Neatishall to 6000gns

A total of 22 animals made from 3000gns to 6000gns – including six at 4000gns or more – at the dispersal of Fran and Louis Baugh’s (trading as J H and P E Nicholson Ltd, Neatishead Hall, Norwich) Neatishall Holstein herd.

A packed ringside at Beeston Castle Auction Mart produced a tremendous trade throughout the day with the top bid of 6000gns paid for Neatishall Talent Ricki (Ex93-2E) the Reserve All Britain Junior Cow for 2010.

She was milking with her third lactation having given over 14000 kg and PD’d back in calf to Wyman for the end of the year. She sold in a joint purchase to leading farm nutritionist Paul Findley for his Bestfed Herd and to Ken and Rebecca Proctor (T/A R Paterson) for their Airfield Herd at Shipdham, Norfolk. Her July ’11 heifer calf by Pine-Shelter Laramee-Mor sold for 2500 gns to Geoff Windsor of the Hendomen Herd, Powys.

Second top seller was the milking heifer Neatishall Decker Rosina (VG86-2yr) who was also due for the late part of the year to Wyman. She sold to N J and L C Sercombe, Melton Mowbray. Not far behind was the January calved heifer Neatishall Dancer Leola (VG85-2yr), a daughter of ALH Dancer and bred from 6 generations of VG/EX cows she now joins the Yardgrove Herd at Blandford, Dorset.

Three animals each sold for 4000 gns; the first was Neatishall Duplex Ricki 2nd (VG87 & SP), a milking second calf daughter of Duplex due with her third in October to Shottle. She now joins John Cawston’s Poringland Herd at Bungay, Suffolk. Also selling at this price was her younger sister, Neatishall Bolton Ricki (GP84-2yr), due with her second next December to Goldfish and she sold to Aled Jones, Caernarfon for his Hendy Herd.

The final animal at this figure was one of the few animals in the sale that wasn’t homebred; Huddlesford Sanchez Paradise (VG85-2yr) is a daughter of Sanchez and the 6th generation of top classified dams. She sold due with her second in December to Fever and was purchased by Peter Rout for his Tibenham Herd at Norwich.

Two consecutive lots in the catalogue sold for 3800 gns each. The first was Neatishall Damion Kitty (VG88 & SP), a February calved second lactation cow sold to Paul and Ruth Robinson of the Woodhey Herd at Nantwich and the second was another Damion daughter, Neatishall Damion Leoloa (VG87) that was due in October with her third and sold to Elwyn Thomas of the Gatrog Herd at Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

In-calf heifers sold to 3300 gns for Neatishall Advantage Pollula 2nd by Rosedale Advantage Red and due in August to Baileys Red Rock; she sold to T Crawford and Co Ltd of Bungay, Suffolk for their Topcrofty Herd. At just 200 gns less was Neatishall Damion Marie 3rd, in-calf for June to Comestar Lofficiel with sexed semen and sold to Baltier Farming Company of Whithorn, Wigtownshire.

Maiden Heifers sold to 3500 gns for one of the last lots in the sale – Neatishall Wisconsin Pollula Red. This May 2011 daughter of April-Day Wisconsin Red, and a sister to the top priced in-calf heifer was the choice of Designer Holsteins of Ingatestone, Essex. Another red daughter of Wisconsin, also born in May last year sold for 2800 gns.

Averages: 122 cows and milking heifers (including 49 heifer calves at £1014.64) £2709.25; 53 in-calf heifers £2182.22; 8 served heifers £1634.09; 59 maiden heifers £1497.23.

(Wright Manley)