Willsbro Holstein sale preview

With a not dissimilar thud to the slabs on the patio I laid over the bank holiday weekend, the rather impressive catalogue for next week’s Willsbro sale landed on my desk this morning. Containing 200 lots littered with a feast of famous Holstein names, the catalogue reinforces everything I’d previously thought about the sale – it is set to be a great day.

Ever since the Wills family started in earnest their buying spree of the top Holstein genetics in the world breeders have been anticipating this day and a glance through the book doesn’t disappoint. I’ll not list every one of my picks here – the line up would be too long, but I will, however, offer you my edited highlights and let you all fill in a few of the blanks.

So, first up in my list is the second lot in the sale Willsbro Goldwyn Allison. By noted sire Braedale Goldwyn, this one is out of Tolamika Dundee Allison, a $28,000 purchase from the 2008 Sale of the Stars, she gave 9342 in her first lactation and has a dam line with some impressive north American show results among it. Goldwyn Allison’s full ET brother sells too.

Then comes Willsbro Shottle d Amy (lot 5) she’s by Shottle and out of Ridgefield Dupleex Amy, a maternal sister to 72t yielding Sunnylodge Progress Amanda which sold for $20,000 and $18,000 Sunnylodge Progress Ashley and is related to a whole host of other noted cows.

And following that is Willsbro Shottle Ashlyn (lot 10), another by Shottle this time out of Ridgefield Gold Ashlyn, full sister to Sterndale Ashlyns Gold, an 18,500gns sale at last year’s Sale for the Century. Shottle Ashlyn’s granddam is Smidiehill Durm Ashlyn, which was intermediate champion and one of the Burke winning pair at the National All Breeds Show this February.

Ten lots later is Willsbro Goldwyn Berthe (lot 26), a Braedale Goldwyn daughter out of Pierstrain Leadoff Berthe. This one is maternal sister to Blondin Lyster Beauty, intermediate champion at the Royal Winter Fair and All-Canadian Junior two year old 2007 which also picked up a host of awards as a three year old too.

Up next in my list is Willsbro Describe (lot 44), a son of Bassingthorpe Leader Dilys (a cow I know Anthony Wills ranks as one of his favourites in the herd) and by Shottle. Leader Dilys is by Comeestar Leader and was supreme at Royal Cornwall and reserve all Britain mature cow in 2008 and all Britain mature cow in 2009.

One of the highest genomic index animals in Europe is next up in the form of Willsbro Emilyann (lot 50). This daughter of Ensenada Taboo Planet out of $630,000 cow Wabash-Way Emilyann has a GTPI of 2429. A full sister also sells.

More famous names are along shortly after with Willsbro Goldwyn F Erle (lot 52), she is by Goldwyn and out of UK breed record holder 76,000gns Field of Dreams Formation Erle. Bred from five generations of excellent rated cows, she sells with a GTPI of 1698.

After that is Willsbro Bolton Frantoosh (lot 60), a Sandy-Valley Bolton daughter out of Peak Sam Frantoosh, last year’s interbreed heifer champion at the Dariy Event and All Britain senior heifer in milk 2009 and reserve junior in milk champion at this year’s National All Breeds Show. A full brother also sells.

Then comes Willsbro S Licorice Million (lot 79), an England-Ammon Million daughter out of 23,000gns purchase Sterndale Shottle Licorice. This one has a dam stack with a myriad of USA show wins among it and a full sister also sells.

The highest GTPI rated animal in the catalogue and the second highest GTPI rated animal in Europe also catches my eye, this one is Willsbro Shottle Lila Z (lot 85), a Goldwyn daughter. She is out of Acecroft Goldwyn Lila, herself a daughter of $1,150,000 cow Lylehaven Lila Z, she is definitely one to look out for next week.

Another bull follows that, in the form of Willsbro Luster (lot 95), a Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez son out of 20,000gns dam Ridgefield Gold Dust. This one goes back to Idee Lustre, which was sold for $175,000 in 2001 and has to date given more than 70t of milk. She has a host of USA show awards to her name.

Following on is Willsbro Sanchez Marie (lot 101), a Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez daughter out of 17,000gns dam Denmire Shottle Marie 54. This dam is full sister to Denmire Shottle Marie 80, a 19,000gns sale at the 2008 Black and White Sale and also maternal sister to Denmire Marie Gibson, supreme champion at the Royal Welsh in 2008 and sold for 18,000gns at the Smidiehill dispersal.

And then comes Willsbro Goldwyn Oralie (lot 113), a Goldwyn daughter out of 22,000gns dam Weeton Oralie Allen, and maternal sister to Weeton Oralie Talent, a 38,000gns sale at the Weeton sale in 2008. a brace of full sisters sell.

One of this spring’s show team comes next in the shape of Willsbro Sho Rachel (lot 121), a Shottle daughter out of Willsbro Talent Rachel Red. She was reserve calf champion at the National All Breeds Show this year and Talent Rachel Red is maternal sister to Willsbro Goldwyn F Rachel a 6000gns sale at this year’s Genetic Elite sale.  

Following on from that is a full sister to the 6000gns heifer calf, Willsbro Goldwyn F Rachel, Willsbro Goldwyn Rachel (lot 123). She is out of Rockset Faber Rachel, a 16,000gns buy in 2006. A maternal brother and sister also sell.

After that is a maternal sister to last year’s Dairy Event interbreed champion, Willsbro Duplex Romance (lot 140). She is by Mesland Duplex and out of Riverdane BC Romance, a dam with four lactations at 10,000kg and above.

One of the last few lots to gain a mark in my catalogue is Willsbro Gold R Rose (lot141), a Goldwyn daughter out of Riverdane Rose. This dam, by Shottle, was bought for $255,000 at the Global Glamour sale in 2008 and is one of five generations of Ex classified cows in the back line of this heifer. A full sister also sells.

And finally getting a mark from me is not one animal, but a run of seven live animals and four embryos (lots 162-169), all of which have the noted cow Copywood Integrity Sara Red as their granddam. Anyone who knows their Holsteins will remember Integrity Sara Red as the 30,000gns cow which was champion at the NHS in 2004 and All Britain senior second calver in the same year, having been champion heifer in milk at the Royal in 2002 and All Britain intermediate cow in 2003 as well as breed and reserve interbreed at the Dairy Event in the same year.

I know I said it wouldn’t be a long list, but with a catalogue of riches as deep as this it is hard to make it a shorter list!

For those of you unable to get to the sale next Wednesday you can follow full live coverage here on Taking Stock….