SUCCESS at Australia’s premier dairy show will bolster future livestock sales for Gorbro
Holsteins.
International Dairy Week (IDW) Judges, at Tatura, Victoria, recognised the depth and quality
of the Gordon family’s Holstein and Red and White Holsteins with breed champion ribbons,
premier exhibitor and breeder accolades.
“It was one of the best International Dairy Weeks we’ve had,” Glen Gordon said.
“We’ve had champions before, but as a whole team – the 14 head we took – this was the most
successful IDW, overall, we have had.”
Among the Gordon’s broad ribbon awards were premier exhibitor in the Red and White
Holstein show, premier exhibitor and breeder in the Holstein Junior show and overall
premier exhibitor in the Holstein Open show.
“These awards (premier exhibitor and breeder) are a bit more about the whole group we
showcased and their success,” Glen explained.
“We will have a sale in February 2025, so rather than having one cow that’s successful, we
have a whole group of cows with success which means we will be able to sell more daughters
of more cows.”
Gorbro Holsteins at Cohuna, Victoria is a true family operation.
Glen and Genna Gordon and their children Jimmy and Stella are on the farm with Glen’s
brother Drew, his wife Stacey and their children Darcy and Maggie as well as Glen and
Drew’s parents Ross and Jeanette.
The operation milks up to 750 cows and recently built an Entegra barn, fitted with water
misters and fans, to protect their milking herd from the Northern Victorian heat.
Glen said the barn helped the herd maintain its feed intake during a recent 40 degree celsius
day and there was no immediate decline in milk production.
Normally this kind of weather event would result in a drop of three-to-four litres of milk per
cow, which can take time to recover.
The Gordon’s are regular exhibitors at IDW and while they have a “real passion” for “top-end
elite cattle” they’ve ensured that showing and breeding is a business.
Showing is a way to market their bloodlines and attract interest in their stud sales.
Gorbro Holsteins has conducted three “very successful” sales which have enabled them to
make further farm investments, Glen said.
The Gordon’s swag of success at IDW this year included Senior Champion Red and White
Holstein with Gorbro Unstopabull Admire and Reserve Champion Red and White Holstein
with Gorbro Riverdown Asia.
These two cows are full sisters from Luck-E Diamondadmire, a 92-point daughter from US
cow Luck-E Advent Asia, EX-94.
Glen said his family purchased a “direct daughter” from the famous US cow after he saw her
in 2015 and recognised her “enormous” breeding potential.
Gorbro Holsteins has sold two daughters from Luck-E Diamondadmire for $15,000 each and
two sisters – one for $19,000 and another for $20,000.
Another Gorbro-bred cow, purchased by Geoff and Christine Peatling, Katunga, Victoria at
the Gorbro sale in February last year, won IDW Intermediate Champion and Grand
Champion Red and White Holstein.
Gorbro Hano O Princess, a March 2023-born heifer- won IDW Junior Holstein Champion
and was sold later that week at the ST Genetics Create the Future Sale for $18,000 to a
syndicate.
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