Jersey to stage live animal sale
Jersey to stage live animal sale
THE first auction of live animals to take place since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth will occur on the island of Jersey at the end of July.
The sale of Richard Waters Touchwood Jerseys herd of 106 pedigree cows will be held on July 27 at Haut de LOrme, Trinity, and is a direct result of quotas being established on the island.
"When quotas were introduced, the herd had inadequate to be profitable," says Glos-based auctioneer Keith Flemington of Bruton Knowles, who has being selling cows on the island for the past 20 years.
All the herd will be for sale. There are some impressive bloodlines that should attract plenty of interest, he says. "It is one of the top herds on the island, with bloodlines bred from two world famous female lines – Natalie and Mervia."
For potential mainland purchases, F&M restrictions prevent bringing any stock back home, but Mr Flemington believes this wont pose that much of a problem. "I know breeders who will be able to get bed and breakfast for their animals.
"The great relief is that we will can establish a value by auction – not a perfect value, but at least some test of the market, which we desperately need to have," he says. *