Dispersal attracts 6000gns best bid for Comely heifer
Dispersal attracts 6000gns best bid for Comely heifer
SOME farmers who have planned a dairy herd dispersal this spring may be approaching their fixture date with trepidation, but David and Elizabeth Williams saw a great trade at the dispersal of their Comely herd.
A top price of 6000gns and 24 head selling for 2000gns and more produced a welcome boost to confidence and a clear commitment to the future as breeders competed strongly for pure imported Holsteins.
Scotland and Sussex
Buyers from as far afield as Scotland and Sussex converged on Westfield Farm, Dursley, Glos and produced an average of £1700 for the 64 cows and heifers.
But it was the younger end of the entry that contained the most sought-after cattle and among them was the days top price, Comely Integrity Barb, an August 1996-bred served heifer.
Sold with one Grade A embryo by Meadow Bridge Megabuck, this Robthom Integrity heifer was served in October by Shen-Val NV LM Formation. She is out of Hanoverhill Logic Berry, bought for 11,000gns at the 1994 Wyevalley dispersal and now a fifth generation Excellent cow.
Integrity Barb was bought by Andrew Pearce for his Sanigar herd at Berkeley, Glos. Her dam made 4000gns to E T Genetics, Penallt, Monmouthshire.
The highly successful Melody family met a great response throughout the day. The family originated with the purchase of Startmore CM Melody (Ex), herself a granddaughter of the famous A Jim-Mar-D Astronaut Gail.
CM Melody, now 10-years-old, made 4500gns to Roger and Diane Steeples and Chris Freeman for their Cramar and Whipenscott herds.
Second highest call of the day was 5800gns given for a CM Melody daughter by Norfolk farmers L G Brigham and Sons, buying for their Easthaugh herd. They took Comely Southwind Melody 4th, a 1992-bred cow with a best of 10,800kg and in-calf to Eastview Influence Mattie.
Another from the same family, the in-calf heifer Comely Dom-binator Melody, made 5200gns. She is eligible for MOET herd evaluation and has already attracted interest for bull contracts. Served in September by Influence Mattie, she was bought by Tony Varnam, Coleshill, War-wicks for his Hoarehall herd. The 12 Melody lots averaged £3075.
Among the most active buyers were Boscawen Farm Partners, Truro, Cornwall who took several cattle to a top price of 3400gns given for the in-calf heifer Abelaine Lieut Molly for their Tregothnan herd. This Canadian-bred heifer is from the famous Marq I line and was served in December by Formation.
AVERAGES: 64 cows and calved heifers £1700; 17 served heifers £2203; 19 maiden heifers £1000 and three bulls £875. (Norton and Brooksbank)
By Jeremy Hunt
Comely Integrity Barb made the top price of 6000gns at the Westfield Farm dispersal.
By Jeremy Hunt