Bit dissapointed with the Jersey sale in NH

[JeffNY]

Approx 400 animals went through the auction at Haverhill Fairgrounds, in Haverhill NH. The auction had SOME quality stock, but much of it was your average heifer. The dissapointing part was the way they handled animals. I would say both treatment, and equal opprotunity. Some animals they gave more time in the ring, while others were rushed through. They all had equal quality, so why, I have no idea. The way they also treated the animal, they banged on them with canes, when rounding them up in the back, they were a bit rough from my understanding.


What scares me about this, is where will I market future Jerseys? If the sales are like this, being any close by, I really dont want to send them through an auction that was as unprofessional as that one was. We had one go through, and they gave her less time than many others, even less than one that had physical problems. All that auction was, was an outdoors auction barn, and it was a specific auction. Otherwise, it was no different than any ol' auction barn found across the country.

This actually has soured me more with the Jersey breed, seeing how poorly their marketing is, and what is behind them. Makes me glad that most of my herd is holsteins, and knowing that the marketing machine behind holsteins seems the best in the country. Many well known people are behind holsteins, and the two I have been to, are very well done. Animals are led in, respected, cared for, no beating on them, etc.

I think what it comes downt to with that auction, was all geared for the large farms going in, down in Texas for the cheese. It seems most were going there, as the primary bidders were people who were buying for those farms. So was it an auction put together just for them? I do know this, there were two big tractor trailers out waiting to be loaded, double decked ones. So figure 100 per load..


Jeff

[ONThorsegirl]

Jeff, I completely understand where you are coming from!

Around here we also have some sales like this, and people do say things. ex. veal calves, before they used a prodder and canes, after people spoke up they now use this stick with a plastic end full of beads, they can tap the calf and the beads make sounds so the calf moves.

There will always be sales like this unless someone speaks up. Some Shows are alot better than others! Keep looking.

Also if you found it that offending get in contact with the fair board? But honestly, any dairy sale I have been too around here, the cow is walked into the ring on halter. I don't know!

Melissa

[JeffNY]

Its actually the Jersey Association that ran this, JMS, which is Jersey Marketing Service. It was held at the Haverhill fairgrounds, wasn't the fair who was holding it.

Pardon any confusion.



Jeff