AROUND THE SALES
AROUND THE SALES
HOLSTEIN FRIESIANS: Only three lots failed to reach 1000gns at the Border Counties Holstein Friesian Club sale where bidding reached 2900gns for the champion. This call came from R and M Rae, Lockerbie, for Lancashire breeders R and R Butterfields Ingleview Kate 32nd, a freshly calved Broker heifer giving 30.4kg on the day. Averages: 34 heifers in-milk £1269; six cow in-milk £1407; and six heifers in-calf £658. (Harrison and Hetherington)
MACHINERY: A recent dispersal near Devizes, Wilts, on behalf of Netheroak Investments drew buyers from around the country and saw prices including: New Holland TX34 (1990) £38,000; Ford FW30, £20,500; John Deere 4255 (1990) £19,500; New Holland TF42 (1984) £14,500; John Deere 3050 (1990) £13,500; Ford 7810 (1988) £12,250. Other principal prices included £7400 for a JCB 926 Forklift (1988) and £5750 for a Hardi 1600L mounted sprayer. An Accord 6m pneumatic drill went for £4500, as did a Gregoire Besson five-furrow reversible plough. (Dreweatt Neate)
CULL EWES: Trade began the new year on a high at Banbury, Oxon. Although overall quality was down on the pre-Christmas standard, an average of over £47 was still taken. The best heavyweights were making between £70 and £86, with lean Mules regularly in the £40 to £55 range and Welsh and Beulah ewes between £23 and £38.50. Averages: 683 lightweights, £35.37; 769 heavyweights £56.30; and 39 cull rams £66.10. (Midland Marts)
FINISHED SHEEP: At Exeter, Devon, on Monday, the 600 head averaged 144p/kg overall. Strongest trade was for those in the 32kg to 44kg weight range. Top price hoggs were £64.20, while the top price per kg was 168.9p/kg. Hoggs averaged 149p/kg for standardweights; 142.8p/kg for mediumweights; and 131.9p/kg for heavyweights. (Exeter Market Auctioneers)
HOLSTEIN FRIESIANS: Cold weather did nothing to dampen bidding at the dispersal of the commercially-managed Duxdale herd of Mr and Mrs Roger Shackleton at Haverfordwest, Dyfed. The sale was led by the 1180gns paid for Duxdale Alice 18th, a daughter of F16 Rocket, which went to Elm Farms, Llanboidy. Among the heifers, top bid was 1100gns for Duxdale Cindy Doll 4th, a daughter of Avondale Matt. A further 14 animals broke the 1000gns barrier, leading to an average of £935 for the calved heifers and £905 for the cows. Maiden heifers and calves levelled at £486. This marked the first on-farm sale held by the newly-formed Bob Jones, Prytherch and Co.
TEXELS: Topping the sale at Bushmills, Co Antrim, was an 1100gns call from Jim Wilson, Crumlin, to secure an embryo implanted in a Greyface ewe. The embryo was by Tinwald A-One and out of one of the best ewes in Alan Cochranes Seneirl flock. Andy Frazier travelled from Tenbury Wells, Worcs, to take two quality Seneirl females at 740gns and 700gns, the latter being in-lamb to new stock sire Tophill Clinker. A ewe lamb by Seneirl Armos from the Clougher flock of joint vendor Victor Chestnutt made 440gns. (Automart)