Quality Holsteins in demand at Borderway
The first 2015 sale for the Border and Lakeland Holstein Club took place at Borderway, Carlisle, last Wednesday (21 January), topping at 4,000gns. In total 110 head sold to average £1,734 with 27 selling for £2,000 or more, showing despite the downturn, demand for quality pedigree cows remains.
The Orton Grange herd owned by Richard Martin consigned a group of forty five cows and heifers, averaging £1,815 for a complete clearance. Trade peaked at 4,000gns for freshly second calved cow Orton Grange Design Shannon, recently classified VG86.
She was purchased by R and A Agnew, Stranraer, who also purchased Orton Grange Apple May Red VG85 2yr. May Red was sired by Big Apple Red and bred from a VG87 Buckhorn-Acres Raid dam, she sold for 2,800gns.
Overall champion went to another from the Orton herd. Orton Grange Talented Jazz Red VG88, a red and white sired by Ladino Park Talent. Thirty days fresh, she sold for 2,900gns to Andrew and Euan Lawrie, Lanark.
Orton Grange Talented Jazz Red VG88
Also sold to the same purchasers was Orton Grange Shottle Ghost, for 2,800gns. The tenth generation classified either Ex or VG from the Ghost family. She classified Ex in her third lactation only three weeks calved. Her Observer daughter had sold in the Black and White sale in 2013 for 4,500gns.
A Red Lawn Boy cow sold for 2,850gns to Holehouse Farms, Ayrshire. Orton Grange Lawnboy Velvet Red VG86 and was giving over 40kgs, she traces back to the prize winning Haresfoot Ayrshire herd.
The Lawries also snapped up two heifers in the club sale. The first, Boclair Triumphant Camilla was consigned by the Brewster family. Camilla was bred from three generations of Ex or VG cows and sold for 2,600gns. Second was a Gibbs-I Claynock Dude heifer bred from an Ex92 dam with 110t lifetime. Consigned by Wormanby Holstein, Carlisle, she sold for 2,500gns.
The reserve Champion went to Skirwith Hall Farms for Stowbeck Goldboy Anne sired by Goldboy and bred from an Ex Duncan Progress dam. She sold for 2,300gns to Barr Farm, Fife.
Stowbeck Goldboy Anne
Averages: Four cows in milk/calf, £1,317.15; 61 heifers in milk/calf, £1,702.28; 45 Orton Grange Sale, £1,815.33
(H&H)