The Dispersal Sale of the entire SANDRINGHAM Herd of Pedigree Holstein dairy cattle took place at Beeston Castle Auction on Friday last, 23rd June on behalf of Peter and Ann Mercer of Whitegates Farm, Nomansheath, Nr. Malpas, Cheshire who have decided to stop milking.

 

This was a good and very well bred herd of cows that calved all year round, which were not pushed at all achieving a rolling average at just under 8000 kg.

 

A great crowd were in attendance and the cattle were distributed to as far north as Ayrshire, as far south as Pembrokeshire and as far east as Norfolk as well as through the Midlands and of course Cheshire and its surrounding counties. Right from the start there was plenty of bidding and this continued right through the sale across all age groups resulting in a very level trade with no extremes at either end of the scale.

 

The 2000 gns barrier was hit twice; first at this figure was Sandringham Bossman Missy (VG86), aa young second calver who freshened in March. She is out of a VG86-2yr dam by Matson tracing back to the noted show cow Norwood Charles Missy (Ex93-2E) who was so successful in the Painley Herd. She was sold to Philip Manning of Minsterley, Shropshire. The other at this figure was Sandringham Gerard Ambrosia ET (GP82), a daughter of Smiddiehill Toystory Ambrosia (VG89) and a great grand daughter of Tri-Day Ashlyn (EX96-2E); this milking heifer calved last November and had recently been PD’d incalf to Vieuxsaule Flame with sexed semen. She now joins the Airfield Herd of Messrs Paterson at Shipdham, Norfolk who also purchased her daughter by Gillette Caviar and who was the top selling calf at 900 gns.

 

Three milkers sold at 1900 gns each; the first of these was Sandringham Bolton August (VG88) who is an 8th generation of Excellent cows and who calved her third in February. She is from the heart of the August family and sold to Steve Armstrong for his Armsdale Herd based at Bunbury, Nr. Tarporley. Also slelling at 1900 gns were two April calved heifers; firstly Sandringham Alex Spottie 4th (GP84-2yr) (VG-MS) selling to WW Clark of Bradnop, Leek and secondly Sandringham Stanleycup Celeste (VG85-2yr) selling to John and Helen Bennett of Stoke-on-Tern, Market Drayton.

 

Incalf heifers met with as good a trade as has been witnessed recently selling to a top of 1820 gns for Sandringham Stanleycup Spottie who has 11 generations of VG/EX dams behind her and is due in July to Impression. She was purchased by Richard Webster of Stocksbridge, Sheffield. Maiden heifers again were as dear as they have been in recent months and sold to 1300 gns twice; the first at this figure was Sandringham Caviar Spottie, a 14 month old heifer with 10 generations of VG/Ex dams selling to Robert Davies of Red Roses, Carmarthen whilst JE Parsons of Lutterworth secured the 12 month old Sandringham Uno August by Numero Uno for the same money.

 

AVERAGES:

81 Cows and Milking Heifers (including 38 Heifer Calves at £481.34) £1596.38; 20 Served Heifers £1384.95; 22 Maiden Heifers £965.05. 123 HEAD £1449.08

 

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