Hemburyfort Herd dispersal tops at 4,400gns

The best of West Country breeding drew a crowd of over 200 people to Exeter in Devon last week to witness the Dispersal of the Hemburyfort Herd of Classified Holsteins for Derek and Jean Pyle.

Devon and Dorset families ruled the day with the Bolton freshly calved heifer Hemburyfort Satin 2^nd selling for 4,400gns to the Hussell family for their Perrins herd in Devon who fought off competition from Carmarthen, West Wales.

The heifer was out of the Ex90 Satin going back to the Devon bred Ex93 Beneknowle Blackjack Satin. The same purchasers secured the top priced in-calf heifer at 3,200gns she was Hemburyfort Ricki 2nd by Buckeye from the famous Littlebredy Ricki Family going back to Calbrett.

Shottle daughters were prominent in the sale and a third calver Hemburyfort Demifrits 214th by Shottle and giving 47.4kgs sold for 3,200gns to Roger Morse for his Cowindale herd in Wales. Another Shottle hitting the 3,000gn barrier was Hemburyfort Ermyntrude 37th purchased by a Carmarthen dairy farmer establishing a new herd.

A September 2011 born Gerard bull calf from an Ex91 Goldwyn going back to the Crichel Favourites created considerable interest and sold for 1,000gns to S E Voysey and Son at Axminster.

No less than 53 different purchasers were successful on the day with Hemburyfort cattle travelling all across the West Country and into Wales.

Averages: Dairy cows and heifers (Inc 5 A Lots), £1,651; Calved heifers, £2,123; In-calf heifers, £1,680; ‘A’ Lot Bull Calves, £630; 210 Head, £1,617 (Greenslade Taylor Hunt)