If last week’s high of $16,000 attained at the Somerelle Holstein dispersal of Scott and Nirrelle Somerville’s spring-calving herd is anything to go by, then buyers are chasing quality stock too.

The sale boasted six EX and 53 VG cows and attracted producers from every dairying region in the State.

“Dairy sales have been stronger in the past couple of months,” Dairy Livestock Services’ Lee Hamilton said.

“People seem to have got over the wet and are short of cows now.

“Farmers have some confidence in the industry again and want to get back out there.”

And that buoyancy went a long way at the Somerelle sale, when 132 females reached a pinnacle at lot 82 on a bid from neighbour Murray Varcoe.

By Regancrest Dundee and out of Somerelle Citamatt VG-88, the six-year-old top-priced cow Somerelle Dundee Lassoo EX-90-1E impressed many of the buyers and pushed prices beyond expectations.

Mr Varcoe also purchased the second highest-priced cow at $9000 – Somerelle Lheros Girlie GP-83.

The two cows will now join Mr Varcoe’s 120-herd stud Hullabaloo. “There were some great families here and that was what I was chasing,” he said. “When you buy a good cow, you can breed them better.”

Another key buyer was Rick Wishart, Cohuna, who snapped up 19 cows to $3100, averaging $2822.

Other sales saw Allan Berry, Numurkah, pick up 12, while P&T McKenna, Nathalia, purchased 11 lots. There were also seven buyers from the Western Districts and five from Gippsland.

The Somervilles, who have been milking in northern Victoria for 19 years, said a lot of time and effort had gone into introducing respected cow families to their herd.

Many of the lots were backed by 5-10 generations of EX and VG cows, as well as Star Brood awards.

“Breeding is a passion of mine,” Mr Somerville said.

“This is a third on-property sale and I like to share the genetics.”

He said the sale would now see the couple milk 200 cows, as well as allowing them to have time off.

“We’re happy with the results; the average has improved a lot.”