Taking Stock

Breeders from Devon, West Wales, Somerset and neighbouring counties assembled at Ross Market for the sale of Eryl and Eirian Done's entire heifer crop from their first class Wyevalley herd. They were joined by five consignments from fellow breeders with connections to the herd - pics to follow soon.

Leading the bidding was the outstanding yearling heifer Wyevalley Dellia Darlene ET PI, a Shottle daughter whose sister topped the last Wyevalley sale at 3200gns in 2004. Her dam was an 88 point Duster with 11,164kg in her 3rd lactation - a grand daughter of the world renowned Snow-N Denises Dellia EX-95, the mother of Regancrest Elton Durham. She stays in the county with local breeder D J Smith of the Wennetune herd.

Trade for dairy cows continues to be strong with the mid month sale at Beeston Castle Auction, proving no exception to the rule.

The sale received a good entry of 128 head with several animals busting the £1100 mark.

Leading trade was a Holstein heifer from Messrs J C & D Hunter, Hertfordshire. Ashlyns Iron Marina is a daughter of Boss Iron, which calved at the end of February and was giving just short of 30kg and was snapped up for £1240 by Norman Tomkinson, Gnosall.

Tipped as the sale topper by owners David and Pam Hiles of Yockings Gate Farm, Whitchurch, as well as many ringside enthusiasts on the day, was Yockings Gate Almond Morty Avis selling for 4500gns at Beeston Castle today.

And digging deep in to his pockets to make the top bid was Southern Ireland breeder Peter Kingston.

Topping trade for calves were the two embryo heifers from the sale topper, in the form of Picston Shottle daughters Shottle Avis A and Shottle Avis B, selling for 2600gns and 2000gns (pictured with mum below) respectively, to Mr Gilman.

An amazingly strong trade saw a top price of £1320 on two occasions at Kivells' recent show and sale of dairy cattle.

Messrs S R Gilbert & Son, Sheepwash realised the top price with a fresh calved pedigree heifer and Mr & Mrs D Brown of Buckland Brewer also took top price with one of their freshly calved heifers, part of a consignment of nine heifers which averaged £1107.

Lancaster, once a Mecca for Holstein sales, savoured some of its former glory last week when a star-studded entry and three tempting consignments produced 11 bids over 2000gns and a top price of 6000gns.

Reminiscent of this centre's hey day, the market was crammed with 200 head of cattle including 20 lots from the Smiddiehill herd that were guaranteed to entice even the most hard-pressed milk producers into some springtime spending.

The Smiddiehill cattle levelled at £2500 and not surprisingly included the day's 6000gns entry. Smiddiehill Roman Thelma couldn't fail to impress with her stature and style. At 27-months, this freshly calved daughter of Bosside Roma Roman is out of the twice 12,000kg-plus Smiddiehill Lucente Thelma.

With her place booked at the National Holstein Show, she heads for the Eola herd of Ian Harries in south Wales after being snapped up following some determined bidding from Mr Harries' son Owain who had taken time off from his studies at Harper Adams to secure the heifer.

Tuesday's sale at Beeston Castle consisted of the Nivelle and Northernline Herds of Pedigree Holsteins, following a change in direction of the business of R & A Ryan of Forncett St. Peter, Norwich who have decided to accept a new share farming opportunity with Sir Nicholas Bacon of nearby Raveningham.

This change in business development involved them taking a proportion of their herd with them; in so doing they decided to take most of the older cows and all the young stock leaving the younger part of the milking portion of the herd for sale.

Prior to this new development in their business, last year they embarked upon on an expansion plan and part of this was the purchase of the entire Stibbard Herd from North Norfolk and it was cows carrying this prefix that dominated the leading bids of the sale.

Commercial cows built on strong pedigrees met a strong trade at last week's Coteswood herd dispersal for John and Ivan Tivey.

Topping the trade was Coteswood Edelrose 10, a 2002 born cow by Dado Luke Montu and in-calf to Smiddiehill Knighthawk.

Youngstock were also a strong trade with the 17 heifer calves averaging £374 and hitting 480gns twice.

Buyers flocked from far and wide to buy these well bred cows, with auctioneers Norton and Brooksbank reporting a strong contingent of west country and northern buyers.

Bidding was steady at yesterday's dispersal of the Keldmoor Holstein herd for the Thompson family, Claxton, York, with a top price of 2300gns for lot 132, Keldmoor Jackson Lisa.

Lisa, who is rated VG-86 is by Weeton Jackson and out of homebred cow Keldmoor Leadership Lisa.

AI'd last September to Gillette Final Cut, Lisa had given 6373 litres by day 221 of her first lactation and is currently giving just over 30kg a day.

Next top bid was 1350gns, with Keldmoor Lyster Eltona following quickly behind at 1250gns.

Having competed against an elite and somewhat expensive line up at this year's National Holstein Show at Stafford, the Cumbria-based Mallinson family took the top title with Carhall Lyster Elizabeth.

The August 2003-born is by Tcet Lyster and out of Wiltor Cousteau Elizabeth. The second calver is currently giving 53 litres a day at 4.58% butterfat and 2.3% protein, having just calved 35 days ago.

A trip to yesterday's National Holstein Show, was I have to admit one of the few things in life I felt I could really do without.

As a sheep farmer with a leaning to beef too, spending the day surrounded by hoards of black and whites never has been my idea of a fun day out. However, the dairy industry really must be congratulated on putting on tremendous show.

Assembling more than 350 cattle of one breed in one place is quite a task and one which the show organisers appeared to take in their stride.

Everything ran to time and never was a cow or handler out of place. A lesson many summer shows would do well to learn.

The good weather last week must have drawn the crowds out to pack the ringside at Holsworthy market, as Kivells auctioneers have just reported one of their best trading days since 2000.

Wednesday saw over 2500 livestock entries with just over 1000 head of cattle. Trade was excellent, with some 220 dairy cattle forward, with 45 of those fetching in excess of £1000.

Kivells head of dairy department Mark Bromell reckons this level of interest and transactions made reflects a buoyancy in the current market, a trend I'm sure the market is keen to see continue.

The champion dairy exhibit selling at Kivells......

Carmarthenshire buyers D and G Henry paid the day's two highest prices of 1450gns and 1420gns when the Arckel Holstein herd was dispersed for Phil and Liz Clarke at Frankley, Birmingham.

Top call came for a fresh third calver by Conant Acres C B Alonzo with the 1420gns bid securing another third calver. A heifer by a home-bred bull made 1420gns to W Beckett, Stourbridge, Worcestershire with another calved heifer by Etazon Perot selling at 1300gns to W Bennett and Son, Newent, Gloucestershire.

Autumn calving heifers peaked at 920gns twice - they were part of a wagon load of 12 claimed by L Jones, Cardigan.

Averages 83 cows £1069; 45 yearlings £831 and 17 autumn calving heifers £831 (Gwilym Richards and Co).

Having first registered in 1984, four generations of the Bewes family have milked dairy cattle at Suddon Farm, so the recent dispersal sale gave buyers a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase from a herd with special significance.

Kivells farm department successfully sold the farm and auctioned the entire herd as well as machinery, trade levelled across the board with an overall average for milking and dry cows coming in at £1064.

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 top quality, well bred Holsteins is still high and in some cases exceptional and this month's Western Holstein Club sale at Beeston was no exception. Trade was even stronger than last month levelling 60 heifers at £1252 and producing a top price of 1600gns.

Once again it was Shrewsbury-based breeders Mick and Jean Gould who topped the entry with the calved heifer Woodmarsh Jackson Akregloss 135 after taking the reserve championship under judge Jeremy Platt of the Lachstone herd. By Weeton Jackson and out of a 15,200kg dam by Rudolph, she stays in the Midlands with Mike Heath, Newport.

Collecting the tricolour were Wem herd owners Brian and Leonora Whitfield with Alderbarrow Storm Cortje - a fresh second calver by Maughlin Storm. She realised 1500gns to Aubrey Greenhalgh buying for a Fife-based client.

Matching the bid at 1500gns was Doveland Talisman Trixy from G and A E Smith and Sons, Preston. Buyer was E M Gregory, Glossop. A third 1500gns call secured Woodmarsh Lucente Dorothy 7 taken by J Hocknell, Holmes Chapel.

A consignment from Peter Rutter's Bardell herd at Nantwich reached 1700gns for a fifth calver by Outside taken by local bidders M and J Hassall and Sons,

Averages: 60 heifers £1252; 15 cows £1107 and 16 bulls £1112. (Wright Manley).

A great crowd of breeders and commercial milk producers descended on Rackery Farm, Burton, Nr. Rossett, Wrexham for the sale of the entire milking portion of Andrew and Jenny Jones' noted Rossett Herd, auctioned by Wright Manley.

Renowned followers of the Canadian breeding philosophy, they decided to sell their cows and start again with the in-calf heifers. This generally young herd calved all year round and averaged over 9400 kg, 4.18% butterfat and 3.28% protein combined with some 80 EX or VG animals catalogued.

Buyers gathered from all over the country and cattle were distributed from southern Scotland to South Wales and Northern Ireland. Top price was 3800gns for Rossett Stormatic Maria (VG88 3yr), a young cow, bred from four generations of EX homebred dams, who calved her second last September and is due again in August to Gillette Final Cut. She was purchased by Cameron Baty on behalf of a client.

Buyers from as far a field as Kent, Cheshire and Lancashire, as well as a strong crowd of local farmers gathered at Derby Market for the dispersal of the highly productive Intwood herd property of Intwood Farms Ltd, Norwich.

Bidding was aggressive throughout the day for this high yielding herd with 17 individuals breaking the four figure mark. Top price of the day was 1250gns for Intwood Ena GP-84 (lot 44), a tall and stylish young cow, sired by Boss Iron.

Having given over 10,000kg as a heifer, she was sold currently giving over 40kg/day in her second lactation. Successful buyers were E Morley & Sons of Kirk Langley, Derby.

The same buyers also took the joint next high price, paying 1140gns for Intwood Echo GP-82 (lot 52). Being a daughter of the great Roylane Jordan, this young cow sold dry and due with her second calf in early June.

Milk was not the only thing in demand on the day with all ages of youngstock attracting keen interest. Topping the trade for in-calf heifers was a daughter of Avenham Westminster, selling for 980gns. Due in June, she makes her way down to her Kent based new owners.

Younger calves were again in demand selling up to 500gns for a September born daughter of Modesto.

This successful sale brings about the end of milk production at Intwood Farms and the closing chapter of one of Norfolks oldest established herds.

Averages:116 lots £828 (Norton and Brooksbank)

The hard work and efforts of Phil Nicholls and family paid off at their Dairy Dispersal conducted by auctionners Greenslade Taylor Hunt at Cricklake Farm, Wedmore on Tuesday.

No less than 20 cows and heifers sold for 1000gns plus to top at 1300gns for the March calved Duncan Progress daughter that was giving 35 kg with an scc of 28. Cows sold well with a March second calver and an April third calver both selling to 1200gns.

The recent strong incalf heifer trade continued with the three catalogued averaging £955.50. Two pedigree bulling heifers that were purchased as calves for the children to show topped their section at 670gns for "Luccombe Principal Doreen 2nd" a Crichel Principal daughter with a PLI of +£22.

Yearling heifers reached 490gns for daughters of the "Townlaw Shergar" bull.

A well supported day generated the following excellent averages:-

Dairy cows and heifers (inc A lots) £909.40
Calved heifers £1218.00
Incalf heifers £955.50
Bulling heifers £571.38
Yearling and younger heifers £388.50
Heifer calves £227.06

Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt held their largest collective sale ever at Taunton Livestock Centre on Tuesday. The pedigree entry which included two dispersal sales saw a total clearance with 110 head from cows to calves averaging £1029.

Joint top price of the day was 1600gns, firstly from Les and Karen Bennett's Lillylane Herd being an April calved heifer "Lillylane Meagson Baby 30th" by the homebred "Lillylane Magason" bull and out of a VG88 dam and secondly from David and Valerie Norman's Ciderhouse herd "Ciderhouse Stormatic Lou Etta" a VG85 April calved heifer out of an Ex90 10,000kgs dam.

There was no way herd manager David Jones was going to let anyone get in his way when he went on a spending spree to add even more jewels to the Sheikha Alkhalifa's Sahara Holstein herd. At last weekend's dispersal of Andrew Hodge's noted Cheviotview herd at Borderway Mart, he claimed the three most sought after lots paying a total of 32,800gns to include the day's highest priced lot at 14,000gns.

Moved from its home at Duns, Berwickshire, the Cheviotview herd presented 289 head to both colour factions of Holstein aficionados. And it was the March-calved heifer Cheviotview Talent August - bred out of the red-and-white Kepculloch Rubens August Red - that stirred the ringside into action late in the day.

Despite a battery of determined bids from many of her admirers who had seen this heifer head the junior heifer in-milk class at the National Holstein Show this year, David Jones maintained his resolve and secured her for the Sheikha Alkhalifa's herd in Monmouthshire. She had been recorded giving 38.8kg after 29 days; her dam had topped 12,200kg with her third.

Re-stocked after foot-and-mouth, the Cheviotview herd had assembled a wealth of exciting cows from deeply bred families which offered many showmen the chance to snap-up sure-fire winners for the coming season.

A consistent trade averaged £1150 and twice topped at 3000gns for the 191 head of dairy cattle forward at Messrs Pyle and Sons' Hemburyfort herd dispersal sale last week.

Fresh calved animals and those due in the summer were in great demand with almost none failing to achieve four-figure prices, with some 23 lots making 1500gns or more.

These included two cows bred by David and Paul Andrews from Plymouth; Beneknowle Blackjack Satin 11 PI EX-93 a 2000gns purchase in 2004 made the sales top price to Messrs F H Chave and Sons for their Peacehay herd near Wellington in Somerset.

The Vaakje family is a great feature of the Beneknowle herd and an EX93 Convincer, also purchased in 2004 for 2000gs by Mr Pyle, fetched 3000gns selling to Messrs C Thomas and Son for their Cliftures herd near Penryn in Cornwall. Vaakje is the ninth generation to be scored EX or VG and sold four months calved giving 47kg a day.

A contingent of buyers from west Wales were in determined form and included Kevin Thomas of Allstar Holsteins who purchased 14 cows including the much admired Barrina Integrity Rosalie EX93 at 2700gns and Hemburyfort Ermyntrude 26 VG86 two-year old at 2200gns - the top priced milking heifer. Messrs T I Pritchard and Son from Llandybie in Carmarthenshire secured 17 head and other major buyers included Parkham Farms from North Devon and Mr R J Goaman from Okehampton.

Averages: 137 cows £1182; 43 calved heifers £1252; 7 served heifers £1008 (Norton and Brooksbank with Greenslade, Taylor Hunt).

Trade was consistently strong from start to finish at the dispersal sale of the Boarstall herd of pedigree Holstein Friesians for Alan and John Read at Brill, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, with half of the milking section making four figure prices conducted by Gwilym Richards.

Top price was 1180gns for the freshly calved heifer Boarstall Finley Winnie, a daughter of Opsal Finley and out of a 9498kg Moet Elsas Contest cow. Buyers were Stockbridge Farms, Henlow, Bedfordshire.

Hampshire buyers, Newton Valance Farms, Alton, purchased 20 cattle including second calver Boarstall Meadow Satin sired by Eastview Meadowlord. She had recorded 8115kgs as a heifer and was six weeks into her second lactation giving 45.8kg daily. Her dam was a 10,897kg Carousel Amos daughter.

Yorkshire Dales dairy farmer Robert Crisp, exhibiting on behalf of his mother Sheila, bagged a debut Craven Dairy Auction championship success at the May show at Skipton Auction Mart.

The Crisps, from Nelson Farm, Calton, took the title with their newly-calven Holstein Friesian commercial cow, a second calver by the Cogent bull Jasper, out of a cow bred by Colin's sister Elsa Rushton, of Wigglesworth. Giving six-and-a-half gallons, the victor sold for £1220 to Alan Outram, of Bury.

March Craven Dairy Auction champion Robert Phillip, of Green Farm, Hellifield, had to be content with the runners-up slot this time around with his home-bred newly-calven pedigree Holstein Friesian heifer, giving 28 kilos. Awarded the BOCM Pauls Dairy Cup, the reserve champion sold for £970 to JH Bradley, of South Crossland, Hudderfield.

GB Jennings, of South Stainley, Ripon, had a newly-calven cow sell for £1,050.

The next Craven Dairy Auction takes place on Monday, June 18.

Suffolk show as always proved its worth as a true farming show this week, with strong livestock entries in all sections and large farming crowds thronging the judging rings.

Continentals ruled the championship rings as a Charollais ram took top honours in the sheep rings and a Charolais cow rearing twins scooped the beef interbreed silverware.

The sheep leader cam from Jonathan and Carol Barber's Crogham flock of 120 ewes and was bought two years ago for 600gns in conjuction with Stuart Dudley of the Hyde flock.

Bred in Northern Ireland, the tup is by noted sire Southam Bob the Builder and out of a Mawhinney ewe, he previously stood interbreed at last year's Royal Norfolk Show and has been used extensively in both the Crogham and Hyde flocks.

Reserve spot in the sheep lines was taken by the Suffolk champion, a ram lamb from Gordon and Elizabeth Beddie's flock from Swaffham, Norfolk. This January-born lamb had stood first in a strong class under breed judge Helen Goldie before beating off stiff competition to clinch male and breed championship.

In the beef rings the leader was seven year old Charolais cow Moathall Roney from the Wicks family's 80-cow Moathall herd from Mellis, Eye, Suffolk. Roney who was shown with her twin calves at foot was described by judge John White, of Midlock, Biggar, as having an exceptional head and superb topline.

Standing second to Roney was the Limousin leader, Segala from Doug Mash's Brockhurst herd. Five year old Segala was imported from France last year and now heads on to Rutland, East of England, the Royal and the Royal Welsh.

And the Charolais also triumphed in the interbreed pairs competition, beating off stiff opposition from the Belgian Blue pairing to lift the title.


But the Blues did one better taking the group of three title - from the Barwood and Padfield team came Ridge Dean Sherry, Ridge Dean Wren (both with their two heifer calves) and the homebred bull Piggots Artful Dodger.

In the Native championship it was a win for the Aberdeen Angus heifer of Andrew Brown, Hawstead Lodge Pamela.

Meanwhile, the dairy championship was dominated by traditional breeds, with the Jersey leader standing champion ahead of the top British Friesian.

Bolderston and Partners' 2002-born cow Tetfor Hall Danni lead the way having calved in April and given 40kgs a day at the peak of her last lactation. Danni runs as part of the partnership's 80 cow mixed herd alongside Ayrshires and Holsteins.

Following closely behind was 2000-born British Friesian cow Oakalby Breadwinner S Ruth 34 from the Burroughs family's Beccles-based herd.

Taking the Dexter title for the fourth year running was Roseamry and Stuart Creasey with their February 2005 born heifer Langley End Alison, a heifer that had taken the title the year before.

Among the pigs it was another interbreed success for Guy Kiddy's Withersfield herd of Large Whites. Taking the honours for Mr Kiddy this time was his July 2006 born gilt Withersfield Blackberry 151, shown by Shuttleworth college student Stuart Warby.

Reserve pig champion was Carol Knights' Gloucester Old Sow boar Also Sambo from Mrs Knights 12 sow herd.

Among the commercial pigs it was another win for Peter Reeder with a homebred gilt. His winner was a Maximus x Large White x Landrace.

Last week's South of England show was a particularly good one for Taking Stock with both regular contributors invoved in bringing forward champions.

For my part I managed to clinch the interbreed sheep title for the second year in a row with a Southdown shearling ram, while Chrissie helped Thorndean Farms to the Limousin breed title with a two year old heifer, Thorndean At Last, sired by Sheelin Nato.

Elsewhere in the beef lines it was the turn of Mortimers Farms' stockman Charlie Maclean to lead out the winner, Charolais cow Mortimers Racey. By Gretnahouse Napoleon and out of homebred cow Mortimers Madonna, Racey was shown with a Mortimers Upstart sired calf at foot and just the week before had stood interbreed champion at the Royal Bath and West.

Unshown since 2002 when she lifted the breed championship at the Highland as a heifer, Racey beat the Angus champion, Andrew Brown's heifer Hawstead Lodge Pamela into reserve.

Pamela, who stood native champion at last week's Suffolk Show, is by Blelack Black Beret and was led out by Kevin Byford.

Females dominated proceedings at last weekend's East of England Show, clinching the overall interbreed beef title, the commercial beef championship, the interbreed sheep championship and the interbreed pig silverware.

Leading the way was Doug Mash's French bred Limousin cow Segala from his family's Brockhurst herd. Imported just over a year a go and shown with her November 2006-born calf at foot, Segala now heads to the Royal and Royal Welsh.

Standing reserve here was the Aberdeen Angus champion, Briston Echo, from Duncan Jeary's 60-cow herd. By Tegnose Pensboy and out of Briston Briarthorn, Echo was also shown with her March-born calf at foot.

Heading up the commercial classes was the Limousin cross heifer Miss Moneypenny from Sennybridge-based Elfed Williams. Brought out by Neil and Sally Lloyd of Black and Blue Show Team, Miss Moneypenny was bred by Andrew Davies and cost Mr Williams £7100.

Among the juniors it was the turn of another Limousin, Ironstone Brandy, from Smtihs of Bloxham's Ironstone herd which led the way. By Unesco, Brandy is out of record price Limousin female Bailea Umandy.

Narrowly pipped into reserve spot was Mike and Jean Dickens' Limousin cross heifer Splash, this one was bred by the Skidmore family.

Charolais cattle captured both the individual and pairs interbreed championships at the rain affected Three Counties Show.

Conditions were so bad that interbreed cattle judging was moved inside, where judge Jim Goldie found himself assessing a Limousin bull he bred.

Having made Shamleys Victoria, an outstandingly well grown Charolais heifer from Mrs Jamilla Robinson's herd at nearby Tenbury Wells, his champion, he called on independent referee Martin Jones to decide whether Goldies Trophy should be reserve champion. The bull he sold to Somerset breeder Colin Hutchings three years ago for 6000gns, was given the nod.

Topping the dispersal of Tony Reed’s Holstein Withycombe herd, ahead of emigrating to Alberta, Canada, was the 10 month old ET-bred calf Withycombe Skychief Burgandy, which sold for 3800gns to Anne Harrison of the Bassingthorpe herd, Lincolnshire and Morsan farms, Mr Reed’s new employers.

The Haselor-based Marstonsicca herd of G C Hodges came in at 3200gns for Wagtail Storm S Bliss, a September Storm in-calf heifer from the famous Eagleriver Matinee Bliss line. Three lots later, he acquired panda Silky Roxy Rainbow for 3000gns.

This lightly bulled heifer by Silky Gibson is out of Bassingthorpe Prog Roxy, a large framed cow that gave 11,500kg as a heifer. she sold for 2600gns earlier in the sale to Messrs Oughton, Gloucestershire.

Fresh heifers were keenly sought after with a top of 2200gns for Withycombe James Laura, a daughter of Shoremar James, purchased by the auctioneers for Andrew Worhting, Whitland, South Wales, who took six animals in total to restock after TB losses.

Averages: 135 cows and calved heifers £1163; 23 served heifers £1307; 43 maiden heifers £687 (Norton and Brooksbank).

One of the biggest Holstein shows in Europe took place last month in Spain. The provincial show in Astutias in the North is one of Spain’s most prestigious agricultural events and attracts breeders from all over Europe.

Junior champion was a Holstein heifer bred by Drointon Holsteins from Staffordshire owned by Andrew McKellar. Drointon Journalist Sara she also had an impressive win at this year‘s UK National Holstein Show at Bingley Hall winning the Autumn Calf class.

Sara’s dam is a sister to Copywood Integrity Sara Red EX90 National Champion 2005. She was sold to Quim Serabbassa and Casa Regalao through the World Wide Sires EX Factor sale held in Borderway with Harrison and Hetherington.

Last week’s sale of dairy cattle at Taunton Livestock Centre saw strong gathering for the 69 commercial dairy cows and heifers which sold to £2000 and averaged £1365.

Four heifers sold for more than £1900 and six at £1700 and over. The top price pedigree heifer from Mike Dyer, Chard achieved £2000 closely followed by a non-pedigree calved heifer at £1,980 one of a consignment of eight from local trader John Snook, Yeovil averaged £1549. Tom Wilkins and family consigned 10 British Friesian calved heifers selling to £1620 and averaging £1484.

Third calvers from Mike Churchill, Chard sold to £1750 with the 10 cows from N R Huxter averaged £1193 (Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt).

The Holstein world may be getting short of the mega-spenders but the sort of deep and solid bidding that levelled 198 lots at £2852 at this week’s Weeton herd dispersal was a heartening reflection of a black-and-white world back in hands of true breeders.

A bumper crowd headed for the Fylde in Lancashire where John and Doreen Loftus saw their star-studded offering generate 46 bids over 3000gns - but the top two calls of 6800gns and 6500gns sent both cattle to Annan to join Paul Rawcliffe’s Almond herd in south-west Scotland.

He was quick off the mark early in the day and his 6800gns nod secured Weeton Shark Trolley. This La-Poe Shark daughter out of a Lee dam that made 3500gns at the herd’s 2002 sale, had given 10,915kg in the first 241 days of her second lactation and was AI’d in August to Wilcoxview Jasper.

She will be joined by Weeton Stormatic A Allyson, a September calved heifer out of a cow by Weeton Authority taken at 6500gns.

A top call of 2500gns at last week’s bumper Beeston club dairy sale led the way for Mark Knutsford’s Riverdane Hoslteins.

The fresh calving Riverdane Stormatic Rowena (VG-86) and daughter of the former show cow Mount Airy Skychief Rowena was bought by Ricahrd and Trevor Lloyd for their Anglesey-based islandpride herd. The same buyers also bought the second calver Riverdane Integ Melissa for 2200gns.

The second top seller was the chamion female from G and B Bell selected under judge Graham Brindley, Market Drayton, sold for 2300gns to Roger Stafford, Haverfordwest who was the sale’s volume buyer taking a total of 15 heifers.

Averages: 14 cows £1542.74 (record); 40 heifers £1686.56 (record) (Wright Manley).

South west dairy farmers produced a sizzling trade for a strong entry of Holstein dairy cattle at the annual Christmas Cracker show and sale held at Hallworthy Stockyard in Cornwall.

Prices rocketed to 3250gns for the day’s supreme champion from the Maymor herd of Truro herd owners T N Morrow and Partners.

Barry Colton of auctioneers Kivells said the demand for dairy cattle reflected the improved milk price that was now bolstering confidence among dairy farmers. “It’s been a long, hard road for dairy farmers but the increase in the value of milk is at last injecting much needed confidence into these businesses.

From Cumbria to Kent, prospective buyers gathered at Beeston Castle Auction for the sale of the entire milking portion of Bedfordhsire-based Gary Spiers’ Caddington Herd of pedigree Holsteins, which saw prices top 2300gns.

The sale followed the decision to temporarily stop milking which will enable him to carry out necessary alterations to the buildings and to install a new slurry system on the farm.

Topping the day at 2300gns was Caddington Integrity Pearlette 44 (VG88), a daughter of Robthom Integrity giving 31.5kg having calved her second calf in July. Taking her and a further 100 other lots was Johnathan Fisher, Edenhall, Penrith, for restocking following foot-and-mouth in 2002.

Next in the price list was the milking heifer Caddington Outside Lead 15 who calved last September and was still giving 34.8kg a day. She sold to A and L Greenwood, Shotwick, Chester.