Eager buyers push prices above 1400gns at Southway dispersal

Prices reached 1450gns at the dispersal of Somerset dairy farmer Tom Frost’s Southway Holstein herd.

The sale was brought about by the death of Mr Frost’s wife, Naomi, and his decision to spend more time with their children.

Despite good harvesting weather, buyers from as far away as Cornwall and Leicestershire competed for stock.

More than a third of the first 60 to go through the ring achieved four-figure sums.

The day’s top call came for Southway Limit Kelly, who calved with her second in June and was giving 50kg on the day.

She was one of a large haul taken to Shepton Mallett by dairy farmer S Britten. He secured a total of 33 lots.

Among the wagonload was a non-registered June calver by Eastlands Figaro that made the day’s second highest price of 1280gns.

She was giving 34.2kg.

Dry cows were not too far behind when 1150gns was bid for Southway Manhatten Lena.

She had given 8245kg in her first lactation and was due again at the end of the month.

She was bought by local farmer F Tucker from Wedmore.

The sale included 12 two-year-old in-calf heifers which drew spirited bidding and reached 1000gns twice for Southway Lobito Ophelia and Southway Careca Bertha, both bred out of high-yielding cows.

Averages: 100 cows £764 and 12 in-calf heifers £905.

(Greenslade Taylor Hunt)