Function forces top prices
Function forces top prices
By Jeremy Hunt
POWERFUL, functional heifers promising sustained high levels of production were picked off at the highest prices by the keen bidders at the Lancaster Holstein Dairy Sales fixture.
Despite the over-quota situation there was no shortage of producers prepared to pay 780gns and over for the best milking cattle. It created a heifer average just short of £700 – well above recent sales – with the 92 cows and heifers levelling at £675.
The top price of 1000gns was paid twice – to John and Margaret Dennison and to John and Doreen Loftus.
The Dennisons award winning Denmire herd, grazed almost to the seashore on the sheltered south-west coast of Cumbria, consigned the bought-in heifer Newera Starz Binky to share the top price after standing champion.
The all-white heifer, by Pinehurst Starz, is out of the 9000kg Deerslet Fair Play Binky GP 82. She was admired for her style, balance and outstanding udder and led the show classes under judge Mr Brian Weatherup from Fife. Three weeks calved, she was giving over 30kg on the day. Buyer was Neville Hylands, Co Down.
And heading for the same home, also at 1000gns, was the Loftus Weeton KJ Deb. This Ked Juror daughter is out of the 12,000kg winning cow Stonetown R Deb which was a second prize winner at the 1999 Three Counties Show. KJ Deb has a PIN +£59 and PLI +£72. Her maternal sister, Weeton Second Look Deb, sold for 1700gns at this venues January sale.
Northern Ireland buyers, who were a major bidding force at last months successful sale, were again in top gear and included D Foreman of Belfast who gave 900gns for a Crookgate heifer from W and T D Jackson, Out Rawcliffe, Preston.
From the herds successful Pandora family, this young heifer had classified VG as a two-year-old just days before the sale. She had been calved four weeks and was giving 33kg a day. Bred from four generations of VG dams, Pandora 56th is by the Lindy son Shoremar Milan and out of a 9800kg dam by Ernlo Chairman Valiant.
Co Armagh milk producers J J and C A Acheson, also gave 900gns for Liscabank ED Finness, a calved heifer from A B and J Parkinson and Sons, Out Rawcliffe. Shes by the home-bred bull Liscabank Eddison – a son of Astre Starbuck.
This was one of 12 cattle bought by Messrs Acheson. (Norton and Brooksbank/ Lancaster Auction Mart). *