Record dairy entry at Beeston Castle

There may be a shortage of dairy stock on the market, but there was no sign of it at Beeston Castle Auction in Cheshire this week.

The venue saw a record entry of 370 head at its monthly fixture, with a top call of 1450gns for a Jersey heifer calf.

Jersey cattle from Stafford dairy farmer J Brady created much interest, with top price paid for the September 2005-bred Burnbrae Remake Yvonne.

By Rock Ella Remake, she was out of a Tixall dam, and was bought by G F Wallace, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.

Jersey enthusiasts were offered one of this season’s first show winners – Mr Brady’s Burnbrae Sultan Cuddle, winner of the in-calf heifer class at the Staffordshire County Show. She is by SHF Centurian Sultan and realised 1080gns to Welsh buyer G Morgan, Fishguard.

The highest black-and-white bid came from Warwickshire dealer Tony Leighton, who gave 1230gns for a freshly calved heifer from Cheshire breeders John and Valerie Barlow’s Painley herd.

A Holstein-calved heifer by Patron and consigned by N M Roberts and Partners, Wrexham, made 1200gns to R and C Williams, Wrexham, with Messrs Speed, Chester, paying 1180gns for a calved Holstein heifer by Southland Marker from A Outram, Bury, Lancashire (Wright Manley).