Red letter day at Beeston
By Jeremy Hunt
RED HOLSTEIN enthusiasts began the new quota year with a rare opportunity to select from a good number of cattle at last week”s dispersal for the Braeburn herd, where prices reached 2200gns.
Although red genetics accounted for only one-third of the catalogue, just one of the top 12 prices was paid for a black-and-white.
Owner Bill Doig moved the herd from its base at Bressingham, Norfolk, to Beeston Castle in Cheshire where a big crowd produced a day of strong trading for all the stock on offer. Yearling heifers and heifer calves will be sold later.
Capitalising on her victory at last year”s Royal Norfolk Show where she was inter-breed champion, Braeburn Factor Amy had no shortage of admirers when she took the day”s top price in Cheshire.
Sold dry and due with her third by Ja-Bob Jordan-Red at the beginning of May, she is by Renown Factor and out of a Chapel-Bank Laredo Red dam. She gave 9594kg with her second. Buyers were Messrs J A Martin, Carlisle.
Cheshire breeder Graham Brindley was busy on behalf of a client and took three of the highest priced lots. Most expensive at 2000gns was Braeburn Sabre Annabel Red, an in-calf daughter of Briar Factor Sabre Red. She is out of a 9300kg dam by Brooknook Milestone Red.
Another claimed by Mr Brindley was the in-calf heifer Braeburn Sabre Peach Red, out of an 11,256kg dam by Chapel-Bank Laredo Red. She realised 1300gns.
An in-calf heifer that drew plenty of interest was Braeburn Chatter Bencilla Red, a daughter of KC Roses Chatter T Red. She made 1550gns to Mark Partington of Bolton.
Dedicated Red Holstein breeder Andrew Bailey from Kendal, Cumbria, paid 1250gns for Braeburn Sabre Bencylia Red. She is out of a 10,550kg dam by Stevenson”s Benjamin and is due next month to Robthom Integrity.
Averages: 61 cows and heifers 794; 20 in-calf heifers 984 and 11 maiden heifers 605 (Wright Manley).