The annual Spring Dairy Bull Show & Sale held at Borderway, Carlisle on behalf of the Border & Lakeland Holstein Club had a cracking catalogue packed with exceptional pedigrees from the best Pedigree herds in the UK. Trade topped at 5,100gns to average £2686 up almost £250 on the year for more bulls sold.  Eighteen bulls sold for more than three thousand pounds with buyers paying a premium for bulls with excellent locomotion. 

Commenting on the sale Glyn Lucas from Harrison & Hetherington said “...the quality on offer today was a real credit to the UK breeders, we have had an exceptional line up of sires all bred from world class pedigrees.  This sale is without doubt the best place for dairy producers to purchase working age bulls, they have an amazing choice and the quality of the bulls continues to improve year on year.” 

John Cousar owner of the famous Howcommon Holstein herd judged the show in the morning and commenting to the crowd prior to awarding his Champions said “...it had been a privilege to judge such a high calibre show and was confident all the bulls on offer could make positive impacts in their new herds”

The show was sponsored by Coomara Veterinary Practice and for the second year in succession the overall Champion went to the Feizor herd of David and Pam Booth in Yorkshire.  This ultra stylish bull, Feizor Flomont was sired by Monument Impression and bred from Feizor Jordan S Flo an Excellent daughter of the 2010 National Champion Berryholme Shottle Flo.  He sold for 3,200gns to John Garnett Ackenthwaite Farm, Milnthorpe.

Mr Cousar’s Reserve Champion went to Kepculloch Stanley consigned by Robert Steel Kepculloch Farm, Glasgow.  This ultra stylish bull was sired by Atwood and is a grand-son the Royal Highland Champion Altona Lea Rudolph Summer.  Stanley sold well below his value for 1,800gns to J&K Forsyth Glenside Farm Ayrshire.

There was a quality entry of eight British Friesian bulls that topped at 5,100gns to average £3860 all bred from pedigrees excelling in quality and long life cattle.  Whinnow Primary consigned by I&GM Blamire attracted a lot of interest from potential buyers.  He was a son of Collycroft Solo with a PLI+168 and bred from the 3,800gns dam Lismulligan Priscilla 48 who recently classified VG88 and featured in the National British Friesian show at UK Dairy Expo back in March.  He was purchased by A&M Kennedy Grougfoot, West Lothian.

Mr Brocket owner of the Winnoch herd sold three British Friesian bulls topping at 4,800gns for Winnoch Hilton sired by Deangate Targuin from a dam with over 8000kgs on numerous occasions.  This powerful framed bull was purchased by G&S Parker Balgown Farm, Stranraer. 

Three bulls sold for 4,000gns the first consigned by RS & WA Howarth, he was a son of Deangate Centurion bred from an Excellent 94 dam by Glen Albyn with lactations over 12000kgs at over 5.5% butterfat.  He was purchased by RM Dale & Son Lindsayton Farm, Ayrshire.

Lismulligan Escort was the second to sell for the 4,000gns price tag.  He was consigned by Basil & Adam Lawson and was a son of Bricroft Gunner and bred from the Eileen cow family.  His dam placed 2nd four year old at the 2016 UK Dairy Expo and was Honourable Mention Grand Champion.  Escort was purchased by Mr Mattocks Aulby Farm, Penrith.   

The Bell family owners of the Nerewater British Friesian herd have breed many famous sires over the years and it was a son of their successful Nerewater Launcher that also sold for 4,000gns.  Nerewater Champion was bred form A Dripps Rio dam with over 11500kgs at almost 5% butterfat.  This long stylish bull now joins the herd Mr Weightman Highwood Nook Wigton.

The prize winning Warnleview herd owned by the Wilson family sold five bulls topping at 3,800gns to average £3000.  Outcross sires were in demand and Warnelview Rover was one such sire.  Sired by Halogen from a young AltaOak dam that is recently fresh in her second giving 52kgs and is sister to Warelview Rex at Cogent. Rover had a PLI+418 and has two former number one PLI dams in his direct maternal pedigree.  He was purchased for 3,800gns to Andrew & Euan Lawrie Grangehall Farm, Lanark.

Wormanby Holsteins owned by the Hodgson family won the Premier herd title in 2015 and sold a number of world class sires from their exceptional prize winning cows.  Wormanby Rogan was a Doorman son from the All American Red Rose cow family, his dam placed 3rd in the Junior two class at the 2016 UK Dairy Expo.  He sold for 3,500gns GW Whitwell Lanshaw Farm, Lancaster.

The Annandale herd from Moffat owned by the Armour family sold ten bulls topping at 3,500gns to average almost £3000.  Annandale Kintyre sired by Seagull-Bay MVP was the top price bull from this consignment tracing back to the show winning Kim cow from the Brynhyfryd herd.  He was purchased by M&J Howat Stevenston Farm, Cumnock.  

49 Bulls £2686.98

40 Holstein Bulls £2457.00

8 British Friesian Bulls £3860.62