Weeton HFs win the day
Weeton HFs win the day
at West is Best sale
By Jeremy Hunt
HOLSTEIN Friesian cattle from John and Doreen Loftuss Weeton herd made the two top prices and the highest average in the "West is Best" sale at Magor, Gwent. Top calls were 11,500gns and 6200gns, with their 38 head averaging £2477.
The sale also included consignments from three Gwent-based breeders – the BB herd of B E Baker and Sons, Usk; the Wiltor herd of T W and B E Jones and Son, Newport; and the Tiptop herd of P D and G M OBrien, Blackwood.
The 79 lots levelled at £2094 with BBs 11 at £1854, Wiltors 23 at £1900 and Tiptops seven at £1030.
The big crowd around the sale-ring of host vendors, Terry and Barbara Jones and their son David, produced the strongest trade for the youngest cattle and it was one of the babies that produced the top price of 11,500gns.
The five-month-old calf Weeton Fatal Balise, out of the show-winning cow Weeton Inspire Balise – All-Britain 4YO production champion 1998 – proved another jewel for Alan Bristows Alanta herd in Surrey. Inspire Balise, bred from this great family established at the Weeton herd in Lancashire, gave 16,201kg at 4.22% fat and 3.26% protein in 305 days in her second lactation.
Mr Bristow also secured Weeton Stormy G Allyson, a January-born heifer calf by Maughlin Storm and out of the 12,800kg Steadfast CC Gail, which stood reserve champion and All-Britain mature cow at the 1997 National Holstein Show. She made 6200gns.
Best for Bev Baker was a 5000gns call from Aubrey Patterson, Co Down to take BB Labelle Beta. This PIN +£112 heifer, carrying a calf by Metro, has a conditional contract to Cogent for a bull calf. Shes bred from one of Italys most influential Holstein Friesian families and her dam, Aquila Prelude Elvira, was sold by the Baker family for 15,000gns in 1996.
There was also contract interest in the yearling heifer Wiltor Lily Roxette, an Etazon Lord Lily daughter from the Kimo family offered by Messrs Jones and Son. She has a £2250 contract with Cogent for a Caernarvon Jay son and achieved the days best for Wiltor at 3600gns to an undisclosed buyer. (Norton and Brooksbank.) *
Mums the word… The five-month-old calf which sold for 11,500gns at the West is Best sale was out of this champion cow,Weeton Inspire Balise.