Farming Eye

As well as the Bridgedale dispersal Wednesday also saw Borderway Mart host a youngstock sale from the Lawson family’s British Friesian and Dairy Shorthorn herds with trade among these reaching a 1700gns top call.

Topping the sale was one of the young stars from the Dairy Shorthorns, Lisnamulligan Fairy 13 an April born heifer sired by Meadowhaven Prides Star from three generations of Ex or VG’s. She was purchased by one of the UK top show herds, heading home with Robert and Elaine Butterfield, Bentham.

Lismulligan Empress 33 certainly attracted most of the interest when it came to the British Friesian genetics. She is sired by Lismulligan Lancelot and is out of the much admired Lismulligan Empress 19, an Ex 93 classified dam. Empress 33 was sold for 1420gns and crosses the Irish Sea to join the herd of P J and M McVerry, Belleeks, Co Down.

Mr McVerry purchased a number of heifers for the boat home, including at 1280gns Lismulligan Eileen 34. She is sired by Lismulligan Gambler bred from two VG dams with very high butterfat and protein.

A volume buyer with firsthand knowledge of how successful Lismulligan animals can perform was W H Dixon, Walterston Farm, Hayscastle, Haverfordwest. He filled his truck and paid the next best price of 1250gns for Lismulligan Renne 98 a daughter of Catlane Challenger.

Also selling for 1250gns was Lismulligan Whitetail 3 sired by Lismulligan Gambler and bred from the famous Amber Whitetail 16. The dam of this heifer was first heifer in milk and reserve champion at the Royal Highland in 2011. She was purchased by J Gatherer, Hill of Ochiltree, Ayrshire.

Averages; 47 maiden heifers £1090.76 (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long

Taking the overall British Friesian championship and the best udder award was the Lawson family with Lismulligan Lucy 57, a December 2008-born Deangate Prince 2 daughter out of Lismulligan Lucy 24. she came through as winner of the combined two and three year old class.

Taking the reserve championship was the winner of the senior cow class, Nerewater Aldsmudge 12, from the Bell family. This one is a daughter of Nerewater Credit out of Haywood Ald Smudge 11.

Standing second to the overall champion in the combined two and three year old class was Lismulligan Brandy lavendaer 15, a September 2008-born daughter of Catlane Sancho, while second in the senior cow class went to Adams Clementine 40, a Blackisle Benromach daughter from the Lawson family.

by Chrissie Long