Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt report another exceptional entry for their March Collective Sale at Sedgemoor Auction Centre. The day produced a steadier trade compared to the February sale which was a flyer. This was expected with the recent talk of pressure on the milk price and a larger number of cattle on the market, however there were still considerable demand for the best cows and heifers selling in excess of 2000gns with DJ & VM Norman of Sherborne, Dorset topping the sale at 2100gns for their calved heifer “Ciderhouse Whone Rachel”. Their cow “Jenkins Rachel GP83” sold for 2000gns as did Watkins Partnership’s second calver “Beaconwood Dempsey Winter 47th VG88”. Also at 2000gns was AE & V Kidner’s commercial February calved heifer by “Cogent Twist”.

RE & HE Bugler & Partners of Bridport, Dorset consigned 33 cows and heifers from their “Bettiscombe” herd to top at 1900gns for the calved heifer “Bettiscombe Supersire Stephanie 190th” resulting in an impressive average of £1687.32 across the board.

Watkins Partnership from Carmarthen sold the first consignment for their phased dispersal which saw cows at 2000gns and an average of £1455. The last consignment of milking and dry cows from R & M Parker’s “Grangemore” herd saw calved heifers at 1850gns for “Grangemore Destry Moira” and the top price incalf heifer at 1260gns for “Lauthority Grey 5th” due in April to the Aberdeen Angus. AH Hook & Sons matched this with their commercial heifer by “Hollysprings Polled Lonesome” that was due in April to the Hereford. The 75 incalf heifers on offer met a selective trade with stronger closer to calving heifers selling the best and a preference to the stronger Holstein type heifers.

The second consignment from the Ford Partners dispersal of their spring calving portion sold to 1680gns for a Fleckvieh X second calver.

Holstein bulls sold to 1250gns for “Hollysprings Polled Taurnado ET”, the naturally polled bull by “De-Su Freddie Galaxy ET” consigned by RG SR Farms.

With over 50 purchasers to include 9 from Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire the following averages were produced: