Pedigree B&Ws prove a strong lure for bidders
Pedigree B&Ws prove a strong lure for bidders
By Jeremy Hunt
UNDERPIN a sale of fashionably bred cows with a phenomenal herd average of 12,200kg and its no surprise when trading hits 60 four-figure prices including a top of 6500gns.
The dispersal of leading breeder John Hunters Watergate Holstein herd fulfilled everyones expectations, although buyers were left to ponder what might have been had more cash been in circulation.
Moved from their home farm in Oxon, the Watergate herd attracted a big crowd to the Beeston Livestock Centre, Cheshire. The opportunity to tap into this genetic base generated one of the best trades seen for pedigree milking stock so far this year.
Two Maizefield Bellwood daughters pulled the top bids with the second calver Watergate Bellwood Lulu in the lead at 6500gns, a clear 1000gns ahead of Watergate Bellwood Della.
Lulu came into the ring early in the day and several big names were soon in contention. Lulu is out of the 11,800kg Beechpike Chiefmark Lulu which was sold for 10,000gns at the Severnside sale in 1995 and is closely related to the top Hanoverhill bulls Inspiration and Lieutenant. She was AId in April to Dixie-Lee Aaron and is rated PLI +£26 and PIN +£32.
Lulu, who had given 12,660kg as a heifer and was well on the way to 11,000kg after 182 days of her second lactation, heads for Usk, Monmouthshire to join the BB herd of Bev Baker.
Her four-month-old heifer calf by Pen-Col Decision sold for 2400gns and was one of several purchases made by Alan Bristow for his Alanta herd in Surrey.
Watergate Bellwood Della, a Cogent contract-mated cow with a PLI +£75 and PIN +£75, made 5500gns to A and N Pearce for their Sanigar herd at Berkley, Glos. She had given a staggering 15,377 in a 305-day heifer lactation and put 25,891kg in the tank after milking for 577 days following an October 1998 calving.
Once again there were several familiar faces around the sale ring from the Northern Ireland Holstein scene.
This time it was Aubrey Patterson who paid the most giving 3500gns for Watergate Bell T Primrose for his Ballycrochan herd in Co Down. The name of this heavy milking third calver gives a clue to its pedigree which traces back to the legendary show cow Somerford Falcon Primrose 5th.
Bell T Primrose, another Bellwood daughter, is out of Dynasty Tab S Primrose. She gave 12,000kg as a heifer followed by 15,400kg and then a 412-day yield of 19,000kg. She was AId in October to Aaron. Joining her for the journey home was Watergate Fatal M Della, a calved heifer out of Altagen Mascot Della, that was AId to Ricecrest Brett in December and bought by Mr Patterson for 3000gns.
Also heading across the water was Kimland Bellwood Concordia 3rd, a second calver with a 12,400kg heifer note taken by Gerry ODonnell, Co Fermanagh at 3000gns.
Alan Bristow paid 3300gns for the imported served heifer Cedarwal Cara Formation, bred out of a 13,300kg dam by Cleitus Luke.
Averages: 116 cows and calved heifers £1482; 37 served heifers £912 and 26 recently served and maiden heifers £457 (Norton and Brooksbank/Wright-Manley). *