Trading bounces back in south-west
Trading bounces back in south-west
A RETURN to a level of competitive trading not seen around a dairy ring in the south-west for some time pushed prices to 4400gns when the Maidenstone herd of Holsteins was dispersed at Taunton Livestock Centre.
The sale ended four generations of dairy farming for the Garrett family of Romsey, Hants when cousins Steve and Mark offered 168 head. Limited facilities and unviable expansion costs were the reasons for the sale.
The Garrett partnership had been active purchasers at many leading herd sales over the years and had supplemented UK additions with several imports, notably the US-bred Lexine family which was unique to Maidenstone.
High yields have always been a feature of the herd and there were 34 head on offer with 9000-12,000kg lactations. And it was one of these, the second calver Airies Leader Hope, that made the top price of 4400gns.
This show-winning Comestar Leader daughter is bred out of the Browndale Stardust-sired Brynhyfryd Star Hope VG-85. She gave 9170kg as a heifer valued at £1419 based on 15.9ppl. Buyers were Pamela & Co, Ringwood, Hants. They also gave 3100gns for the in-calf heifer Fielders Bellwood Elizabeth 65th springing to Wa-Del Convincer.
The most admired home-bred heifer was Maidenstone Jolt Star VG, a Second-Look Jolt daughter out of the twice 10,000kg Bond-Haven cow by Prelude. Jolt Star had given 3900kg in 123 days and was served in January to Silky Gibson. She realised 2400gns to Graham Hinks for his Kingstonmagna herd in Dorset.
Hants dairy farmer A Moore secured two of the higher priced lots paying 2000gns for Blanchet Petunia Prelude and 1950gns for Maidenstone Storm Lexine. The second calver Petunia Prelude gave 10,064kg in her last note and the calved heifer Lexine is out of the 12,900kg Peace and Plenty Mark Lexine which was supreme champion at the 1996 North Carolina Black and White Show.
And there was even a strong trade for maiden heifers which reached 1200gns when Tim Quick added Maidenstone Rudolph Petunia to his Mendip herd. Graham Hinks also invested in the younger entry giving 1100gns for Maidenstone Jolt Hope, a daughter of the top-priced cow.
The day included a guest consignment from Martin Alfords noted Whipton herd at Sixpenny Handley, Dorset. His best was 1700gns for Whipton Jolt Amber a September-calved heifer out of a 11,400kg dam by Bobetty Rock. She heads for the Newfailand herd of Philip Jones. (RB Taylor and Sons) *