Lemington dispersal sells to 5,000gns

The biggest on-farm Holstein herd dispersal in Scotland since 2007 took place last week when Jimmy and Fiona Hodge sold their Lemington herd in Berwickshire. The sale had many major attractions for buyers an impressive 10,000 litre average was obviously one as was the outstanding functional traits tremendous longevity, fertility and dairy strength achieved over the last ten years.

With so many quality animals on offer it was no surprise that the ring-side crowd was huge and the opening trade was brisk with thrilling atmosphere. Volume buyers also made the most of the quantities on offer with numerous farms purchasing twenty or more.

Top price came near the end of day one for Lemington Jazzbolt Placida a daughter of Colvend Jazzbolt and bred from ten generations of Excellent or Very Good dams. Her dam was a youthful Goldwyn scored VG86 and with so much more still to offer. This is the same direct maternal line to Alistair and Colin Lairds show winning cow Ardgairney Juror Placida EX95. She sold for 5,000gns to B O’Connor, Co Cork, Republic of Ireland.

One of the highlights in the sale was the Baxter daughters who sold with width and strength and amazing udders. Selling for 4,400gns was Lemington Baxter Jane VG88.This youthful second calver was giving well over 40kgs and joins the herd of J and K Rennie, Brockehill, Ayrshire.

Another youthful and fancy uddered cow that attracted a lot of attention was Lemington Axoim Trammy VG86 bred from seven generations of Excellent or Very Good dams. She was sired by Canyon-Breeze Axiom and from the Quality Jet Trammy family. She was purchased by AH Laird, Blyth Farm, Linton for 4,200gns.

An outstanding truck load of special young cows and heifers was purchased by R McNeil, Cairnpat, Wigtownshire the best in this group was Lemington Design Linsey. She was a young second calve cow sired by Regancrest Design and was freshly calved in the middle of October she sold for 3,500gns.

Also sired by Regancrest Design and selling for 3,500gns was Lemington Design Benita going to one of the up and coming herds in the UK owned by the Lawrie family Grangehall, Lanarkshire. Benita was near the end of her first lactation due early January to Picston Shottle.

At the end of day one the trade exploded with a number of freshly calved and recently calved heifers on offer. These exceptional young animals were a credit to the Hodge family and their fantastic team with the best of these heifers selling for 3,600gns.Lemington Jordan Velvet was sired by Gillette Jordan and bred from Koepon O-Man Velvet EX91, Velvet was purchased by J Mitchell and Partners, Kennetsideheads, Roxburghshire.

Day two commenced as day one had ended with flying trade for the in-calf heifers with a number of volume buyers selecting the best of these tremendous animals. Topping this group was a heifer that Mr Hodge purchased in the spring at the Global Classic Sale from Sterndale Holsteins. Sterndale Lavanguard Tuesday was sired by Comestar Lavanguard, her grand dam sold for 10,000gns in the Sale of the Century in 2009. Tuesday sold for 4,000gns to J Mitchel and Partners, Kennetsideheads, Roxburghshire.