the RAWF in 2016 and Grand Champion in 2017. The following year, she was Grand Champion of the Central National Jersey Show and Reserve All-Canadian Four-Year-Old. Several members of the cow family have earned production awards in Canada.
“Flare” was consigned by Frank and Diane Borba, Modesto, Calif.
An in-vitro fertilization (IVF) session consigned to the All American Jersey Sale garnered the 12th high price of the year. ABS Global placed the final bid of $20,250 to control the next IVF session with Dutch Hollow Inxs Charm-P-ET, with a guarantee of a minimum of eight #1 or #2 grade embryos.
The heifer calf sired by JX Dupat Corsair Inxs {6}-ET, GJPI +135, is backed by the “Cherish” cow family developed by consignor Paul C. Chittenden of Dutch Hollow Farm LLC, Schodack Landing, N.Y. “Charm” currently ranks #5 on the list of the breed’s top polled animals with a GJPI of +187. She has GPTAs of +846M, +50F and +38P and is +1.4 for Type and +20.8 for Genomic Jersey Udder Index.
She has four maternal brothers in A.I. and several maternal sisters ranked for genetic merit. Their dam, Dutch Hollow Jammer Chant-P-ET, Very Good-84%, has a projected m.e. of 32,510—1,590—1,102 on her first lactation. She ranks #11 among cows for GJPI with an index of +180.
A maternal sister to “Raelynn” was the 14th high-seller of the year, purchased by Glamourview-Iager and Walton for $18,600 at the Father’s Day Weekend Sale. South Mtn & Co Rock Ruckus-ET is a “Kid Rock” daughter who won the summer yearling class and was Reserve Junior Champion at the Northeast Spring National Show in March for consignors Kueffner, Packard, Corbett and Oleniacz. She was tapped Junior Champion for her new owners at the Maryland Jersey Field Day after the sale.
Rounding out 15 high-selling individuals was Budjon-Vail Video Shyanne-ET, who crossed the auction block at the Kilgus Elite Sale for $17,900. She was purchased by Kaleb and Henry Osinga of Hico, Texas, and consigned by Peter Vail and Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis.
The spring yearling sired by “Video” is a maternal sister to Budjon-Vail Jordan C Shaneese-ET, Excellent-93%, a winner of the National Jersey Jug Futurity. Another maternal sister, Shots VIP Shot of Love-ET, was All American Summer Yearling in 2022. Their dam, Schulte Bros Tequila Shot-ET, Excellent-95%, was All American as a fall calf and fall yearling and All-Canadian as a senior three-year-old and four-year-old. She has three records over 20,000 lbs. milk and a top record of 22,970 lbs. milk, 1,203 lbs. fat and 793 lbs. protein at 7-7
High Sellers by Category
Many of the year’s high sellers by category have been mentioned, including the three high-selling heifer calves and cows, along with the lone bull to be syndicated at public auction in 2025. The high and second high open yearlings and the top IVF session have been mentioned, too.
The third high-selling open yearling was MM Joel Valedictorian-ET. The “Joel” summer yearling sold for $9,600 at Dreaming of Triple Crowns to Peter Vail and Budjon Farms. From the “Veronica” cow family, she is out of Arethusa Vespera, an Excellent-93% daughter of Rapid Bay Redford-ET, GJPI -94, with six lactations and a best record of 5-2 305 22,320 5.2% 1,160 4.1% 904 98DCR. She is a two-time Reserve Grand Champion of the Eastern States Exposition. The next dam is a maternal sister to “Comet” and “Dasher.”
“Valedictorian” is entered in the 2027 National Jersey Jug Futurity and was consigned by Misty Meadow Dairy.
The high-selling bred heifer was JX Avi-Lanche Crispin Jubilee 39827 {6}, purchased at the All American Jersey Sale for $11,300 by Sexing Technologies, South Charleston, Ohio. Ranked as the #1 daughter of JX Primus Thrasher Crispin {5}-ET, GJPI +176, on sale day, she has GPTAs of +285M, +41F (+0.14%) and +25P (+0.07%) and is +564 for CM$. She now ranks #54 among all females with a GJPI of +191. She sold due to sexed JX Sandcreeks JFK Meloy {6}-P-ET, GJPI +164, in late December.
“Jubilee 39827 {6}” was consigned by Richard and Jennifer M. Avila.
Kiliana Breuer and Brayden Carpio partnered with Tatum and Reece Chupp on the year’s second high-selling bred heifer, Red Dirt Kid Rock Bam Bam, purchased for $10,500 at the Ratliff-hosted sale. She sold carrying an ultrasounded heifer calf by “Victorious” and was a summer junior two-year-old for 2025.
A maternal sister, Red Dirt Comerica Boobers, Excellent-91%, was third in the National Jersey Jug Futurity and first junior three-year-old at the Kentucky State Fair in 2023. Other members of the family include Billings Impression Backstage, 2017 All American Junior Three-Year-Old, and Billings Remake Bounty, Overall Premier Performance Winner of the 2008 All American Jersey Show.
“Bam Bam” was consigned by Red Dirt Genetics, Perkins, Okla.
Rounding out the category for high-selling bred heifers was MM Ferdinand Taboo-ET, who was struck off at the Keightley-Core Jerseys sale for $10,000. The daughter of ISAU Lightning Ridge Ferdinand, GJPI -39, was purchased by Jim and Valerie Spreng and Ack-Lee Holsteins of East Liberty, Ohio. She sold due to Avonlea Chips Canadian Club-ET, GJPI -71, in early September and entered in the 2027 National Jersey Jug Futurity.
Her maternal sister, Pacific Edge VIP Tessah-ET, Excellent-93%, was Supreme Champion of the World Dairy Expo Junior Show and the NAILE Junior Show in 2024.
“Taboo” was consigned by Avery Best, Lakeland, Fla.
The other high-selling IVF sessions were sold at the All American Jersey Sale. Select Sires and Jerseyland purchased one of them, cataloged as a choice to control the next IVF session of two maternal sisters: JX Cal-Mart Quiz 3774 {5}-ET or Cal-Mart 3797-ET. With a final bid of $16,000, the genetics companies chose the former, a June 2024 daughter of JX ABS GA Quiz {4}-ET, GJPI +166. She ranks #28 for genetic merit with a GJPI of +195 and is +707 for CM$. She has 15 maternal brothers in A.I., including Cal-Mart Jammer-ET and Cal-Mart Joystick.
The IVF session was conducted by Martin Dairy LLC.
ABS Global purchased the other IVF lot, rights to control the next session with Kash-In Geppetto 70115-ET for $12,500. Sired by Ahlem Gifted Geppetto {6}-ET, GJPI +171, she was the #1 GJPI cow in the breed on sale day and ranked #7 overall. She has a son and two maternal brothers in A.I. and several maternal sisters ranked for genetic merit. She traces seven generations back to BW Berretta Prize G525, Excellent-90%, a foundation cow at Brentwood Farms in Orland, Calif., and dam of BW Country, the breed’s former #1 JPI sire.
The IVF session was consigned by Kash-In Jerseys, Tulare, Calif.
The three high-selling choices were offered at Dreaming of Triple Crowns. The highest-priced lot at $6,000 was a choice of calves sired by “Victorious” or “Kid Rock” out of Schulte Bros Colt First Lady-ET. The successful bidders, Ken and Karla Deaver of Stotts City, Mo., will choose from calves sired by the former, due in July 2025, or the latter, due in October 2025. The lot was consigned by Crestbrooke, Lost Elm and Cybil Fisher, Fond du Lac, Wis.
Quietcove Holsteins, Wapakoneta, purchased one of the other choice lots, a female sired by Vierra Eloises Epitome-ET and out of Hirds Colton Dream for $5,500. The Excellent-97% two-time National Grand Champion was also Premier Performance Cow of the 2018 All American Jersey Show and took the top prize three years later. The pregnancies were due in September 2025.
Messmer Jersey Farm of Martinsville, Ind., placed the last bid of $4,900 on the other choice lot, a female sired by “Hidalgo” out of either “Dream” or Rivendale VIP Faye-ET, the 2021 All American Senior Two-Year-Old. All calves are due in March 2026.
Both lots were consigned by Keightley-Core and Borba.
