Farming Eye

Heavy snow didn’t deter vendors and buyers from travelling to Skipton to ensure a robust 30-strong turnout for the main January Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton Auction on Monday which saw a top price of £2420 for the overall champion.

Sale leader came from the Smellows pedigree Holstein Friesian herd of Jeremy Taylor, in the form of the home-bred freshly calved heifer, Smellows Corio Irene, by his former stock bull, the Picston Shottle son Smellows Coriolanis.

Giving 32kg, the 16 days-calved victor is herself out of a VG 86-classified dam who averaged 10,200kg at 4.22% butter fat over her first year’s lactations. The grand dam, Daleview Matt Irene, bred in Lancashire by Richard Parker, of Bleasdale, Garstang, came with similar proven credentials, having produced 110 tonnes of milk over 14 lactations in her lifetime at Small House.

Buying the champion was Wilmot Blockley, of W E and O Blockley and Son, Tarvin, Chester, who continues to travel to Skipton to source high performing milkers.

The second prize freshly calved heifer and reserve champion, a home-bred daughter of the Semex sire, Regancrest Dolman, and giving 30kg, from Skipton regular Peter Baul, Bishop Thornton, sold for £1900 to Daniel Reed, of Bielby, York, who left with a 19-strong haul of both freshly calved heifers and cows, including the third prize freshly calved heifer from Malcolm and Robert Swires, Harrogate, at £1950 and from the same vendors a first prize freshly calved cow at £1900, along with the second prize and top price freshly calved cow from A Lawson and Son, Otley, at £2020.

Averages: Freshly calved heifers £1785 (£1926 for pedigree entries) and freshly calved cows £1705 (pedigree £1835).

by Chrissie Long

The first sale to disperse the Twinfields herd of Holsteins for Messrs Bainbridge saw a top price of 3800gns paid by an undisclosed breeder from south west Scotland for Twinfields Ice PAck Jenny a September calved Pennview Ice Pack daughter.

She is out of an excellent EX93, 60 tonne Integrity cow from the home developed Jenny family.

Following her at 3700gns was a heifer giving 36kg a day by Karona Bonair that calved in early November. This was Twinfields Karona B Trixie which had earlier won reserve champion in the club show and sale and is out of an EX94 homebred cow by Roylane Jordan, the buyer was R McNeil, Cairnview, Wigtownshire.

Then at 3600gns was Twinfields Laudan Ivory, a Laudan daughter out of Ridgefield Storm Ivory, an Ex95 Maughlin Storm daughter. She sold giving 36kg a day having calved in November. Taking her home was R McNeil.

And making 3500gns was Twinfields Shotgun Karen, a first calved Gen-I-Beq Shotgun daughter. This one, which calved in December is out of a Tobthom Integrity daughter and was knocked down to Messrs Bryson, Mauchline.

Taking the same call was Twinfields Final Cut Kitty, a Gillette Final Cut daughter out of a Comestar Stormatic sired dam. This heifer sold to R McNeil.

One of the most sought after outfits in the Twinfields line up was the Advent Red daughter of the American Elm Park Tiara Red, Twinfields Advent Tory Red. She is bred off five straight Excellent cows and calved her second calf in mid October last year. At 3400gns she was purchased by S Wood, Manor Farm, North Yorkshire. Her 3 month old heifer calf by Kamps-Hollow Arudolf Red made 2,200gns to Messrs Bradburn of Orrell House Farm, Wigan.

As expected the heifer calves were keenly bid for with a 2700gns call claiming Twinfields Lobster Sara ET out of the 3500gn Twinfields Million Sara, and an overall average of over £1200 for the very young heifer calves.

Averages; 25 heifers in calf/ in milk £2549.40, 24 cows in calf/in milk £1815.63, 21 heifer calves £1160, one bull calf £315 (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long

A smaller entry of cattle forward at Bentham’s weekly sale of freshly calved dairy females saw a top price of £2300 for Ken and Michael Robinson of the Kiln Hall herd with their homebred pedigree heifer Kilnhall Rex Dazzle 260. 14 days calved and giving 5.5 gallons, she was knocked down to Doug Graves of Armathwaite.

Peter and David Knowles of the Kendalcragg herd closely followed with Tullithwaite Master Bounty, a pedigree heifer bred by Henry Willison. Calved 12 days and giving 6.5 gallons, she was knocked down to Tony Hunter of Berrier at £2200. Freshly calved heifers averaged £1922.00.

by Chrissie Long

Prices hit 3750gns at the first Western Holstein Club Focus Milk sale at Beeston on Friday, with a record average for calved heifers.

The top price of the day was paid for Townhouse Sam Elissa from the Roberts family of S F R Farming, Tarporley. This daughter of Mr Sam has eight generations of VG/EX dams behind her, was sold five weeks fresh, had been scored (VG86‐2yr) and was sold giving 40kg. After a competitive bout of bidding from several sources the hammer eventually fell at 3750gns to P and A Mercer who were buying for their Sandringham Herd, Nomansheath, Whitchurch.

The second top seller was the reserve champion from the pre-sale show. Dunnerdale Sterling Annie; this outstanding heifer was sold giving 33kg and sold to Rob Ward for 3500gns for his Wayring Herd, Whitchurch.

A total of five more heifers then sold at 3000gns or more, including Bidlea Padbury Tagasling from Ray Brown and Partners, Holmes Chapel which sold for 3200gns for a daughter of Bidlea Padbury whose three nearest dams have given a total of 290t of milk.

Then at 3100gns was Fieldside Clematis 17, from Harry and Vera Jolly of Great Eccleston Preston for a Cogent Loader daughter sold giving 38kg a day. Three more sold at 3000gns and these were the champion heifer, Dunnerdale Lou Gipsy, a December 2010 daughter of Jenny Lou Marshall, from the Boow’s who was sold giving 40kg.

Also at this figure was Bilsrow Alexander England from David and Sheila Tomlinson, Preston, a daughter of Golden Oaks ST Alexander with 4 VG/EX dams as well as Grosvenor H Loader Brianne, another daughter of Cogent Loader consigned by Marshall and Patsy Barnett of Holmes Chapel.

All five of these were purchased by Alan Smith on behalf of the family business of T Smith and Sons and were among 27 head destined for their noted high yielding Bumblebee Herd at Hinckley, Leicestershire.

A further 17 heifers sold from 2500 to 2900gns in a trade which was very rewarding to all vendors and further highlighted the demand for top quality heifers fresh in milk.

Averages; four cows £1622.25, 65 calved heifers £2341.98 (Wright Manley).

by Jonathan Long

Some 36 freshly calved dairy cattle were forward at the annual New Year Semex Dairy Show held at Bentham Auction Mart with judge, Stephen Robinson of the Longstar herd, Burton in Lonsdale, awarding his championship honours to Messrs P and D Knowles of the Kendalcragg herd, Kendal for their freshly calved heifer by Moet Melody. This one sold to George Mitchell, Skelton for £2300.

However, it was the reserve champion that took the top price on the day for Messrs J and M Robinson of the Kelletview herd, Nether Kellet. Their pedigree heifer Kelletview Whats Up Blondy went on to sell for £2450 to Tony Hunter, Berrier.

by Chrissie Long

Quality milking heifers and young cows met a strong demand at Holstein NI’s December show and sale, hosted by Taaffe Auctions at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira, where trade peaked at 3120gns with an almost complete clearance and an average of £2107 for 44 lots.

Sale leader at 3120gns was the July 2010-born Ballycairn Pello Meike exhibited by the father and son team of William and Andrew McCollum, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, who sold three heifers to average £2940 each.

Sired by the home-bred O-Bee Manfred Justice son Ballycairn Oman Pello (PLI £228) – the number six PLI bull in the UK – she is out of Ballycairn Alton Meike which gave more than 11,000kg at 3.79% butterfat and 3.22% protein in her second 305-day lactation. Buyer was Alan Neill who runs the Brackagh herd based at Portadown, County Armagh.

Also on Mr Neill’s shopping list at 2780gns was the July 2010-born Ballycairn Laomedon Etta. She is by the McCollum’s home-bred Jose son Ballycairn Laomedon and is out of Ballycairn Apina Etta which produced more than 8300kg at 4.02% butterfat and 3.17% protein in her heifer lactation.

Two lots came under the hammer at 3050gns each. First to go was Ards Alexander Sara ET, a September 2010-born entry consigned by Harry Patton and Sons, Newtownards, County Down. Sired by Golden Oaks St Alexander, she is out of Ards Shottle Sasha ET – maternal sister to the noted Ridgefield Sara Rampage Red ET (VG89-3yr). This one joins the Corryglass herd based at Fintona, County Tyrone.

David McClurg, Crossgar, County Down, paid out 3050gns to secure the November 2010-born Carrowcroft Jerzy Jean, bred by the day’s pre-sale judge Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore, County Down.  Sired by Zandenburg Jerzy, she is out of Crichel Dante Maisy 2 EX LP60 which has averaged more than 9,994kg at 4.39% butterfat and 3.43% protein in six lactations.

Next best at 2950gns was Ards Planet S Ruth 2 ET, a potential 10^th generation VG and EX heifer from the Patton family’s noted Ards herd. Sired by Ensenada Taboo Planet, her dam is Ards Shottle C Ruth 3 ET. This one was snapped up by William Herron, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh.

Following close behind at 2900gns was Ards Baxter Shiraz ET, also consigned by Harry Patton and sons Wallace and Wilson. This potential 7^th generation VG and EX heifer is by Emerald Acres SA T Baxter, and is out of Ridgefield Talent Sara Red ET VG89, who has sons at Genus and Cogent. She joins a County Tyrone-based herd.

Geoffrey Patton also realised 2750gns for Carrowcroft Million Avice which caught the eye of William Herron. Sired by England Ammon Million, she is out of Carrowcroft Toystory Avice – sold at Moira in September 2010 for a top price of 2800gns.

Sam and John McCormick, Bangor, County Down, sold their best at 2750gns, and traded 12 lots to level at £2074 a head. Topping the Hilltara offering at 2750gns was the April 2010-born Hilltara Bookman Edwina, which joins the Corryglass herd. Sired by the Ladino Park Talent son West Port Bookman, she is out of Hilltara Freeman Edwina.

The McCormick duo also claimed the supreme and reserve championship awards at the pre-sale show. Judge Geoffrey Patton awarded top honours to Hilltara Denzel Edwina, a June 2010-born La Presentation Denzel daughter, out of Hilltara Jamie Edwina 2 VG89. Seven weeks calved and giving 37 litres a day, she sold for 2400gns to a County Tyrone bidder. The champion was described by the judge as a tall, deep ribbed milky heifer.

Reserve champion was Hilltara Sinbad Della, a potential 6^th generation VG and EX heifer by the Picston Shottle son Ards Sinbad. Three weeks calved and producing 42 litres a day, she also sold to a County Tyrone herd for 2620gns.

Ronald McLean and Sons, Donaghmore, County Tyrone, secured the honourable mention award with Relough Planet Danna, which came under the hammer at 2120gns selling to Chris Gould, Tempo, County Fermanagh. Sired by Ensenada Taboo Planet and out of a Mascol dam, she is 10 days in-milk and producing 33 litres a day.

by Chrissie Long

While many cattle breeders on this side of the Atlantic are left in bewilderment at the price some semen fetches, a story emerging  from the USA about a Holstein bull well and truly puts £750/straw prices in the shade.

The first five doses of semen from the highest genomically ranked polled Holstein bull in the world, GOLDEN PP, Kulp-Dale Golden PP-Red, have been sold for a staggering $10,000 a straw.

It’s a quite astronomical sum, but with polled genetics the current in-thing in Holstein circles some breeders are racing to be at the top of the pile when it comes to having the latest and best genetics in their herds. And for some clearly there is no price they won’t pay to secure the right genetics.

In this case the purchaser has boxed clever and secured three month exclusivity ensuring they will have a strong lead over the competition when it comes to having potential AI stud bulls ready for collection and the hope is clearly to flush with this semen to maximise the revenue potential.

You can read the full story here

by Jonathan Long

Tuesday’s Christmas Cracker sale of dairy cattle at Sedgemoor resutled in a strong trade and decent demand throughout, with 53 cows and heifers selling for more than £2000.

Topping the prices was  a 3300gns call Gerald Lambert’s Saddlers Bluey 5. This Picston Shottle daughter calved in November and was giving 30kg a day.

The top priced cow was the pre-sale show champion Bettiscombe Lavanguard Tilly 150 from regular consigners Roland and Simon Bugler, Dorset. She was a fresh second calver and sold for 2650gns.

At 2600gns were first time consigners Designer Holsteins, Essex, with their freshly calved heifer Noremead Baxter Warmer out of an Ex90 dam and an Ex94 ninth dam.

Rookhaye Estate, Wiltshire, then sold their calved heifer Rookhaye Same Eileen by Regancrest-Mr Drham Sam for 2450gns. And another Bettiscombe then sold at 2450gns, with this being the reserve champion second calver Lofficiel Kimberly.

And Eric Puddy’s heifer Marcroft Bax Lulu by Emerald-Acr-Sa T-Baxter sold for 2400gns.

Of the four bulls on offer top spot was taken by B L Davies & Son with Davlea Jonah at 2500gns, he is by Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez out of the Canadian Jacobs dam.

In-calf heifers from Robert Horton’s Hinton herd based at Swindon, Wilts, took all of the youngstock prizes with the first prized heifer Hinton Logan Dixie due January selling for 2030gns and the second prized heifer Hinton Re Design Cornelia 2 for 1820gns

Averages; 22 cows £2020, 94 calved heifers £1985, five bulls £1407, 15 in-calf heifers £1704.50, eight served heifers £1186.50, two bulling heifers £976.50 (Greenslade Taylor Hunt).

by Jonathan Long

Local vendor Ruth Watson was top of the sellers list at yesterday’s Borderway Black and White sale, Carlisle, when she took 23,500gns for her August-born heifer calf, Lillyhall Windbrook Trilly.

This Gillette Windbrook daughter is out of Go-Farm Trilly, an England-Ammon Million daughter with seven brothers stood at AI studs. She was knocked down to I W and E A J Hughes, Gilfachafael, Wales.

Following that at 14,000gns was Sahara Numero Uno Jessica, an ET bred daughter of Amighetti Numero Uno out of Hood ATM Jessica, a Ked Outside Jeeves daughter, a dam which sold for 20,000 Euro in 2011 and maternal sister to heifers selling for $87,000 and $40,000. This one was knocked down in a three way split to the Overside, Logan and Annan herds.

Her full ET sister Sahara Numero Uno Jane also sold on the day for 9500gns.

And making 10,000gns was Lynholme Gold Wishes, an ET bred Goldwyn daughter out of Raeland Leduc Wilhelmina, a Lystel Leduc daughter.  This one was champion calf at the Lancashire calf show this year and junior champion at Northern Dairy Expo. She is also full sister to $154,000 Rockymountain Gold Winter and a brace of other multi-championship winning sisters. Buying her was David Wright of the Berryholme herd.

Average; 79 lots £3846 (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long

A resolutely strong demand for top drawer heifers saw trade peak at 3200gns at Holstein Northern Ireland’s November sale at Moira.

Sale leader on a day that saw a complete clearance was fourth placed Ards Rosberg Magic from Harry Patton and sons, Wilson and Wallace, Newtownards, Co Down. Backed by six generations of VG and Ex dams, this heifer is by the home-bred Sandy Valley Bolton son, Ards Rosberg. Her dam is by Regancrest Mr Drham Sam and she joins W Gillespie’s herd at Portglenone, Co Antrim.

Second highest price of the day 2520gns, was also paid to Harry Patton and Sons for the September 2010 born Ards Russell T Monica. Sired by the home-bred Braedale Goldwyn son, Ards Russell, she sold to Mr Herron, Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh.

The Patton trio also took 2400gns for the day’s reserve champion Ards Russell Belinda. She is by Ards Russell, and is out of an Ocean View Zenith daughter which gave over 9000kg in her second lactation. Backed by seven generations of VG and Ex dams, this heifer is calved four weeks and producing 40 litres a day.

Ronald McLean and sons, Malcolm and Barry, Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, realised 2400gns for the October 2010 born Relough Jeves Danna 2. Sired by the Comestar Outside son, Ked Outside Jeeves, she is bred from the Jose daughter, Relough Jose Danna 2.

Regancrest Mr Drham Sam was behind the breeding of Relough Sam Lead which also came under the hammer at 2400gns. Backed by four generations of VG and Ex dams, she is bred from a Picston Shottle dam which gave almost 8000kg in her first lactation.

Cows peaked at 2350gns, paid to Holstein NI chairman Jay Warden, Bangor, for his honourable mention award winner Ballygrainey Ravenhill Darkie 5. Sired by Ards Ravenhill, she produced more than 8300kg in her first lactation. Calved two weeks and giving 45 litres daily she sold to Mr Herron, Co Armagh.

Mr Herron also paid out 2220gns to secure Abercorn IM Elegance consigned by David and Alan Wallace, Antrim. Sired by the Mascol son, Inch Mast, she is bred from a VG88 dam which gave more than 8400kg in her third 305-day lactation.

Following close behind at 2200gns was the supreme champion Ballyginniff Cyclone Beth 2, bred by John Patterson and Sons, James and Andrew, from Crumlin, County Antrim. Sired by the home-bred Pursuit September Storm son, Ballyginniff Cyclone, she is bred from a BKB Affirmed daughter and sold calved four weeks and yielding 29 litres daily. Buying her was Mr Stevenson, Maguiresbridge.

Average; 27 in-milk heifers and young cows £2059.05 (Taffe Auctions).

by Jonathan Long