Low confidence hits dairy prices

By Farmers Weekly staff

OVER £550 has been wiped off average prices for dairy cattle as a result of a loss of confidence in the milk sector, report auctioneers.

David Briggs of Crewe-based Wright-Manley highlights the fall in prices brought to light at the recent dispersal of the Hayford herd of Ayrshires which took place on Monday at Westbury, Shropshire.

In 1992 owners RT & JML Joness on-farm sale saw prices average £950 a head; this weeks trade levelled all stock at £398.

Despite the gloom, top price of the day at 1050gns was for one of the few animals which was not home bred.

Birtles Pale Girl 18th, a daughter of Bankend Lord Ontario was giving 30kgs daily in her second lactation and is a former Shropshire and West Midlands Show first prize winner.

She found a new home with Alan Norbury of Knutsford, Cheshire .

Only one other entry broke the four-figure barrier when Hayford White Pansy 105th, a daughter of Townhead Dahlias Juror and milking with her fourth calf, sold to another member of the Jones family for 1000gns.

John Jones also took away the first calver Hayford Alice 80th, a daughter of Round Bush Silver Coin, for 900gns.

Averages: 103 head, £398.80 (Wright-Manley)