Sound quality brings big
Dairy farmer Clive Woodward’s Blithfield Holstein herd was dispersed at Rugeley, Staffordshire, last week to a top price of 1720gns, while local buyers took home trailer loads at about 1000gns each.
Established in 1935, the Blithfield Holsteins put just over 300 head up for sale including 166 milkers.
Melton Mowbray dairy farmer Mr Watchorn bid 1720gns to take Blithfield Marker Valda, a young cow by Southland Marker, who calved her second in April after a 7800kg heifer lactation.
She has first and second dams with eight lactations behind them and consistent 9000-10,000kg yields.
Bagshaws auctioneer Mark Elliott said qood quality cattle and deep pedigrees had pulled in the crowd.
“And there were some confident buyers for the younger end, too, with a heifer calf by Shottle reaching 730gns.”
The third calver Blithfield Look Robbie, a Second-Look Jolt daughter, realised 1500gns to North Yorkshire buyer Robert Bean. She gave 9100kg with her second and is out of a milky Southwind dam.
Proceeds from this lot were donated by Mr Woodward to the Staffordshire Air Ambulance and Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
The day produced 60 four-figure bids. Carmarthenshire dairy farmer Hugh Moses paid 1500gns for Blithfield Lee Flo, a freshly calved heifer by Comestar Lee and out of a Moet Almira George dam.
He also gave 1400gns for the Cogent Lucky fresh second calver Blithfield Lucky Nancy and 1360gns for another freshly calved heifer by Moet Holmedon Pharaoh.
North Wales buyer G E Jones’ most expensive purchase was a Roylane Jordan April-calved heifer taken at 1450gns. She shared the ride home with a fresh second calver by Kregnol Mandel S-Man at 1360gns.
Averages: 166 milkers £1044, 39 in-calf heifers £882 and 58 served and maiden heifers £568.
(Bagshaws)