Sale of Stars

The Semex Alliance Thanks Breeders For Four Successful Sale of Stars

The Semex Alliance has announced that after four successful sales, it will step back from managing the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair’s Sale of Stars held each year in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Semex Alliance and staff managed the Sale of Stars from 2005-2008, meeting the request to revive this sale series to international prominence. This change in 2009 will allow Semex staff to focus on core activities, developing the next generation of great sires for dairymen everywhere, while remaining strongly committed to the Royal Winter Fair as a showplace for Canadian agriculture.

“Semex’s mission with the Sale of Stars was to reestablish this sale series as the location for elite Canadian genetics,” says Paul Larmer, Semex Alliance CEO. “For the past four years Semex has presented the finest individuals in North America for public auction and accomplished our goals. Toronto is now an excellent platform for genetics, with the most recent 2008 Holstein edition ranking as the third highest averaging sale in the world. This is a credit to both our staff and the breeders involved. We are thankful for the support we have enjoyed from breeders, staff and our international group of buyers. We have committed our support to the Royal in assisting with any transition for the sale and remain committed to enhancing marketing opportunities for our owners.”

“This success was really the success of the consignors and successful purchasers who entrusted us with their finest individuals,” says Julien Chabot, Semex Alliance Sire Analyst and Sale of Stars Chairman. “We thank them all for their confidence, and wish them continued success. Four years ago we were pleased to have been asked to step in when needed, but we feel that now is an appropriate time for us to step back, and provide an opportunity for another organization to take the Sale of Stars to the next level!”

“Semex has taken this sale to be one of the best run sales events in North America and all involved should be congratulated,” says Bill Duron, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair CEO. “The Royal Board and management, along with the industry, appreciate the professionalism and standards that Semex management adheres to in all endeavours at the Royal. Semex continues to be a great partner for the Royal.“

Semex remains strongly committed to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and its activities through various avenues including the sponsorship of Canada’s National Dairy & Beef Shows, the continued support of the newly created Classic Youth Show Sponsorship and Semex’s internationally renowned Walk of Fame. Additionally, Semex hosts hundreds of international visitors each year, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars for Canadian dairymen through embryos exported. In 2008, over 750 embryos were sold through Semex’s international embryo marketing team and distributorships during the Royal Winter Fair period.