High-yielding Bellacourt Holsteins pull in the bids
The dispersal of the Bellacourt Holstein herd averaged just over £1500 and achieved a top price of 4400gns for north Shropshire breeders Phillip and Sara Smith.
Of the 275 head sold on farm at Norton-in-Hales, Shropshire, the June 2002-bred Bellacourt Man Roz generated the strongest bidding.
By the Starbuck son Mr Manhattan, she is out of an unrecorded Storm dam, but there was plenty of milk behind her.
Man Roz gave 10,800kg as a heifer and was one of several high-priced lots taken by Cheshire breeders J R Williamson & Co for their Wardle herd.
Earlier in the sale the Dixie-Lee Aaron-sired Melrose Arron Milly made 3400gns to J W C George & Son, Haverfordwest.
She calved her fourth last December after a 12,400kg third lactation and was AI’d to Picston Shottle in March.
Bellacourt Lee Bangle 2nd was another taken by the Williamson family at 3000gns.
She was also carrying a Shottle pregnancy and gave 9500kg as a heifer.
And joining the ride home at 2800gns was Bellacourt Man Fanny, a second calver by Mr Manhattan, also in-calf to Shottle.
There were some impressive milk yields behind the 2500gns Bellacourt Italie Mercy.
This fourth calver by Italie Mas gave 12,200kg with her third and goes back to a fourth dam by Ragappale with a 12,500kg performance.
The buyer was Martin Monckton, Nantwich. Her November-born heifer calf by Shottle made 2400gns to Clayden Holsteins, Crewe.
Among the higher priced younger entry was a 2500gns call from Carmarthenshire buyer Ken Marshall for Bellacourt Shottle Roz, an 11-month-old heifer out of a 9900kg Convincer dam.
A strong trade for in-calf heifers saw a 2600gns bid secure Bellacourt Outside Roz for Herefordshire dairy farmers Rea & Son. She is out of a twice 11,000kg dam by Lee and was AI’d to Shottle in January.
Averages: 153 cows and milking heifers £1504 (including 39 heifer calves at £807), 33 in-calf heifers £1113 and 12 recently served heifers £1012.
(Wright Manley with David Jones)