College sells its Jerseys
The Brackenhurst herd of Jersey cattle at Brackenhurst College, Notts, in 1998 was dispersed last week and broke all records, with a top price of 6500gns followed by others at 6000gns, 5500gns and 5000gns.
The 81 in-milk cows and heifers averaged £1241 on a day of frenetic bidding that bore testament to the skill of the late founder Mick Saxby for a herd rated as one of the finest collections of Jerseys in the UK.
Shropshire-based Smiddiehill Holsteins added another gem to their Jersey string paying the top price of 6500gns for Brackenhurst Futures Index (Ex91).
By Molly Brook Berretta Future and due in September to Osberton Imperials Cherubim, she was giving almost 29kg on the day from an October calving.
And she was joined by her daughter, a served heifer by the unregistered sire Barbers Cash taken at 1200gns.
Smiddiehill Holsteins dominated the bidding, paying 6000gns for Brackenhurst Cherubims Borage 2nd (Ex90 3yr).
A second calver by Osberton Imperials Cherubim, she was served in February to Giprat Belles Connection.
Borage 2nd is out of Brackenhurst Triumphs Borage, one of the herd’s most successful brood cows.
This cow drew another winning bid of 5500gns from Smiddiehill Holsteins.
She had been a big force in the show ring over the past two seasons and was offered giving 37.2kg after calving her fourth in late February.
Another from this family earned a 2000gns bid from volume buyer Thomas Pollock of Co Antrim.
He took a total of 38 head including Brackenhurst Borages Kismit, by Royals Green Kismit and out of Triumphs Borage.
Smiddiehill Holsteins were back again for Brackenhurst Cherubims Honeydew 2nd (VG86), who is by the Osberton sire and due in September to Q Henius.
And they gave another 3000gns for Brackenhurst Saturns Cash, a third calver due in September to Ivanhoe Red Triumph.
Her heifer calf by the Giprat bull joins her in her new home at 1650gns.
Breaking Smiddiehill’s stranglehold on the top end of the trade were Lincs breeders J and S Arrowsmith, who paid 2100gns for Brackenhurst Satans Heligog 2nd, a served heifer due this autumn to Saxown Daylight Rocky.
Averages: 81 cows and heifers 1241, 33 served heifers 919, 58 maiden heifers 577.
(Wright Manley)