Taking Stock

Well the sun is shining on a day that promises to be a rather interesting day in terms of Holstein and Jersey trade.

On the day of the herd's 50th birthday from when the late Ian and Willie Montgomery originally set up the Smiddiehill herd, now under the ownership of Michael and Oliver Eaton, Shropshire, crowds are busy studying the catalogue and pacing the lines of beautifully prepared cattle.

One thing hot on the lips of many this morning, is Smiddiehill Dundee Paradise, daughter of the cloned cow Vandyk-K Integ Paradise is not forward, along with her two brothers. The decision was taken by the Eaton's to withdraw her in light of innacurate scare mongering and reporting from the national press, particularly the Daily Mail.

The dispersal of the Smiddiehill Holstein and Jersey sale has got underway with Tom Brooksbank doing the first stint of selling of Norton and Brooksbank, before H&H's Glyn Lucas gets going later. And beleive it or not we even have the Eye of the Tioger blaring out of the speakers before the first entry enters the ring with Bev Bostock at the halter.

The first in to the ring is Smiddiehill September Marie, an August 2005 heifer by Pursuit September Storm, having calved in November and just been served to Damion. Milking 40 litres a day She sells for 4100gns to a Scottish buyer.

Second in the ring is Inspired C C Helen, bred by Carl Smith. This 88 pointer on her second calf is by Calbrett HH Champion and goes for 3800gns to the Wills Brothers, Cornwall.

Her Damion calf, a real beauty when she entered the ring went just after for 3000gns to Jerry McDonald, Northern Ireland.

I wouldn't be far from saying the mood round the ring is a little cautious, but the fourth animal in to the ring, Smiddiehill Goldwyn Jennifer, carrying an embryo by Jasper and the famous Field of Dreams Formation Erle has just gone through at 5800gns to Barbican Farms, the home of the Erle line.

Just before that her mother Primo Gibson Jennifer has gone to Hugh Fish, Ireland for 4800gns.

A John Barker bred December 2005 heifer Ridgefield Sept St Ghost (lot 6) has gone through at 5400gns to Peter Jones, Monmouthshire.

The junior champion from the Royal Show, Smiddiehill Marbel Mavis, having given 11,734 litres in her first lactation and goes to Brian Clothier, Somerset for 1500gns. Her daughter by Damion (lot 8) has gone through at 2400gns to a Cornish buyer (not the Wills!).

Born in Ireland by the Border Mist Syndicate, Bodermist Talent Rhoda (lot 9), the VG 87 2-year has knocked down at 2800gns to Peter Jones.

One of my picks of the day Smiddiehill Goldwyn Dacia (lot 15), the Goldwyn Feb 2006 born has just knocked down at 15,000gns to a breeder in Holland.

Goldencalf SR Dacia, bred by the Golden Calf Co (lot 14) she sold for 7000gns on the phone to Dennis Hughes.

Smiddiehill Shottle Delight, an August yearling out of Cogent Lucente Delight, sold for 6500gns to Cornwall-based Anthony Wills of the Wills Bros. Joing her was her mother (lot 13) at 4600gns.

The first Red to come in to the ring this morning, Huddlesford Jodie Red (lot 23), bred by the Cope family has just gone through at 13,000gns to Stuart Mullin.

By Valleyriver Ruben Redman she is out of Fradon R Mark Jodie-Red. This one was sure to cause a stir seeing as the first bid on here was a call of 6000gns to get things going!

Smiddiehill Sept Storm Regenia (out of Mr Sams full sister) and bred from seven generations of EX cows (lot 26) has gone at 4000gns to Graham Kirby. Her two embryos by Dudoc Mr Burns have just sold for 550gns each on the phone.

Full sister to Indianhead Black Beauty Smiddiehill Durham Becka (lot 25) has just gone through at 3000gns to Messrs Bourne.

The first on offer from the wonderful Formation Erle line (a cow remaining at Smiddiehill), Smiddiehill Forbidden Erle (lot 27) has knocked down to Stella Genetic for 21,000gns who had the choice of her and her sister. Her daughter, Smiddiehill Dreamy Erle (lot 27A) has gone at 8000gns to Maurice Jones.

The full sister Smiddiehill Sandy Valley Erle (lot 28) has gone at 9000gns. Her bull calf by Goldwyn has gone at 4700gns.

Topping Jersey trade so far with a bid of 4500gns for Bluegrass Jades Blondette (lot 54). Originally bred by Barry and Jenny Daw, this previous show winner on numerous occassions heads back home there.

At 3200gns was Smiddiehill Justintime Legacy. This ET bred VG 2 year old is out of Grahmar Lemvig Legacy and by Rapid Bay Just Wait. She heads to Mr Morgan.

Joining her is Saxdown Dukes Blossom, this time by Elliotts Renaissance, selling at 2800gns.

Calf trade has topped at 2600gns for Smiddiehill Amedeo Marine, an ET bred by Piedmont Grove Amedeo. Mr Morgan bought that as well.

An Ex93 rated cow has just hit the top bid so far for Jerseys at today's Smidiehill dispersal sale.

Taking the 8000gns bid was Fourcrosses Sambo Petunia, by Lester Sambo and out of Fourcrosses Centurion Celadine, she was reserve breed champion at AgriScot 2005 and gave more than 8000 litres in her second lactation. She now heads home with Stelar Genetics

Second top price among the Jersey's so far was claimed a few moments ago by Smidiehill Hallmark Marbel, a July 2007-born ET calf. She sold at 7500gns to Graham Kirby, while her full ET sister, June 2007-born Smiddiehill Hallmarks Marbel made 3800gns to the same buyer.

The end of the Jersey sale at the Smidiehill dispersal has seen some the return of the Holsteins to the ring, with some notable cows collecting top end bids.

Highest price of the day so far at 27,000gns went to Smiddiehill Toystory Ambrosia, a stunning cow from the famous Toystory line and is a full sister to Ernest Anthony Amarylis, sold for $85,000 last year. She now joins the Sahara herd of Sheika Binta Nora and was bought over the phone by herd manager David Jones.

Next up at 23,500gns was Smiddiehil Goldwyn Melanie, the only daughter of Hillcroft Leader Melanie outside of the USA. This one sold to Mr McMurray, Ireland.

The Haffey brothers all spent well, claiming Smidiehill Durham Ashlyn at 15,000gns and following closely behind in the price stakes was Toystory Ambrosia's full sister Smidiehill Toys Ambrosia who sold at 13,000gns to join Alistair Laird's herd.

The Wills brothers, Cornwall, have also been back in spending form, laying out the more modest sum of 8500gns for Portval Gibson Maeve, a Silk Gibson daughter.

A mini spending-spree at the Smidiehill dispersal has seen five lots gross 67,000gns with a top call of 18,000gns coming from Stellar Genetics to buy Denmire Gibson Marie, a VG 88 rated cow by Silky Gibson.

Her two ET daughters followed her into the ring and met a similarly fierce trade, selling at 12,000gns and 11,000gns to the Philip Haffery and the Tomlinson family respectively. The first of these was Smiddiehill Shottle Marie, while the second was Smidiehill PS Marie, both were 2007-born.

The final two lots of the five figure flush were claimed by the Wills brothers, Cornwall, as they paid 14,000gns and 12,000gns.

At the higher price was Smidiehill Goldwyn Sharon, a May 2006-born in-calf heifer who is bred from nine generations of VG and Ex cows.

At 12,000gns was Riverdane PS Sara, a Picston Shottle daughter out of leading show cow Copywood Integrity Sara Red.

An absolutely stunning red heifer bred by the Schauf family at Indianhead Holsteins, USA, has just come under the hammer at the Smidiehill dispersal, fetching 15,000gns.

Indianhead Rubens Rachel Red is an ET calf and is bred from six generations of Excellents and it shows. By STBVQ Rubens and out of Sellcrest No Rachel Red, this one sold to an undisclosed buyer.

As the Smidiehill dispersal enters its sixth hour the herd's strength in depth continues to shine, with Smidiehill Goldwyn Erle secured by Northern Irish breeder Aubrey Patterson for 13,000gns.

This one is out of Smidiehill Insp Progress Erle and by Duncan Progress. There are another 25 or so lots to go and with last year's National Holstein Show reserve champion yet to come, the money is likely to keep flowing for a while yet.

The reserve champion from last year's National Holstein Show has just passed through the ring at 9000gns selling to Pam Coombes.

Ridgefield Progress Rose was bred in John Barker's Ridgefield herd and is by Duncan Progress and out of Bosdale Storm Rose. She gave 14,492 in her second lactation and is currently giving 50 litres a day.

A heifer carrying Dundee and Indianhead breeding has just sold to Mike Halliwell for 17,000gns.

Smiddiehill Dundee Treasure is by Regancrest Dundee and out of MS Indianhead Treasure, she is full sister to Smiddiehill Dundee Tina, sold previously for 4600gns and maternal sister to 9559kg yielding Idianhed Redmrkr Tobi

Well we knew there were going to be some big prices today and I had a feeling there would be a 50,000gns call, but I hadn't foreseen it being for a six-month old calf.

Smiddiehill Goldwyn Pledge comes with what the auctioneers describe as the hottest pedigree on the planet, being by Braedale Goldwyn and out of Windy-Knoll-View Pledge and with a back pedigree which includes both Comestar Outside and Startmore Rudolph. And her new owners are those heavy bidding Cornish gents, the Wills brothers.

Related to Pledge and selling for 18,000gns was Smiddiehill Dundee Promis, by Regancrest Dundee and out of Windy-Knoll-View Promis, the grand dam of Pledge. This one sold to Bev Baker.

Well it might not have been the fastest sale I've ever attended, but it was certainly one of the most exciting, all be it a nightmare for so-called "modern technology"!!

I have to say other than the 50,000gns calf being sold, the other highlight for me is Harrison and Hetherington's Glyn Lucas ability to get a bid out of anyone, not to mention the bizare sounds he makes while selling!!

I'm sure all involved will go away happy from the sale, apart from Anthony Wills' bank manager who could be coughing a bit over his breakfast tomorrow when he hears how much the brothers spent in total - best of luck to them though, I look forward to following their success.

So it's up the M4 for me, I'll endeavour to upload the picture gallery in the morning once I've got them through from my photographer! I'll also update with a full list of prices tomorrow. Keep an eye for next week's FW for a double page spread on the sale.....selling dragged on a bit too long for press likings today so you'll have to wait a bit longer to see it in the magazine!

Hope you enjoyed the coverage!

I've started wading through the many pictures we took from yesterday's Smiddiehill Sale, so take a look. There's more to come though!