First English Friesian sale is successful
29 March 2002
First English Friesian sale is successful
By Jeremy Hunt
THE first herd sale of Holstein Friesians to be held in England since the foot-and-mouth crisis produced a top price of 4600gns when the Holmeden herd staged a reduction at Borderway Mart last week.
John Hodgson and his family from Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle, offered milkers, maiden heifers and a group of 10 young bulls. The fixture also included a guest consignment from the Bricknell herd of the Carter family from York.
The Hodgsons, who have invested heavily in North American genetics, have established several well known cow families at Holmeden, but the Martha family is undoubtedly the most respected.
And it was a member of this family, Holmeden Convincer M Martha that drew the top call from G Moorhouse, Skipton, North Yorks. The November 2000-bred Martha, who has a PIN of £58, is by Wa-Del Convincer and out of Moet Manager Martha. She was sold in-calf to Rigilo Juror Indro.
The sale attracted a big crowd to Carlisle as breeders relished the opportunity to inspect stock and make purchases based on a wide selection of herd contemporaries.
There were two 4400gns deals. The first came for Holmeden Leduc Mahala, an ET-bred heifer out of Westcotes KC Sarah. Mahala, by Lystel Leduc, is the only daughter in the UK from this family and is bred from five generations of Ex cows. Her dam gave 9907kg as a heifer. Buyers were * and M Hodgson, Burgh-by-Sands.
The 4400gns price tag marked the leading bid for Bricknell cattle when DE and LM Wilson, Penrith, secured Bricknell Jolt Ruby, a 1998-bred cow by Second-Look Jolt and out of an 11,000kg Prelude cow from the noted Ruby family.
S and A Morley, of Petteril Bank, Penrith, took the next two highest lots from Holmeden. They gave 4100gns for the November 2000-bred Holmeden Convincer Missy (PIN £45) and 3800gns for the in-calf heifer Holmeden Mtoto M Martha. She has been inseminated to Bosside Reuben.
JD and ME Holgate, Settle, North Yorks, were active among the top end of the trade and paid 3300gns for Holmeden Tugalo Martha (PIN £46) – a July 2000-bred heifer in-calf to Convincer.
They also took the 1998-bred cow Holmeden Marty M Martha – a 9000kg daughter of Risecrest Marty and inseminated to Dellka Juror Gordon – plus two others at 2600gns.
Bricknell Charles Ethel 2nd, a Boulet Charles third calver bred out of a Prelude dam, stayed locally with EM and E Pattinson.
The Wilson partnership also paid 3500gns for the 1999-bred Bricknell August Ruby 7th out of a Blackstar cow and 3200gns for Bricknell August Ruby 3rd, a 1998 cow by Bricknell Colvermist Augusta, and out of a Prelude dam.
Averages: Holmeden – 56 females £2378 and six bulls £1645. Bricknell – 31 females £2513 (Harrison and Hetherington). *
Holmeden Convincer M Martha PI ET was top price of 4600gns, from John Hodgson and family, Holmes Mill, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle.