COBDEN — Levinoff Meats of Montreal set a new record low at the Pontiac-Renfrew Salebarn when it paid two cents a pound for a healthy Holstein cow.

The farmer who owned the cow earned $26.72 from the sale barn. But after being dinged a $40 trucking fee he lost $13.28.

This is how the bottom line worked out:

Cow’s weight: 1,780 lbs.

Price per pound: 2 cents

Total price: $35.60

Deductions at salebarn: $8.88

Trucking costs: $40

Farmer’s loss on sale: $13.28

Owner of the 1,780 lb. Holstein, Dave MacKay, said he was distracted by several problems around the farm when the trucker came by his place at Foresters Falls. So he told the trucker to take the "nice, fleshy Holstein," figuring he’d net about $200 for her at the Pontiac-Renfrew salebarn.

"I came into the ring (area) just as she was sold" for two cents a pound, said an annoyed MacKay.

"If I had come earlier, I would have brought her home. I only sold her because she had a small udder."

She was in good health. He estimated there were between 650 to 700 pounds of good hamburger in her along with some steaks and roasts.

Though most people put their show ribbons from prize cows on the wall of the milk house, MacKay has tacked up his sale slip, as his memorable achievement. Cows during the week of the MacKay sale were selling between 20 cents and 25 cents per pound across Ontario.