Attwell Ayrshires break records at Beeston

Records were smashed at Tuesday’s final dispersal sale of the Attwell herd of Ayrshires at Beeston Castle when one of vendor Andrew Gough’s favourite cows, Attwell Spottie 13, was sold for a new breed record of 11,000gns.

A much admired cow by ringsiders Spottie 13 is by Bankend Brown Bomber which Mr Gough rates as one of the best bulls he’s ever used and out of Attwell Spottie 6. Having given 8148 litres in her second lactation Spottie 13 sold dry and due to calve again in May to Blaise Tomlinson for his Sandyfoprd herd at Nanpantan, Leicester.

And another record was broken later in the day when in-calf heifer Attwell Amanda 7, a McCornick Nelson daughter which goes bacl to two Ex classified cows sold for 6200gns, the highest price ever recorded for an in-calf Ayrshire heifer. Due in August this one was snapped up by Philip Williams, Haverfordwest.

Next best call was a 4200gns bid for another from the Spottie family, Attwell Spottie 20. An August 2007-born daughter of Spottie 13, this maiden heifer is by Green Lane World First and sold to Pam and Dawn Coryn, Cornwall.

Then at 3800gns Mr Williams was back in spending mood securing another of the family, Attwell Spottie 17. By Brieryside High Profile and out of the same dam at Spottie 13, this fresh calved heifer gave 44.3kg at her first milk recording. And at 2750gns another McCornick Nelson daughter, Attwell Lady Marina 2 sold to Stephen Oultram, Ewloe, Deeside. She is due with her thrid calf in April had given 3842 in 177 days of her second lacation.

Averages: 124 cows and milking heifers £1775.43, 22 in-calf heifers £1653.75, 84 maiden heifers £876.13 (Wright Manley).