"I picked her out of the catalogue at home and when I saw her I fell in love," she said.

On sale day at International Dairy Week, Ms Lee was successful in her bidding efforts Wandilla Goldwyn Amelie 3, sold by Robert Calder, Wandilla Pastoral Co, Leongatha.

Bought on behalf of Ms Lee's parents Garry and Bev Carpenter, Garerley Holsteins, 18-month-old heifer South Riana will remain in Victoria.

"We'll wait and see what happens, but she might go in a syndicate," she said.

The Carpenters milk 500 cows in Tasmania, with 75 per cent registered animals.

While it was a hefty price tag, she said $28,000 was worth the cash.

"She comes from a popular Canadian cow family, so we will be able to sell embryos and breed from her too," she said.

Mr Calder was also excited about the result.

"It's pretty tough to get a good price like that," he said.

"That's great money."

The second top-price at $19,000 was sold by K&R Cochrane, Gympie, Qld, for their heifer Miss Sanchez Missy.

The six-month-old was picked up by the Jennings family, Chapel Vale.

Other strong results saw Cairnhill Holsteins, Kialla, make $15,500 for Cairnhill Paradale Pam.

The young calf attracted plenty of demand, but was eventually knocked down to Simpson dairy farmer Rhys Anderson.

Dairy Livestock Services auctioneer Brian Leslie said the overall sale average of $8303 was "perhaps one of the highest ever seen at IDW".