The opening Mid Month Focus Milk Dairy Sale for 2017 got off to a flying start for the year with a catalogued entry of 415 head in all sections and 391 forward on the day. There was a 100% clearance in the dairy ring with all 295 animals finding new homes which is a great result for all concerned. There were not as many people about but nevertheless there was a great atmosphere reflecting a growing confidence about the immediate future of milk production in the UK.

 

MILKERS

 

Yes all 295 milking cattle found a new home but as was expected following the absolutely scintillating trade experienced at the last sale in December, those price levels could not be sustained. But quality was not in the same street with a much higher proportion of plainer heifers and cows forward than we normally have at Beeston and yet there was plenty of bidding from start to finish. Bearing this in mind and comparing like with like trade would be back about £150 on the month and there were lots of buyers about from all over with 21 going to a farm in Cumbria, two lots of ten going to farms in Carmarthenshire, 14 going to Anglesey as well as a huge number purchased by farmers in Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire

 

For the second month running the top price went to an entry from Jeremy Platt’s noted Lachstone Herd at Lach Dennis, Northwich for his Lachstone Camelot Jasper, a 24 month old heifer by Larcrest Camelot which sold for £2300 to Ferney Lees Farm Ltd., of Tarporley who also purchased Lachstone Kody Saba by Hammer-Creek Oman Kody for £2250 from the same home. Another Lachstone heifer by Bakombre sold for £2200 to D & HE Colclough & Son of Hassall, Sandbach with three others each selling for £2050 all going to different purchasers; in all the twelve super heifers consigned from this great herd achieved an average of £1912 each.

 

Yet again this month there was another great consignment from the Rowarton herd of the Sutton family at Astbury, Congleton and they topped at £2220 for a daughter of Premier Kerndt sailing giving 35 kg and going to David Colclough who also purchased a Seagull-Bay Diamond daughter from Tomkinson Farms of Gnosall for £2080. A lovely heifer by Altaiota from the Oakshore Herd of the Shepherd family of Ledsham was snapped up Dave Green of Lach Dennis for £2200 whilst Balcurvie Holsteins of Windygates, Fife sold an Alta-avalon daughter for £2100 to Brian Parker of Haughton, Stafford and John Lomas of Gawsworth sold a striking Gone-Gold daughter for £2080.

 

Cows met a really fast trade for the best and the top cow was a second calf Wyman from Andrew Shakeshaft of Ellesmere which sold for £2190 to the Colclough’s. At just a tenner less Graham Dimelow of Malpas sold a GP83-2yr Garrett for £2180 to JF Owen & Son of Overton-on-Dee. Grantchester Farms of Audlem are selling their cows as they calve and topped at £2020 for a superbly bred Red third calver by Crackholm Secure Red from the Belle family with others from the Golda and Farrah families at £1950 and £1900. Hilltop Farming of Northwich also had a Xacobeo second calver at £1950 and David and James Tomlinson of Preston sold an Altaiota second calver from the Laurie Sheik family at £1900.

 

Finally, Alan and Wendy Vernon of Ash, Whitchurch commenced the dispersal of their unregistered milk recorded herd and got off to a flyer particularly with their cows and topped at £1950 for a second calf daughter of Woodmarsh Asterix with five others from £1800 to £1900.

 

SERVED HEIFERS

 

A great selection of 62 pedigree in-calf and served heifers were presented for sale and topped at £1620 for a homebred daughter of Sandy Valley Bolton from Terry Goldstraw of Audlem which was due towards the end of February to an Angus. Lots of other February calvers, principally from JK & DJ Astbury of Church Minshull and EG Bulman of Northallerton selling between £1300 and £1460

 

MAIDEN HEIFERS

 

A nice entry of 27 forward sold on a fast trade for a Pine-tree Sid daughter from Paul and Dee Bradbury of Whixall.

 

HEIFER CALVES

 

Just six forward and these sold to £220 for a Mr. Migule daughter.

 

AVERAGES: (All Breeds, All qualities)

86 Cows £1310.11; 209 Milking Heifers £1495.54; 62 Served Heifers £1145.29; 27 Maiden Heifers £637.78; 6 Heifer Calves £190.00

 

WRIGHT MARSHALL of Beeston Castle Auction, Cheshire were the Auctioneers.