Hemburyfort Holsteins sell to 3000gns

A consistent trade averaged £1150 and twice topped at 3000gns for the 191 head of dairy cattle forward at Messrs Pyle and Sons’ Hemburyfort herd dispersal sale last week.

Fresh calved animals and those due in the summer were in great demand with almost none failing to achieve four-figure prices, with some 23 lots making 1500gns or more.

These included two cows bred by David and Paul Andrews from Plymouth; Beneknowle Blackjack Satin 11 PI EX-93 a 2000gns purchase in 2004 made the sales top price to Messrs F H Chave and Sons for their Peacehay herd near Wellington in Somerset.

The Vaakje family is a great feature of the Beneknowle herd and an EX93 Convincer, also purchased in 2004 for 2000gs by Mr Pyle, fetched 3000gns selling to Messrs C Thomas and Son for their Cliftures herd near Penryn in Cornwall. Vaakje is the ninth generation to be scored EX or VG and sold four months calved giving 47kg a day.

A contingent of buyers from west Wales were in determined form and included Kevin Thomas of Allstar Holsteins who purchased 14 cows including the much admired Barrina Integrity Rosalie EX93 at 2700gns and Hemburyfort Ermyntrude 26 VG86 two-year old at 2200gns – the top priced milking heifer. Messrs T I Pritchard and Son from Llandybie in Carmarthenshire secured 17 head and other major buyers included Parkham Farms from North Devon and Mr R J Goaman from Okehampton.

Averages: 137 cows £1182; 43 calved heifers £1252; 7 served heifers £1008 (Norton and Brooksbank with Greenslade, Taylor Hunt).