Crowds gather for dairy disposal

MORE THAN 70 years of dairying at Bellridge, near Matfen, Northumbria, came to an end last week when John Maughan dispersed his Bellridge Holstein herd to a top price of 900gns.

In line with this spring”s buoyant trade for dairy stock, this fixture drew a good crowd to Borderway Mart, Carlisle, where buyers competed for a strong selection of daughters of fashionable sires including several Cogent bulls.

Top call came from W Forrest of Annan for the second-calver Bellridge Nash Nell. This daughter of Cogent Nash – a Mar-Bill Oscar Glenwood son – was sold fresh after a heifer lactation of 6041kg.

The same buyer also paid 820gns for a daughter of Hi-Val Leadman Brave, due soon with her second to Lemington Aeroscot after a heifer note of 8000kg.

She was from the Paula family, which also produced the 850gns Bellridge Cyrus Paula, a second-calver due with her third in September to Moet Melody.

There were two other bids of 820gns. A third-calver from the Stirkie family by Eastview Celsius Cyrus heads for Wigton, Cumbria, with I and K Watson, while Seymour Farms of Wigton claimed a young cow from the Alice family and due to calve later this month to Aeroscot.

Averages 113 cows and heifers in-milk 569; 13 in-calf heifers 467 and 43 maiden heifers 273 (Harrison & Hetherington).