Mixed dairy sale reaches 1600gns at Sedgemoor

A herd re-organisation from a 700-cow unit at Billingshurst, west Sussex saw 100 head moved to Sedgemoor Auction Centre in Somerset where prices reached 1600gns – and even three-quartered cows were in demand.

Vendor W M Luttman-Johnson is changing the type of cows he milks and offered a draft of traditional dairy animals including a range of cross-breds by Montbeliard and Danish Red sires.

Despite a large number of cattle being in late lactation, trade was good throughout with the bigger three-quartered cows looking a worthwhile investment to calve and sell on into the strong barren trade.

Messrs Grove and Partners, Oldbury-on-Severn paid the top price of 1600gns for a fourth lactation cow and claimed another – carrying her fourth calf to a British Blue – at 1460gns. Gordon Davies from Tiverton was an active buyer of young in-calf cows and paid up to 1400gns for a second calver due in April to a British Blue.

A batch of 28 Friesian-type in-calf heifers from Coombe Lodge Estate, Langford, Bristol were also on offer – all served with Aberdeen Angus – and met a strong trade to 8 different purchasers topping at 1610gns and averaging £1416. Top price was 1630gns paid by R J & J Tulley, Brixham, Devon.

Averages: 78 cows £900 and 22 three-quartered cows £609. (Norton and Brooksbank with Greenslade Taylor Hunt).