The dispersal of Jones family's noted Newfailand Holstein herd at Bristol - following two major herd reductions over the last seven years - produced a top price of 3000gns for a third calver from the herd's well known Carol family.
The need to completely refurbish the farm's dairy accommodation prompted the dispersal which followed the sale of 80 cows in 2000 and another 98 cows in 2001 to re-stock the Bridge End herd after foot and mouth.
The sale topper was from the herd's well known Carol family. Newfailand Rubens Val Carol gave 11,000kg as a heifer and is out of a 13,600kg dam by Formation. In-calf to Regancrest Dolman - and described by the vendors as "a dream of a cow" - she heads for Carmarthen with buyer Mr Thomas.
Demand for in-calf heifers maintains its feverish pace and this sale saw no shortage of cash for the best on offer. Leading call in this section was 1000gns given twice for Newfailand Lee Lila and Newfailand Igniter Amber. Both were in-calf to either Freeman or Dolman.
Newly served heifers weren't far behind with a 900gns deal securing a Lee daughter from the Elsie family that was in-calf to Dolman for February.
Young stock shortages are already starting to impact on prices and here it lifted bulling heifers to 880gns for another from the Lila family. Best of the "A" lots was an Outside calf at 620gns bred from the Corona family.
Averages: Cows and heifers £1245; in-calf and served heifers £981; bulling heifers £875; yearling heifers £695 and heifer calves £437. (Greenslade Taylor Hunt).