One of the largest crowds in many years descended on Borderway, Carlisle for the 31st edition of the world famous Black & White sale.  The catalogue oozed quality from start to finish with more All Time greats featuring in this sale than any other in the events history.  Buyers from 24 counties throughout the UK and from seven countries including Spain and Germany watched the trade top at 9,000gns to average just over £4000 with 24 animals selling for or above £5000.

Topping the 2017 sale was a special Red & White heifer consigned Eastford Holsteins.  Eastford Absolute Hotspot Red was a daughter of the World Dairy Expo Reserve Grand Champion Starmark AD Hotsuff Red EX94.  This ultra fancy heifer was purchased by an undisclosed buyer for 9,000gns.

The best cow to ever grace the Black & White sale was consigned by Absolute Genetics.  Absolute Windbrook Adeen had recently calved with her second and had just classified VG88 a few days before the sale.  Herd pedigree was packed with special cows her Goldwyn dam topped the Holmland dispersal at 14,500gns and her grand dam by Durham was Grand Champion at UK Dairy Expo, Great Yorkshire and Agriscot .  The beautiful young cow sold for 8,200gns to JJ Taylor, High Whinnow Farm, Wigton.

The McLean Family from Bushmills, N. Ireland consigned their very best daughter from their successful show cow Priestland PS James Rose.  This stylish black daughter of Atwood was a great granddaughter of the three time Royal Winter Fair Grand Champion Thrulane Jame Rose EX97 regarded by many as the best uddered cow in the history of the breed.  B. O’Connor from Bawnmore House, Co. Cork Ireland purchased Rose for 8,000gns.

The sale had a number of first time opportunities and selling for 7,000gns was Lynholme Brokaw Amyly consigned by Messers Lawrence from Holme Farm, Grange over Sands.  Amyly was the first direct progeny to sell in the UK from the two time National Italian Champion Toc-Farm Allen Amyly EX96.  The close to perfect heifer had won her class at the National Calf show in October and was purchased by Alison Hunter, West Tarbrax Farm, Lanarkshire.

Also selling for 7,000gns was a granddaughter of the cow that featured on the front cover of the catalogue.  Heavenly SO Katrysha was consigned by Heavenly Genetics in Lancashire who was offered as a choice along side her full sister.  Katrysha was sired by Solomon and bred from a VG Windbrook dam followed by Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha EX96 who is a two time All American winner and was Grand Champion at World Dairy Expo in 2015.  She was purchased by Peter Prior owner of the famous Designer Holstein herd in Essex.

One of the most talked about consignments in this year’s sale was a Jersey heifer from the Futuredream herd owned by James Evans in Pembrokeshire, South Wales.  This was the first ever animal to sell from this amazing herd that has an average classification score of EX92.5 points.  Futuredreams Tequilas Excite Veronica was the Champion at the National Calf Show in the 2017, her third dam, Huronia Centurion Veronica has been the most influential cow in the breed in the past decade breeding 7 daughters who either classified EX95 or EX94.  Futuredreams Tequilas Excite Veronica flirted with perfection and sold for 7,500gns to the Saxby Family, Clitheroe.

Brown Swiss heifers topped at 5,000gns to average £4,200.  Topping the Brown Swiss trade was a heifer consigned by the Kedar herd owned by T Locchead & Sons, Dumfries with Kedar Aurora who sold in absentia.  Aurora was sired by Jenor from a VG87 Blooming dam who was Hon. Mention Grand Champion at UK Dairy Expo in 2017.  Her third dam is probably the best Brown Swiss to ever be bred in Switzerland, Ace Arve was classified EX97 and was Grand Champion at Swiss Expo in 2007.  Aurora was bought for 5,000gns by Brent Crothers, New House Farm, Shrewsbury.

Commenting on the sale auctioneer Glyn Lucas said “I would like to congratulate all the consignors who make this sale so special by consigning their very best.  It has been a pleasure today selling animals of such high quality and I would like to wish all the purchasers a ton of success with their investments.  Our team look forward to welcoming everyone back to Borderway for the 32nd Black & White taking place next year on the 8th Decemeber.”

Averages: 9 Cow & heifers in milk £3763.33;  1 British Friesian in milk £3360.00;  8 Holstein In-Calf heifers £2921.87;  63 Holstein Open heifers £4061.66;  3 Jersey heifers £4095.00;  2 Brown Swiss £4200.00;  41 Embryos £464.10.