Stardale Holsteins disperse to 20,000gns in flying trade

A £3,200 average and a top call of 20,000gns were achieved at the sale of the Stardale herd’s milking portion from its Lancashire home on Wednesday (28 April).

Virtually the entire milking portion and the heifer calves went under the hammer at Tunsteads Farm, Barton, Preston, for Messrs Burrow, going to buyers across Ireland, England and Scotland.

The trade topped with the remarkable fifth calver Stardale Altaiota Vaajke (EX95) at 20,000gns. James McNeil, Cairnpat Holsteins, Stranraer overcome strong Northern Irish bidding to secure her.

See also: Arla raises standard milk price for May to 43.3p

Stardale Altaiota Vaakje made 20,000gns © Jane Steel

The Vaajke family has produced more than 600 EX cows to date, and Altaiota is the 14th generation of EX cows in her line.

The leading lady was served to Stantons Adorable in February and carries a PLI of +£151. She gave 8,503kg as a heifer and 13,092kg in her fourth lactation at 4.37% fat and 3.38% protein. In her fifth lactation she had averaged 53kg a day by 112 days in milk. 

Stardale Altaiota Vaajke © Richard Bostock

Mr McNeil was also successful in securing the second top price of the day for 12,000gns. Stardale Atwood Roxy (VG87) is a second calved granddaughter of the notable Willsbro Shottle Roxy 3 (EX96), who is still in production at Tunsteads after giving more than 150t of milk.

Stardale Atwood Roxy © Jane Steel

Close behind at 11,500gns was the heifer Stardale AltaLawson Vaajke (VG87). She is due again in September to Stantons Adorable. She sold to Millar Farms, Glenleary, Coleraine.

A 9,000gn bid from WS Richards, Larks herd, Mid Glamorgan, secured Stardale Kimball Jodie (EX91).

The biggest volume buyers were Wills Bros, Willsbro herd, Cornwall. They took home 50 milkers, to a top of 7,200gns for a Darlingo heifer from the Adeen family.

Stardale Kimball Jodie © Jane Steel

A total of 61 lots made 4,000gns or more. Norton and Brooksbank auctioneers described the herd as one of the best in the country.

A total of 117 individual buyers were successful on the day. Marteye sold 20% of the lots and more than 11,000 people watched the live stream of the sale.

Averages: 218 cows and calved heifers, £3,737; 125 calves, £1,967; 308 head in total, £3,220 (Norton and Brooksbank)