Rock-solid trade in dairy cow futures
Rock-solid trade in dairy cow futures
CONSIGNMENTS of Holstein Friesians from Eire and Holland combined for the Genetic Advancement sale at Carlisle, where fashionable breeding generated a rock-solid trade.
The top price was 8800gns with an average of £2129 for the 48 head.
In line with recent sales of high-calibre genetics, buyers were taking a long-term view and refused to allow the present uncertainties to cramp the progress of future breeding policies.
Eire vendors George and Peter Kingston had drafted a tempting selection of stock from their Craden Hill herd in Co Cork. Complemented by a deeply-bred list from Dutchman Adolf Langhouts ALH Genetics, it represented a "whos who" of international black-and-white cattle.
The sale presented several first UK-offerings including the first calves by Parker Aero Wade, Wells Catalyst and Jo-Wal Cubby Metro, plus several cows from leading USA families new to these shores.
Greenmount College, Antrim, paid 8800gns for ALH Genetics Patronella, a nine-month-old Brabant Star Patron daughter that was a hot tip for a high price. Out of the 11,285kg second calver Dixie-Lee Britton (VG86-2YR-USA), this Mascot daughter boasted a glittering USA pedigree including Prices Melwood Betsy as maternal granddam – former No 1 CTPI cow in the USA.
A phone bid from the Rallie Syndicate, Co Louth secured a high indexing (PIN +£128) first choice heifer calf due to be born this autumn from ALH Genetics. Sired by Mattie G and out of the 13,726kg, 3.6% protein Miss Hardys Luke Rallie, she made 8000gns.
David Eagles Cottonfarm herd in Essex adds the February-born heifer calf Bonus Tokeyo taken at 6000gns from ALH Genetics. Shes by Wells Catalyst and out of Jeffrey-Way Bellwood Tokeyo, combining the best of this herds high yielding cow families.
Messrs Wood, Preston paid 4500gns for a first choice heifer calf due December – Blackstar x Moralta Inspiration Fame – from Craden Hill. And 4200gns was paid by Philip Green for his Eshton herd at Skipton, North Yorks for ALHs first choice heifer calf due October – Merit Bestow x QG Kitty.
AVERAGES: 19 Craden Hill heifers £1887 and 29 ALH Genetics heifers £2292. (Harrison and Hetherington with Taaffe Auctions.) *