A huge entry in excess of 500 Head in all sections attracted a really good crowd of buyers to the February edition of Wright Marshall’s Mid Month Focus Milk Dairy sale with many fresh faces in attendance filling both rings.

 

MILKERS

In the milking section 283 were entered with 247 forward and only three failing to find a new home. All presale predictions expected trade to be less than has been experienced in the last couple of months mainly due to everyone’s cows milking well and bulk tanks brimming to the lid. However, yes trade was a little less which was perhaps more noticeable in the cows but heifer trade was hardly any different to the last two sales. A really good crowd in the ring creating a good buzz and plenty of bidding.

 

Many vendors had a good day but it was Ian and Philomena Scarisbrick from Galastar Holsteins of Goostrey Cheshire who created the highlights with a couple of superb heifers from their herd. Following on from their very successful dispersal sale at Beeston a couple of weeks ago, this final offering from their herd attracted plenty of interest and it was a member of their noted Ola family that hit the highlights. Galastar History Ola (GP84-2yr) (VG-MS) is by De-Su History and has two EX) dams. She calved in November, has been bred to Doorman and was sold giving 32 kg to Steve Garth for his Bowlandview herd at Great Eccleston, Preston. Next at £2400 was Galastar Jeeves Inkanan (VG85-2yr) who had calved in December and was giving 36 kg selling to a Staffordshire buyer.

 

A total of heifers sold for over £2000 and next in the pricelist was Broomlea Jumper 246th from the Lomas family at Broomhall Nantwich; this daughter of a homebred Seaver son sold giving 29 kg to JDR & MJ Warburton of Warrington. Next at £2100 was the very well bred Whitster Shottle Polly from Robert Webster of Sheffield; this six generation VG/Ex member of the Pledge family sold £2100 to Mark Hughes of Criggion, Oswestry who also purchased Rowarton Stanley Favourite 3rd from Roger Sutton of Astbury at £2050 and Dilandy Mincio Gema from Andrew Shakeshaft of Ellesmere at £2020. Another from the Galastar stable by Altabarney sold for £2050 to local breeder Steve Armstrong of Bunbury for £2050 and the lovely consignment from Jeremey Platt’s Lachstone Herd topped at £2020 for a daughter of Regan-ALH Doodad.

 

Cow trade was definitely a little less money but nevertheless anything decent in a far from glittering show was keenly bid for. The top cow was a second calf daughter of Eastview Sentry from Roger Sutton, Astbury which sold for £1950 to Mark Hughes with another by B-Crest Shadow from the same home selling at £1750 as did a Million daughter from Hilltop Farming of Great Budworth. A lovely consignment of Brown Swiss from H Davies and Partners of Puddington, Wirral sold up to £1680 for an unregistered second calver and £1630 for heifers.

 

INCALF HEIFERS

The bottom ring was really busy this month with almost 200 head passing through including 58 incalf heifers. There was lots of demand right the way through and incalf heifers sold up to £1450 with another at £1420 both from Rob Darlington of Hurleston, Nantwich. Colin Pym of Barrow sold up to £1390 and AG Hedges Farms, Oxford to £1380.

 

MAIDEN HEIFERS

Another good trade experienced with lots of interest with heifers selling to £800 for a daughter of De-Su Gaylin from RW Goddard and Partners of Dover, Kent and others from NP Kennerley, Altrincham up to £760. However the majority of the entry was made up of a superb consignment of 200 maiden Brown Swiss heifers from H Davies and Partners of Puddington Wirral which sold extremely well and went all over the Midlands and into West Wales and topping at £760 for a 15 month old heifer

 

HEIFER CALVES

Just a small entry of heifer calves which sold reasonably well for the older ones but the babies appeared well bought. Top price was £340 for a Wa-Del Hayden daughter from Galastar Holsteins

 

STOCK BULLS

Just 2 entered and 1 sold and this was for a near 4 year old Aberdeen Angus from RW Goddard and Partners, Kent which realised £1820

 

AVERAGES: (All Breeds)

59 Cows £1235.59; 185 Milking Heifers £1505.17; 58 In-calf Heifers £1150.50; 116 Maiden Heifers £512.94; 12 Heifer Calves £189.00; 1 Bull £1820

 

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