Top honour goes to Dairy Shorthorn duo at Chelford
Top honour goes to Dairy Shorthorn duo at Chelford
By Jeremy Hunt
DAIRY Shorthorn breeders, whose famous Coates Herd Book is 150 years old this year, witnessed another milestone in the breeds history at their Chelford show and sale last week.
John Thornborrow, who has been the breeds official auctioneer for more than 30 years, took the rostrum for the last time pending his retirement next year.
Top honour was a double victory for David and Linda Spaltons successful Maxton herd in Derbyshire. They brought out two stylish heifers to stand champion and reserve.
In front was the roan Maxton Graceful 34th, a fresh-calver by Amber Barrington Dignity and out of a milky seventh lactation dam with a top yield of 8251kg.
Buyer at 1400gns were CWS Farms, Oadby, Leics. They also paid 660gns for Newark breeder John Haywards Hooton Fair Maid, a Twells Barrington Supreme heifer.
Reserve supreme and reserve heifer champion was Maxton Lady Jane 4th, a red heifer by Dignity. She made 920gns to T and A Pearn Wyatt and Son, Norwich.
Mr Thornborrow said after the event: "Heifers giving 20-25kg a day will produce around £1500 in milk value from their first lactation. At an average of £740 for heifers on the day these cattle look great value."
Among the other four-figure bids was a 1020gns call from J G and M Peters, Anglesey, for Cumbria breeders George and David Dents red heifer Winbrook Bates Duchess 5th and 1000gns for J Hole and Sons second calver Amber Millicent claimed by J F Gilman, Leek, Staffs.
AVERAGES: Six cows £686; 47 heifers £740; one maiden heifer £388 and three bulls £406. (Harrison and Hetherington with Frank R Marshall and Co)
Maxton Graceful 34th, champion and top price at the Dairy Shorthorn event.