Averages at Border and Lakeland take a dive on the month

Dairy trade peaked at 2,700gns at the Border and Lakeland Club’s March show and sale, Carlisle.

Auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington said quality was lacking overall, with trade taking a noticeable downward dive to average £1,443 (down from £1,781 on the month).

Topping trade was the day’s champion Ortongrange Atlantic Roxy VG87 from JA Martin Farms, Ortongrange, Carlisle. Sired by Maple-Downs IGW Atlantic she is out of the Donnandale Skychief daughter Ridgefield Roxy. She last calved in August and is currently giving 26.2kg daily. She sold in calf to Sandy-Valley Caspian and was the pick of the judge, Will Horsley, from the Woodcatt herd.

Second best at 2,650gns was her stablemate and the very lot in the catalogue, Ortongrange Atlantic Raquel, by the same sire but out of the Picston Shottle daughter Ortongrange Shottle Raquel. She is currently giving 41kg having calved with her second in January. Successful bidder was the Bryson family Catrine, Ayrshire.

Not far behind at 2,050gns was Espland Windbrook Anthea from DI and AA Cannon, Appleby-In-Westmoorland, Cumbria. Sired by Gilette Windbrook she is out of a homebred, Comestar Outside daughter classified VG85. Buyer was Mr. Wilson, Blackbyres.

The final 2,000gns bid went to the reserve champion Logan Attic Sonya from Brian Yates, Castle Douglas. Sired by Allyndale-I Attic she is out of a Dixie-Lee Aaron daughter classified GP83. Buyer was A Waddell and Sons, Shotts.

Averages: Eight cows in milk/calf, £1,230.38; 74 heifers in milk/calf, £1,403.91; 20 Ortongrange consignments, £1,596.

(Harrison and Hetherington)