Leecastle 800gns
Huge turnouts a real stunner at Milnafua event
By Jeremy Hunt
LEADING Ross-shire Simmental breeder William Gill admitted he was "totally stunned" by the trade generated by the huge crowd that turned out for the dispersal of his Milnafua herd.
"The Perth ring was full, it was like a day at the bull sales," said Mr Gill after a day that saw a flying trade for bulls and a demand for females that showed a deep commitment among Simmental breeders.
The 180 head averaged £1250 but it was the 10 bulls that levelled at £3507 that produced a charged atmosphere around the ring. And the sale finished on a high note when the last lot to be offered made the top price of 7000 gns.
The bid came for stock bull Wroxall Field Marshall, bred by Ken Evans in his Warwickshire herd and bought by Milnafua at Perth in 1997 for 4500gns. This pale coloured son of Strathisla Capricorn had a Beef Value of 36 and had already demonstrated his breeding potential via some impressive progeny included in the sale. He heads for Inverness-shire with Brian Grant.
And it was one of his sons, Milnafua Jordan, that made the second highest price selling to Northern Ireland Simmental Club chairman Joe Wilson, Newry, who parted with 5200gns. He had a Beef Value of 35 and a 400-day-weight of 817kg.
Hayton Walcott, a bull bought in 1990 for just 3000gns had made his mark in the herd and it was a grandson, via Milnafua Diamond, that realised 4500gns to Herts breeders Paul and Judy Borlase for their Sacombe herd. This was Milnafua Junior, a March 1998 bull with a Beef Value of 26.
Another of Diamonds progeny hit the big time to top the females at 3800gns. The yearling heifer Milnafua Judy is out of a Brinkton Vibrant dam and was bought by P & M Forrester, Forfar, Angus.
The outstanding trade for females turned the event into one of the most successful Simmental sales in recent years. The leading female average was £1335 for 13 yearling heifers but even the 52 cows and spring born calves levelled at £1283.
Messrs Forrester also paid 2200 gns for the August 1998 born heifer calf Milnafua Jingle, a Field Marshall daughter.
A big contingent from Northern Ireland secured a wagon load of cattle and local breeders Balmanno Farms took 11 head paying up to 2200gns for a Diamond cow.
Leading cow bid came from Jill Hudson, who paid 3200gns for Milnafua Candy, a Walcott daughter, for her herd in Notts.
Averages 58 autumn calving cows £981, 10 autumn born bull calves £863, 14 autumn born heifer calves £913, 52 cows and spring born calves £1283, 11 heifers and spring born calves £1345, 12 autumn calving heifers £1063, 13 yearling heifers £1335; and10 bulls £3507. (United Auctions.) *
Better trade for milk producers
COMMERCIAL milk producers, the true barometer of the dairy industry, produced a "much improved trade" at the dispersal of the Southside herd of Holstein Friesians, according to auctioneers.
A change in farming policy on the Brickhouse Estate, owned by the C S Wills Trust in East Sussex, put the herd on the market in front of a receptive crowd at the Sale Centre, Penrith where 77 cows and calved heifers levelled at £613.
One of the four buyers from Scotland paid the top price. Gordon Stephen and Cos Conglass herd at Inverurie claimed Southside Bright Omar, a Hol-Steins S Omar daughter, which had given 11,142kg with her second and was sold dry to calve in July.
Messrs Stephen bought nine of the best cattle on offer including a 10,000kg heifer by Moet Gold Boulvard at 860gns. Her daughter, by Cogent Darwin, led the calves at 300gns to D Robinson, Cockermouth, Cumbria.
Served heifers met a good trade selling to 700gns – one of 15 heifers bought by E W Tuer, Northallerton, North Yorks. Other averages: 23 served heifers £593, and 33 maiden heifers £251. (Norton and Brooksbank). *
Big crowd despite dairy cattle flood
THE continued flood of dairy cattle brought on to dispersals did not affect the turnout at Chris and Sarah Gordons Claydon herd sale where bidding reached 1350gns.
This Bucks-based Holstein Friesian herd, with a yield average of 7710kg, saw the award winning Claydon Sunshine top the trade. Carrying a calf by Maughlin Storm, she was judged best cow of any breed in the county NMR competitions last year.
With three lactations of over 8500kg and tracing back to the noted Terling Sietske family she adds performance and pedigree to R R Barretts Rettbar herd.
The down-calving Claydon Kate 5th was one of several good young cows by Hanover-Hill SS Clyde. She made 880gns to D E Clarke and Son who took 10 lots.
Competition was strongest for fresh calvers and down calving stock. Calves at foot sold to 420gns to M Vowles for his nearby Hogshaw herd.
Averages 76 cows and calved heifers £559, 14 served heifers £485, and 13 maiden heifers £326. (Norton and Brooksbank.) *
Holsteins and shorthorns at cow dispersal
HOLSTEIN and Dairy Shorthorn breeders rubbed shoulders last week when Frank Milnes dispersed his Greaves herd at Bakewell, Derbyshire.
Six generations of the Milnes family have milked cows at Greaves House Farm, Stocksbridge, near Sheffield, but despite a Holstein herd being established in 1986, the family has remained loyal to Dairy Shorthorns.
The sale began with the dispersal of 27 Dairy Shorthorns, representing 55 years of breeding by the Milnes. The latest herd average for 15 cows was 8315kg at 3.64% fat and 3.17% protein and it was the in-calf heifer Greaves Cynthia 126, that led the bidding at 920gns.
By Granduc Rocky and out of a Hooton cow that had completed nine lactations with five over 7400kg, Cynthia 126th was due in August to Drisgol Dainty Prince. Buyer was Mr Hayward, Tuxford, Notts.
Another from the same family, the cow Greaves Cynthia 123 made 740gns to Mr Madeley, Bridgnorth, Salop. She was sold in-calf and had given over 8000kg in her last lactation.
The Holstein selection was led by an in-calf heifer sold dry carrying her second calf by Newhouse Ronald. Greaves Park Scarlett, by A Juniper Park, had a PIN + £58 and had classified VG86 after a first note of over 8000kg. Buyer was Mr Davies, Carmarthen at 1420gns.
Heading back to Sheffield was Greaves Grand Wildrose, a VG85 daughter of Gilbrook Grand. Claimed by L Morrell, she had given 6755kg as a heifer and sold three-months-calved at 1140gns giving 31.4kg.
Averages Shorthorn – eight cows 475gns, four heifers 541gns, four in-calf heifers 563gns. Holstein – 41 cows 665gns, 20 heifers 732gns, eight in-calf heifers 433gns. (Bagshaws Agricultural.) *
Leecastle 800gns
THE youngstock portion of the Leecastle herd of Holstein Friesians was dispersed at Carlisle to a top price of 800gns.
Almost 300 head were moved from CJC Lees, Edgefield, Norfolk farm to level served heifers at £473 and bulling and maiden heifers at £254.
Local buyer JJ Taylor paid the two top prices giving 800gns and 690gns for two served heifers by A Juniper Park. (Harrison and Hetherington.) *