Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington

Averages: 25 cows in-milk £1,611.44; 107 heifers in-milk £1,665.82 

The April Border and Lakeland Pedigree Dairy Sale had a world class offering of outstanding dairy cattle giving large volumes of milk and many bred from prolific cow families that have proven their worth over the past decades.  The sale also incorporated the annual Spring Coloured Breeds sale and featured Jersey and Ayrshire animals again of impeccable quality and breeding with two special consignments from the Clifton and Monument Jersey herds. 

There was a huge crowd of buyers from across the UK and Ireland in attendance with 57 buyers recorded from 17 counties, trade topped at 3,000gns to average £1645 for 154 milking animals of all breeds and age groups.  There was a noted demand for cows giving large volumes of milk with the cow trade up on the month by £132 to average £1611.  Fourteen animals sold for £2000 or above with 37 selling for or above £1800.    

The show in the morning was sponsored by Zoetis and Cogent and was judged by the Rob Hancock from Elite Street genetics in the Rep. of Ireland who owns a number of world renowned Holstein and Jersey cattle around the world.  His overall Holstein Champion went the winning Junior heifer consigned by Skirwith Hall Farms, Stowbeck Cancun Gilly was sired by Larcrest Cancun and bred from two Very Good dams with lactations to 12000kgs.  This ultra stylish heifer with a world class udder sold for 2,900gns to W. Brewster Wester Borland Farm, Stirling.  

The Reserve Champion went to winning cow Lambroda Lady P Rae Red consigned by Matthew and Ruth Harper, West House Farm, Maryport. This super Red and White cow is potentially the tenth generation of Excellent cows from one of the best lines of the famous Roxy cow family.  Her grand dam was Tegan Advent Mahogany Red who was Grand Champion at Agriscot in 2013.  She sold for 2,800gns to G McCulloch High Ardwell Farm, Stranraer. 

As mentioned the demand for high yielding cows was high, the Letterkenny herd sold a number of very milky cows; Letterkenny Ash Kathy VG85 was sold giving 40kgs for 2,150gns to G McCulloch High Ardwell Farm, Stranraer.  They also sold a very milky sixth lactation cow giving 50kgs for 1,650gns, Letterkenny Jayz Roberta EX92 displayed her youthful qualities and now joins the Baliey Ground Holstein herd.

The Taylor family from Baldoukie Farm, Tannadice in Angus sold 20 very milky Holstein cows and heifers topping at 1,820gns for young cow in her second giving 45kgs.  

Topping the trade at 3,000gns was a young heifer consigned by the Morley family from the Petteril Holstein herd.  Petteril Shamrock Pledge had the stand-out pedigree in a catalogue packed with so many desirable cow families.  Sired by Shamrock from a VG85 Superstition from a VG87 Goldwyn that sold for 12,000gns in the Sale of the Century in 2010 and then the breeding sensation ALH Polly EX92 for a third dam.   This close to perfect heifer had many attractive things going for her as well as having the highest PLI in the catalogue at +£358.  The Promis cow family have produced many world famous individuals over the past three decades and this young heifer could be the next as she joins the herd of W. Brewster Wester Borland Farm, Stirling.     

Other milking heifers that attracted much interest was Letterkenny Smokin Oriole sired by Misty Springs Smokin, she sold for 2,800gns.  Lillyhall Meridian Bonita grand daughter of Overside Mr Sam Bonita EX92 who sold for 20,0000gns in the Black & White sale in 2008 sold for 2,500gns.