Borderway Black and Whites top at 9,000gns

Treacherous weather conditions failed to dampen trade at Borderway’s Black and White sale on Saturday, which saw large crowds and a top call of 9,000gns.

Buyers from across the UK and Ireland saw a Val-Bisson Doorman daughter top trade for the second consecutive year when Knowlesmere Doorman Abrakadazzle from Izzy and Jane Whittaker, Ivy House Farm, Shropshire, sold to Scott Forsyth, Baltier Farm, Newton Stewart.

Lead call was for Knowlesmere Doorman Abrakadazzle for 9,000gns from Izzy and Jane Whittaker, Ivy House Farm, Shropshire

A daughter of Knowlesmere Goldwyn Abrakaboom VG87, which placed first as a two year old at UK Dairy Day in September, she is sired by Gilette and is the first heifer to sell from this cow family in Europe.

Next in the money was Glasson Atwood JF Erle from the Haffey family, Northern Ireland, which made 8,500gns when selling to John and Gordan Lyle, Nether Pratis Farm, Fife. This heifer is sired by Atwood and is bred from the Wilcoxview Jasper daughter Glasson Jasper Foorm Erle VG88. She gave 9,319 litres in her last lactation.

Isaac Lancaster (vendor) and Rob Hancock (buyer) with three year old I-Cow Facebook Emilia which made 8,000gns

Milking heifers averaged £4,646, topping at 8,000gns for the three-year-old I-Cow Facebook Emilia from Isaac and Luke Lancaster, Horton Grange Farm, Gisburn. Boasting “massive” UK and US indexes of PLI+£498 and a GTPI of+$2315, Emilia has sold over $4000 worth of embryo contracts and was bought by Elite Street Genetics, Republic of Ireland. Sired by Marbri Facebook she is out of Willsbro Emilyangel VG87 by Planet.

Also making 8,000gns was Eastford Armani Tabitha Red from Eastford Holsteins, Castle Douglas. She is a daughter of Dilandy Debonair Tabitha Red EX92, AgriScot Supercow in 2012 and last year’s supreme champion at the Royal Highland, and is sired by Mr Apples Armani.

Another star on the day was Baldonnel Goldie Larissa EX93, selling for 7,000gns to John Moore, Rep. of Ireland. Grand Champion at the Irish National Show, this member of the Raveswell Lydia cow family was offered by Cyril Dowling and Tadgh Burke Dublin, Rep. of Ireland.

Jersey heifers averaged £3,150 and topped at 3,500gns for Huddlesford I-Cow Blonde consigned by Andy Cope and Isaac Lancaster. She was the pick of A Stonehouse, Yorkshire.  Sired by Bluegrass Lord Actionman, she is bred from Bluegrass Remakes Blackest Blonde VG89, who was the 2013 Grand Champion at both the Great Yorkshire Show and the Dairy Event.

Averages: Four Holstein heifers in milk, £4646.50; one Holstein in-Calf heifers, £2625.00; 42 Holstein heifer calves, £3817.50; two Jersey heifers, £3150.00; one Brown Swiss heifer, £2730.00; 13 embryos , £444.50. (Harrison and Hetherington).