Downbeat fixture at Crewe
Downbeat fixture at Crewe
A DOWNBEAT atmosphere among the crowd hampered trading at the first show and sale of the year for the Western Holstein Club.
A catalogued entry of 184 head was reduced to 144 entries forward with concern over pressure on dairy margins and the knock-on effect for stock values. Even so, most cattle found buyers at the days lower rates with the 102 calved heifers averaged £540 and 21 cows levelling at £523.
Eryl Williams of the Penwell herd judged the entry and awarded the championship to M and RM Lomas of Nantwich with Broomlea Maybloom 79th. This calved heifer is by the Penn-Springs Mr C son Barnkamper Quality and out of a Meadolake Rorae Matt dam. She realised 850gns to JPM Holsteins, Oswestry.
Harold Crapper from Dronfield, Derbys started off the new season with a top price of 880gns for his Hemble Mark Tesk Kapeno. This December calved heifer has a pedigree index of 762 and is by IV-Ann Mark Tesk and out of a cow by Cacin Royal that traces back to some milky Primsland breeding. She also joins JPM Holsteins.
Brynengan Rudolph Beti 35th made the trip from Pwllheli with breeders WI and Mrs M Hughes and heads back to north Wales with buyer G Jones who gave 820gns for this November calved heifer by Startmore Rudolph.
D E Davies and Son of Llanymynech, Powys are long-time supporters here and picked up 800gns for Gornal Rudolph Nan, another smart Rudolph daughter bred from four successive generations of Excellents. Out of the herds highly respected Nannette family, her dam is by Prelude and gave 9000kg with her second and her grand-dam is the Ex 92 Nannette 43rd – a 13,488kg cow with good wins at the RASE and other top events to her credit. Buyer was Joseph Heler Farms, Nantwich.
The reserve championship ticket was collected by Tom Jolly and Partners of Great Eccleston, near Preston with Fieldside Esme 134th – a calved heifer by Weeton Major Luke and claimed by fellow Fylde dairy farmer Aubrey Greenhalgh for one of his Northern Ireland clients (Wright-Manley).