Auctioneers: Norton & Brooksbank

Averages: 135 lots £1,018; 75 cows and calved heifers £1,174; 34 served heifers £1,035; 26 maiden heifers £547

There was a good demand for quality cattle at Messrs D J H Hope & Son’s sale at Ashleworth near Gloucester with three milking cattle fetching 2,000 guineas or more. Buyers were selective but when something special appeared they were quick to bid up and contest in a spirited manner. There were useful sorts and older cows that in keeping with recent sales seemed good value for the buyers. With many of those gathered round the ring likely to producing milk at a loss, this is hardly surprising. 

Topping the sale was Hasworth Meteor Christobel 142 VG85, a fine young cow bred from three generations of Excellent cows. She was the sole purchase at 2,200 gns by Bristol based Ashlea Farm Services.

At 2,100 guineas Hasworth Wildthing Gloria 87 EX91 looked great value to Trinity Farm Seagry Ltd, who were strong buyers at the sale. This superb young cow was giving 47.5kg having calved five weeks ago. The next cow in the ring was Hasworth Alexander Candy 137 VG86, who caught the eye of well- known breeder & Judge Alan Timbrell. She was two months calved and giving 47kg and joins the Roundelm herd of Messrs Round at 2,000 guineas.

Jeff Jones who runs the Larchwood herd with his family at Caldicot near Newport put together a load of seven shrewd purchases including the lovely autumn calving Hasworth Mayfield Gloria 91 VG86. She fetched 1,600 gns and Jeff’s seven animals will have averaged him around £1,200 and will look great value when they arrive at Storefield Farm. 

Young stock sold to a level if not fast trade with calves at foot peaking at 500gns for a Christobel by Galactico and maiden heifers reached 820 gns for a daughter of Melarry Robust Miles with a PLI of +£376. Served heifers sold readily averaging over £1,000 with a top of 1,500 gns for a McFly bred from four generations of Excellent cows of the Penrikka Marina family.

There were 26 cattle buyers including 7 Welsh buyers and one from Eire.

TOP 7 PRICES

LOT NAME BUYER PRICE

58 H. Meteor Christobel 142 VG85 Ashlea Farm Services (Ashlea) 2200

24 H. Wildthing Gloria 87 EX91 Trinity Farm Seagry Ltd 2100

25 H. Alexander Candy 137 VG86 P.W & P.D Round (Roundelm) 2000

66 H. Mayfield Gloria 91 VG86 J.M & B.S Jones (Larchwood) 1600

68 Ledbury Goldfish Balise GP83 O.P Williams & Prnrs (Plasmachen) 1550

55x Kingsfoll Detroit Ingrid G.J & F.L Robertson (Dayhouse) 1500

97 H. McFly Marina 6 D.L & L.T Jomnes (Bethana) 1500