Aghavilly Holstein dispersal tops at 3,400gns

A top price of 3,400gns marked the dispersal sale of Noel and Stephen McCarragher’s Aghavilly Holstein herd, Lochmaben, Dumfries and Galloway.

Sale leader was the Shottle daughter Ernespie Shottle Sara, whose dam is the Ladino Park Talent daughter Riverdane Talent Sara. She sold to an undisclosed buyer, giving 26kg daily.

Next best at 2,900gns was Aghavilly Talent Dolly, sired by Ladino Park Talent and out of a homebred dam. She sold to Holehouse Farm, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, giving 54kg daily and having last calved in March.

Selling to P Jones, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, for 2,800gns was another Talent daughter Aghavilly Talent Esther Red Ex90. She gave 14,217 in her fourth lactation at 5.21% butterfat and 3.13% protein and sold in calf to Goldenoaks Palmer.

Two lots sold for 2,700gns. The first call was for the April-2010-born Wa-del Hayden daughter Aghavilly Hayden Joyce GP83. She sold to N and SJ Sanderson, Brampton, Cumbria, having last calved in January and currently giving 61kg daily.

The second at this money was the freshly calved Aghavilly Shamrock Debbie, sired by L PL Shamrock and out of the Ladino Park Talent daughter Aghavilly Talent Debbie GP83. She gave 10,799kg in her second lactation at 4.22% butterfat and 3.03% protein. Buyer was JA Stewart and Son, Kirkubbin, Newtonards.

Just shy of this at 2,600gns was the Februdary-2012 born Shottle daughter Aghavilly Shottle Michelle. She sold to Greentowers Farms, Cartland, Lanarkshire, having last calved in March.

Averages: 111 cows in-milk, £1,473.80; 64 heifers in-milk, £1,815; 23 in-calf heifers, £1,760.

(H&H).