Freedom herd flies the coop

Auctioneer Brian Leslie said there was extreme interest in the younger cows.

“There was a hell of a lot of people online and buyers from NSW, all parts of northern Victoria and Gippsland,” Mr Leslie said.

A significant crowd of buyers showed up in person to the final dispersal sale at Shepparton Regional Saleyards on August 12.

The first dispersal occurred at Echuca Saleyards on August 5.

Attendees were treated to another great Brian Leslie phrase, when he told the crowd the cows had “skins on them like racehorses”.

“If you are in the business of milking cows, what a good time to buy,” Mr Leslie told the bidders right before the auction began.

“Because if you buy in spring when there is heaps of feed around — who knows what prices you will be paying.”

The herd was dispersed because Freedom Dairies is transitioning into a beef feedlotting operation.