Taking Stock

The November edition of the Border and Lakeland Club Show and Sale at Carlisle was yet another strong sale with no fewer than 10 animals sold to or above 2000gns with an overall average for cows and heifers at £1900.

The Wormanby herd from H Hodgson, Burgh-By-Sand consigned six animals to the sale of which the top price of the day came from this exciting group, Wormanby Jurist Mandy a fresh second calver, going back to Elmcroft Matt Mandy EX91, All Britain Intermediate Cow 1988; she sold for 2800gns to Smallthwaite Farms, Smallthwaite House, Calthwaite, Penrith.

They also took the championship ticket home under judge Robert Hunter from the Letterkenny Holstein herd and Clydevalley Jerseys. The EX91 Wormanby Benson Stella sold for 2500gns to Messrs Marrs and Son, Carlisle.

For the first time the UK’s biggest and most highly regarded sale of fresh calved pedigree Holstein cattle took place at two venues on consecutive days. Trade at Chelford was brisk with a top price of 3400gns for Stockport-based Stan Price and Chaterley Outside Darel which sold on the telephone to Ken Proctor, Airfield Holsteins, Norfolk.

Taking the overall championship and second highest price of the day at 3000gns was the freshly calved heifer Burlane Bossy Joie from Simon and Clare Powell, Shrewsbury. This daughter of Boss Iron is bred from four generations of VG/Ex dams and was knocked down to the show’s judge Steve Tomkinson of the Coton End herd, Staffordshire.

The first sale to be held at the Sedgemoor Auction Centre set a strong pace for Lionel and Gary Bagg’s Huntlodge dairy dispersal.

Some 54 different purchasers made the most of the opportunity to purchase well bred cattle from this herd with no less than 51 lots selling for 2000gns plus. But the day’s highlight was the VG86 Indianhead Mandelin Rachel Red, whom in her second lactation was bred from six successive generations of Excellent cows, now joins the Wentwood herd of A S Hinton.

Her August born heifer calf by Ladino Park Talent topped the A lots at 3200gns and travels to Newport, Shropshire to join the Lilleshall herd of S M Gilman and Partners.

Both the Rosina and Royalty families also stood out on the day, with Huntolodge Principal Rosina Ex90 selling with a bull contract from Cogent Breeding for 5000gns to a Carmarthen-based undisclosed bidder. Her yearling daughter Huntlodge Jordan Rosina 2 with a PLI of +£106 sold for 3000gns to local breeder Eric Puddy, for his Macroft herd.

Last weekend’s Borderway Black and White Sale saw one of the greatest consignments of young dairy genetics offered under one roof for some time.

Top price was 14,500gns for Riverdane Outside Beauty. She is a daughter of Riverdane Stormatic Beauty EX90, she has a pedigree that speaks volumes, by the All Britain senior two year old in 2006 and goes back to Rainyridge Tony Beauty EX a Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo in 1999 as a 14yr old cow. She was knocked down to R and E Butterfield from Ingleview Holsteins, Lancashire.

Selling for 10,200gns was Denmire Shottle Marie, a stylish heifer from the infamous Marie family. She goes back to Tab Marie EX94 and now joins the breeding program of A Bunting and Son, Midtown Farm, Dumfries.

Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a continuation in the strong milk trade at the annual Christmas Cracker collective sale at Taunton.

Regular consigners Roland and Simon Bugler topped the day at 2150gns twice for the second calved cow Bettiscombe Lucente Geraldine GP81 and the November calved heifer Bettiscombe Tugolo Honor with a PLI of £+154. Their superb run of 6 heifers generated the best average of the day at £2117.50.

No less than 16 of the 60 milkers sold for in excess of 2000gns. Brian Miller’s freshly calved heifer Moorshard Dixie Belle PI out of a VG85 dam sold for 2120gns. The GP83 classified Cow Lilylane Megatone Lady PI 20 out of a 12000kg dam sold for 2100gns. The four Lilylane cow and heifers sold averaged £2,034.38.

First time consigners ML Loader from Yeovil Marsh sold 9 calved heifers to average £1942.50 and topped at 2050gns for Broadleaze River Cloud.

A good entry for the first Saturday sale of the year at Taunton Livestock Centre saw a continuation in the strong dairy trade for fresh milk that ended 2007.

The markets record individual price was broken again with a top of £2220 for a pedigree heifer from John Snook of Yeovil, bought by a Devon producer. Other pedigree heifers sold to £2060 for G C B Davis, Westleigh, Tiverton.

Medium quality stock selling for between £1200 and £1500 looked dear in comparison to the best quality. Non pedigree heifers sold to £1820 for R J Popham, Highbridge and cows in their second lactation to £1580 for M J Parkhouse, Barnstaple. Messrs S and L Cook, Umberleigh sold in calf heifers to £1200 three times.

Averages: first quality cows £1450; first quality heifers £1810 (Greenslade Taylor Hunt).

An exceptional weekly entry of 80 Holstein cows and heifers saw a fantastic trade for a really high quality entry at Taunton, Somerset on Saturday.

With eight entries over £2000, a market record, last weeks record price of £2220 was beaten three times to a new record of £2540 for a calved heifer from R Puddy and Son purchased by local farmer Barry Coombes.

Others from the same vendor sold at at £2310, £2270, £2180 and £2100 and second calvers to £2000. This vendors 16 heifers averaged £1966 and eight cows averaged £1531.

Other leading prices to £1940 for a pedigree heifer from R Wilcox, Clevedon and also D Pyle, Exeter. Non pedigree cows to £1820 from B Jackson, Wincanton and to £1800 for M J Parkhouse of Barnstaple.

Incalf heifers sold to £1340 for E T Summerfield and Son, Oxford, with yearlings selling to £760 for B Jackson.

The monthly Border & Lakeland Pedigree Holstein Show & Sale once again resulted in a very competitive trade for the complete variety of type and pedigrees.

Interestingly trade for cows was a fair bit stronger than for heifers but this was more a reflection of the quality of each, plus the fact that many of the younger heifers lacked a little condition.

With five animals over 2000gns peaking at 2600gns for the well bred Ingleview Crew Cathy EX90, sired by Olivia Lausan Crew, a Storm by Comestar Lausan Black and out of an EX90 Be-Ware Juror Geno dam.

This fresh 3rd calver was Reserve Champion to the very smart fresh heifer shown by Messrs Gaitskell of Highfield, Boustead Hill, and bred by the late Ian Bouch, by Rubens from a commercial type pedigree this Overall Champion made 2050gns to Messrs Stewart, Smallholmburn, Hightae.

Second highest price, 2350gns was a smart Morty daughter from an Excellent Miley Gilbert cow with an exceptional butter fat and protein pedigree, she was from regular top consignors Messrs Hodgson of Wormanby.

All in all it was an exceptional trade but down a little on last month.

Averages: 12 cows in milk £1747.38; 46 heifers in milk £1588.92 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Kivells, auctioneers, who run livestock centres at Holsworthy, Liskeard and Hallworthy, have seen a very impressive increase in trade in stock for 2007 compared to 2006.

The biggest change was in the sale of store cattle where a 39% increase was seen with total sales just shy of 20,000 head of stock. In the dairy cow auctions, auctioneer Mark Bromell also saw a significant increase with their business improving nearly 8%.

In the prime cattle section it was a similar story of a 7.2% increase and in the store sheep section an increase of 14%. Auctioneer and partner of Kivells, David Kivell, said, “It is really exciting to see our livestock sales improving at an impressive rate with both cattle and sheep sales showing real improvement.

Our livestock markets offer tremendous competition between an increased number of buyers which gives potential for high returns on stock values and they also play a vital role in the social calendar which does much to dissolve the rural isolation experienced by many in the farming world”.

Kivells have now introduced two new regular auctions to their sales calendar in the livestock markets to include weekly sales of prime stock, cattle and sheep at Hallworthy in North Cornwall and regular monthly red markets of TB-restricted cattle and cows at Holsworthy.

They’ve often caused a stir in the show ring as well as round the sale ring when they’ve been buying, but now all eyes are on Smiddiehill as they sell their noted Holstein and Jersey herd next month at Bristol.

In just six years, the extravagant rise to prominence of these two remarkable herds is a story that will be part of cattle breeding history for some years to come. And with 47 prize winning animals catalogued, there’s no doubt the sale will rise to the occasion.

Under the management of David and Bev Bostock, the herd has 16 Excellent and 25 Very Good cows and an average of 11,628kg, 4.21% fat and 3.20% protein and in the smaller Jersey herd 5 Excellent and 4 Very Good cows and an average 7657kg and 5.42% fat.

Smiddiehill have won 30 breed championships and have dominated the most recent National Holstein show winning all four banners. The herd is ranked third on PLI in the UK and averages 89 points for the Holsteins and 90 points for the Jerseys.

Two of the championships at Scotland’s South West Dairy Show held at Castle Douglas have gone to Wigtownshire breeders.

More than 60 of the top dairy animals in the region took part in the competition held at Wallets Marts with the championship in the Ayrshire classes going to Messrs M W and A Stevenson of Kirminnoch, Stranraer, with their second calver Stevenson's Buttercup 50 which was born in June, 2003 and was sired by McCornick's Nelson.

Buttercup produced 8700 litres at 4% butterfat as a heifer with 3.3% protein. The Stevensons who currently run a herd of 160 cows also won the exhibitor bred championship and the award for the best udder.

Selling prices went through the roof at February’s Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton Auction Mart this week when 11 cattle sold for over £2000 and the top-priced animal set a new record at £2,650

A fresh calved Holstein Friesian heifer from Robin Jennings, Ripon, established a new high when knocked down to Derek Calvert, of A Calvert and Sons, Paythorne. Mr Calvert also paid the day’s second highest price of £2520 when securing the show champion, a freshly calved heifer giving 30kg from Robert Phillip, Hellifield.

From M Baul and Partners, Harrogate, the third prize in the class sold for £2500 to Henry Wilson, of Kelbrook, while the second prize freshly calved heifer, also from Mr Jennings, made £2120 when sold to G Parker, Huddersfield.

Best of the fresh calved cows was an entry from A Lawson and Son, Otley, which joined Abbot Bros, Harrogate, for £2200. The runner-up from T and E Simpson, Ripon, sold for £2300 to John Whittaker, Laneshawbridge, Colne.

The 125 cattle forward included a dispersal sale of the entire 63-strong Humberside Holstein Friesian dairy herd of Andrew and Susan Wells, Hull.
They achieved joint top prices of £1880 for a freshly calved heifer sold to Martin Jennings, Cowling, and a third calver that joined John Whittaker. Their in-calf heifers sold to a top price of £1540.

If the catalogue is anything to go by tomorrow's Smiddiehill dispersal at Bristol Livestock Centre is going to be a scorcher.....I can't wait!

I shall attempt to bring you updated coverage from the ringside providing "modern technology" lets me!!

I'm not even going to hazard a guess at what will make the money.......I had a chat with auctioneer Tom Brooksbank of Norton and Brooksbank the other day and we're both of the opinion we could see some serious money spent. Trade for quality dairy cattle is going through the roof at the moment - we've already seen bids in the 10,000gns region at the Painely sale a couple of weeks back so who knows what this one will do!

Rest assured the world and his wife will be out on force tomorrow! I just hope the daughter of a certain cloned animal doesn't take the edge of things. I've read some pretty stupid stuff in the national press about it - I just wish these reporters would speak to people in the know to get their facts. I had to laugh when the Daily Mail ran a picture of her, or so they thought. She did well to calve down and have a full bag seeing as she was only born last year!!!!

Purchasers from ‘clean’ bluetongue areas made the most of one of the last opportunities to purchase dairy cattle from Dorset before it is closed down under movement restrictions. The announcement of the end of the vector free period meant a frantic rush for auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt to catalogue and farmer EG Cox and Sons to prepare, 340 Holsteins for sale at Higher Berechapel Farm, Clapton, Crewkerne on Thursday.

No less than 34 lots sold for over 2000gns to a top of 2600gns twice for a 60kg third lactation pedigree cow ‘Stourbere Tug Winnie’ by the homebred ‘Stour Tug’ bull. Her heifer calf by ‘Littlebredy Outsider’ sold for 450gns.

She was matched by the second lactation ‘Stourbere Mars Patacake 9th’ that had calved at the end of February. She was by Ricecrest Marshall and giving 41kg daily.

A strong entry of 350 head of mostly commercial dairy cattle were forward for Wright Manley's mid month sale at Beeston Castle Auction, whihc saw prices hit the £2000 barrier yet again.

The sale included a major reduction from Henry Ormrod of Marchweil and a complete milking portion from E T Jackson and Son, Birmingham, as well as the usual served and maiden heifers and cavles from various consignors.

Top price was £2180 for the pedigree heifer Cavenham Roy Palma from Richard Thompson, Derbyshire. This fresh calved heifer had been calved 10 days and sold giving 30kg a day to a regular Cheshire buyer.

Next in line was Wick Williams, Nantwich who gave £2150 for a pedigree heifer from Mick Gould, Shrewsbury. A further seven animals broke the £2000 barrier.

There’s no room for shy bidders around dairy sale rings in the west country as prices continue to firm across all categories of dairystock. And when the Westwayne Holstein herd went under the hammer this week at the Sedgemoor Auction Centre at Bridgwater there was another flying trade with served heifers almost equalling the milkers when they achieved an average of £1009.

The herd, offered for R L Jones and Sons, Wiveliscombe, Somerset comprised 207 head farmed on land rising to 700ft. And the most sought after was the second calver Westwayne Doris 9th – a daughter of Avenham Westminster giving 28.6kg on the day despite having been calved for over seven months. She heads for Taunton with P Down at 2080gns.

Gillingham, Dorset buyer S Simmons paid 2050gns for Westwayne Sunday 14th, a cow by Ridge-Star Justy that calved her fourth in January and was giving 37.4kg.

There were two bids of 1820gns – one to secure another second calver by Westminster and one for a third lactation non-pedigree entry.

Averages: 108 dairy cows £1197; 51 served heifers £1009; 21 yearling and younger heifers £536 and 15 heifer calves £500.

Topping trade at Bentham Auction Market's March Milker day was P and M Crackles and Sons' heifer which sold to A and E Johnstone and Sons, Carlisle for £2800.

The Johnstone's also paid£2300 for the champion again from the Crackle family.

The third prize ticket from R and E Butterfield, Bentham sold for £2200 to J R boothman.

In the freshly calved section, W J and J M Lawson, Westhouse sold to £1680 to D Mason and Sons.

A third calving cow from the Norman family topped last week’s Annual Spring Fever sale at Sedgemoor Auction Centre selling for 2350gns.

David and Valerie Norman’s Chavenage ASP Queen, a December calved third lactation cow giving 40kg sold to R down, Taunton. Close behind at 2100gns was Ciderhouse Deb Seaspray from D J Norman, Sherborne. This March second calver by Ciderhouse Debonair sold to Mr Searle, Axminster.

Derek and Jeremy Dennis’ Dinnaton Bart Out Odette, having calved her second in March sold for 2020gns to an undisclosed buyer.

Eight heifer calves from the Sandyhill herd of J N R and D Norris generated tremendous interest showing the shortage of youngstock currently available. A three month old heifer Sandyhill Gaiety 158 by Doolhof December and out of a 10,000kg dam sold for 780gns to Mr symms, Sherborne.

Holstein Bulls sold to Messrs Thomas, Umberleigh at 1300gns for the Dennis’ 20 month old Dinnaton Macmillan by Roylan Jordan.

A first for Sedgemoor was a consignment of 40 Gurnsey youngsters from Maurice and Philip Durbin’s Bickfield herd. In-calf heifers sold to 1000gns for Bickfield Rainbow 51 with a PLI of +£56. By Slindon Posies Ambionic and due in September to Bickfield Venus Stargazer, she sold to Blandford-based chettle Guernsey Cream.

Averages: Holstein calved cows £2019; calved heifers £1680; bulls £1141; calves £720; Guernsey in-calf heifers £808; served heifers £647 (Greenslade Taylor Hunt).

Trade was remarkably good this week at the Western Holstein Club sale despite the split of Beeston Castle Auction for the sale of animals in the clean zone and Chelford Market, for animals in the surveillance zone.

Beeston saw 12 cows and 17 heifers on sale, all selling, with seven breaking the 2000gns barrier. Top price on the day was 2450gns for Milwr Igniter S Julie, a fresh heifer consigned by Graham Pierce, Chester, to C E Walley, Chester. Only two out of six bulls sold for a top of 780gns.

Champion was Danevalley Roy Posh 4 a second calved cow by Roylane Jordan, selling for 2400gns. Consigned by A L Moore and Partners of Byley she sold to Aubrey Greenhalgh, Preston on behalf of a client.

Chelford saw a similar number of animals on offer. Champion was two year old Styche Rubens Laura Red, selling for 2300gns to Rob Bell, Knutsford by Seaton Farms of Audlem.

Reserve champion Bidlea Albertson Lively, from Ray Brown and Partners, Holmes Chapel, was also purchased by Rob Bell for 1900gns.

Phil Wynn of Ashacres Holsteins, Whitchurch, purchased two tops priced heifers. Sterndale Jordan Barb from WJ Nadin and Co, Buxton made 2100gns and Saxelby September Marie sold for 1900gns.

The first part of the Molton herd’s dispersal sale kicked off with a flying start taking just two and half hours to sell the 211 heifers. Buyers from many parts of the South West were joined by others from Somerset, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire.

Sale leader was one and a half year old Molton Home Gretal 56, a served heifer and daughter of Moet Nansen. She was sold for 1650gns to Wales Scott Holsteins, Taunton, Somerset.

Wales Scott Holstein also went on to purchase Molton Park Elf for 1520gns, a one and a half year recently served heifer, daughter of Hanno ET.

A dispersal sale of an entire South Shropshire dairy herd planned for Friday has been postponed to later this year.

Shropshire auctioneers Halls were due to hold the sale of a herd of 269 Holstein Friesian dairy cattle at Poplars Farm, Brockton, Much Wenlock on behalf of Messrs E G Brown and Sons following a decision to dissolve the farming partnership.

Halls' director David Giles said a decision had been taken at short notice to postpone the auction to a future date.

Due to bluetongue zoning among other reasons, the X Factor Holstein fixture due to take place at Borderway Mart has been cancelled and the relevant dairy sales have been merged in to one sale on the 16th April.

That day will see 53 pedigree Holsteins forward followed by a spring sale of coloured dairy cattle including 6 red and whites and 16 Jerseys.

Judging takes place at 10am followed by the sale at 11am.

High prices continued at Wright Manley mid month sale, despite split of the sale due to bluetongue into Beestson and Chelford Market.

Beeston saw 16 animals making more than £1700 with top price of £2220 being achieved for heifer Preston Goddess. Consigned by EV and B Boughey and Son she sold to Messrs D J Guy, Middlewich.

£2060 was achieved for fresh calved heifer, sold by Messrs WJ Lewis and Co to Messrs P and A Howard, Darnhall.

Young stock sold well with bulling heifer, Delwin Dugan Sheila consigned by Messrs RC Rutter and son selling for £920 to an undisclosed buyer.

A super consignment of well grown heifers from Messrs HA Challoner and Sons, sired in main by Deslacs Milkstar of Summershade Igniter, were keenly sought selling for £1000 to Messrs D B Beech.

Strong trade was seen at the Walker family's Aylesford disposal sale, Melton Mowbray, with non pedigree milk recorded Holsteins going under the hammer. Purchasers flocked from as far field as Shropshire and Norfolk as well as local counties.

Top price was £2300 for fresh calved daughter of Isidorus Kermit sold with her second calf giving 42kg out of a 13,000 kg dam. She was bought by Messrs Swift, Staffordshire.

A quality display of freshly calved pedigree cows and heifers from Holstein, Ayrshire and the Jersey breeds dominated proceedings at Borderway Mart.

Trade reflected the current shortage of milking animals within the UK with a record average of £2238.

Top price went to the reserve champion, selling for 3800gns to the Logan herd owned by the Yates family. Kellywell Outside Doll consigned by David Robinson descends from the famous Doll family developed at Crudwell. She came from four generations of high scoring Ex cows.

Judge for the day was Richard Baynes from the Marleycote herd, who found his champion in the form of a heifer in milk from the Davidson family. Errolston Fordson Sheilah was sired by Bilsrow Fordson a young sire from Cogent and sold for 2800gns going to A and B Bargh, Woodclose, Skelton, Penrith.

Despite only 27 lots, the Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ spring show and sale of dairy cattle saw a top bid of 3000gns for the champion.

The overall championship went to Thainstone exhibitor Stephen Moar, Maud with the February 2005-born Cluny Ace Glenna, an Oseeana Integrity Ace sired heifer in milk yielding 34kg a day. She led trade at 3000gns to judge Callum Innes, Nairn.

Becoming part of the bluetongue surveillance zone has paid off handsomely for Bishop Thornton farmers M Baul and Partners when they landed a debut April Craven Dairy Auction championship success on Monday.

Before the move, the Bauls, of Watergate Farm, which falls within the surveillance zone, would have been prevented from trading at Skipton as the mart is in a clear area less than 6km outside the boundary.

It now means that previously excluded stock from Nidderdale and West Yorkshire, including Calderdale and Kirklees, can again be sold at Skipton alongside clear area livestock, as the mart makes a concerted effort to boost both entry numbers and choice.

The Craven Dairy Auction champion, a freshly calved heifer is a product of the Bauls’ Ravensgate pedigree Holstein Friesian herd, being by the Genus bull Roylane Jordan, out of a home-bred cow. She sold for £1500 to Calderdale buyer Ian Dodson, Ripponden.

Mr Dodson's other acquisitions included the first prize newly-calven cow at £1,280 from Robert Crisp, of Calton, Skipton, and a freshly calved heifer from Raymond and Robert Johnson, Harrogate, at £1900 – top price of the day.

Maiden heifers sold to a top price of £660, this entry from G R Bretherton, Preston, bought by Stephen Abbott, Harrogate.

Bluetongue restrictions did not prevent a large turnout at the dispersal of David and Frank Legge commercial herd of Holstein Friesians, Leominster.

Strong competition saw top price of 2000gns seen for a second calver giving 35kgs daily and recording 7081kgs as a heifer. She was sold to M Lower and Son, Withington, Hereford.

A Mandel Bombay daughter, due with her third calf in two weeks time, sold for 1900gns having recorded 7918kgs as a 2nd calver. She was purchased along with two other heifers carrying May calves by J C and R A Meredith, Ullingswick, Herford.

A call of 1820gns secured a 6828kg heifer due in June with a calf by Miklin Luke Glenn. She was sold to ET Morris and Sons, Orcop, Hereford, along with an 8328kg heifer due in June bought for 1800gns.

The four year old non pedigree stock bull was sold for 1800gns to P P Adams and Sons, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

Overall £1027.44 was the average cost made for cows and heifers in milk and/or with no calf. Served heifers made on average £874.12.

Selling for 2950gns at last weeks dispersal of the Fairburn Holstein herd at Borderway Mart, Carlisle was a Joylan Roxell daughter out of a VG 87 dam.

Having calved in February she sold giving 29kg to W R Stewart, Mauchline, Ayrshire.

N and S J Sanderson, Lanercost, Brampton purchased an Aquila Patron Lucente daughter for 2100gns in calf to Calypso due at the end of June.

Also at the same money was Fairburn Trusty, a Roylane Jordan daughter. This wide uddered heifer was purchased by C D and C Somerville, Carrutherstown, Dumfries.

Heading back to the Highlands was Fairburn Kay purchased by P Stephen, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire for 2000gns. Sired by Stardale Beattie, she recently calved on the 1 March giving almost 30kg. Her dam was a Chairman Valiant daughter with more than 11,000kg in both third and forth lactations.

Two strong animals in the youngstock section were both purchased by Messrs Fiddler, Southwaite, Carlisle, for 2000gns. The first was sired by Joylan Roxell from an EX Grand dam and the second by Brilea Canyon from a Jordan dam.

Commercial dairy cow prices continue to rise and at the dispersal of the Charles family’s herd at Frankley near Birmingham bidding reached 2300gns.

The call came from local buyers S and A May, Bromsgrove for a first calver that was due with her second to Joylan Roxell in August. The same buyers also gave 2100gns for a Painley Knightingale daughter that dropped her second last September but was still giving 35kg.

There was no shortage of bids over 2000gns: another Knightingale second calver made 2100gns to J G and C A Bayley, Nuneaton with Cheshire dairy farmers G and M Platt, Macclesfield giving 2050gns for a first calver due again in August. Served heifers reached 1550gns. Averages: 11 calved heifers £1593; 87 cows £1122; 12 served heifers £1345 and 17 bulling heifers £848. (Gwilym Richards and Co).

A capacity crowd produced a blistering trade for dairy cattle and left buyers with some hefty averages when Holstein and Jersey cattle were offered at a collective sale at Sedgemoor Auction Centre in Somerset. Bidding reached 2550gns with calved Holstein cows levelling at £2128.

Nick Goss of Devizes, Wiltshire entered four smart calved heifers from his Camelot herd to average £2307. His first in the ring - Posh Allentown Berinze - topped the day. By Bluenose Allentown, she'd been calved nine days and was giving 27kg.

David and Valerie Norman consigned 16 head from their well known Ciderhouse herd at Sherborne, Dorset and achieved a best of 2290gns for a calved heifer by their own bull Ciderhouse Promotion. Two 11-month-old heifers from the Ciderhouse herd led the youngstock at 1320gns each.

  A month after bagging a first-ever Craven Dairy Auction championship, M Baul and Partners, of Watergate Farm, Bishop Thornton, Harrogate, pulled of a second consecutive success when again taking the title at the May show. (Mon, May 19)

As in April, the spoils went to a newly-calven heifer from the Bauls' Ravensgate pedigree Holstein Friesian herd, a product of the young, up-and coming Genus bull Coldsprings Hatley, out of a home-bred dam.

Awarded the BOCM Pauls Dairy Cup, the title winner, giving 35 kilos, sold for £2,000 to show judge Ian Dobson, of Sowerby Bridge, who also netted a £60 cash bonus as purchaser of the champion from Farmers & Mercantile Insurance Brokers, of Boroughbridge.

Top price at the monthly fixture, sponsored by Chris Pearson, of animal health products specialist Pearsons Farm Supplies, West Marton, fell to the third prize newly-calven heifer from Mark Falshaw, of Gargrave, sold for £2,140 to Roger Wood, of Cross Roads, Keighley.

The May Border & Lakeland monthly Club Show and Sale saw a small show of fresh pedigree Holstein cows and heifers.

Top price of the day went to the 2^nd prize cow in milk, Ingleview Cousteau Asta VG85 from the famous herd owned by R&E Butterfield, this stylish young cow was bred from 5 Generations of Very Good or Excellent dams and sold for 2500gns to JT Marrs, Broomhills.

Second top price went to W Armour's Roylane Jordan daughter, Annandale Jordan Liz, giving 40kg a day and bred from 6 generations of EX or VG dams she sold for 2400gns to CD&C Somerville, Braehill Farm, Carrutherstown.

The Western Holstein Club's split sale at Beeston and Chelford saw trade top at 4100gns for heifers, while cows met a top price of 4000gns.

The leading heifer at Chelford was the reserve champion, Painley James Fran 9, who sold having calved in April and now giving 33kg a day. She was purchased by Martin Monkton, Nantwich. He also bought the red and white heifer Whartonspool CD Gen Red for 2600gns.