The Dispersal Sale of the entire Southbarham herd of Pedigree Holstein dairy cattle took place at Beeston Castle Auction on Tuesday last, 20th March on behalf of Jane and Geron Walker of R W Goddard & Partners, South Barham Farm, Canterbury, Kent who through a lack of succession and the need for further investment, had decided to retire from dairying.

This was a good and most genuine dispersal, which featured cows who had history stretching back some 100 years. The herd followed an all year round calving pattern, containing cattle ideally suited to commercial milk production. As a whole, the cattle had strength, durability and longevity, emphasised by the fact a third of the milking portion were milking with their fifth or older lactations.

A great crowd was in attendance and the cattle were distributed to as far North as Dumfries, as far South as Gloucestershire, extensively throughout North and South Wales as well as 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.

Lot 1 was a 10 year old cow in her 6th lactation, selling for 1000 gns and with over 30 selling above 1500 gns, trade didn’t overly fluctuate much between the two figures, such was the levelness of trade, and considering 36 were sold with faults, either three quartered, high cells, uneven or long dated, a very pleasing day was had by all. Topping the day was the heifer Southbarham Mistress Morn 529th, having calved in May 17, she was sold back in calf for July to Kimball and purchased for 1820 gns to C & S Fitton, Middlewich. 1800 gns was paid for Southbarham Commando Darina 139th, sold due with her second in July to Moonglow and still giving 39kg daily. She was sold to C M Pugh, Gloucestershire. Next at 1750 gns was an unregistered daughter of McCormick, she had freshened in October and was recently served to Fertility Plus, joining JS Pickles, Goostrey.

Heifer calves were much the same as the milkers being very consistent. Topping the day was 550 gns, a Gillespy daughter just 5 month old, selling to DW & MN Ishmael, Wigan. Three more sold for 500 gns, two sired by Jeeves Dare the other by Gillespy and all 4 months old selling to I & H Roberts, Llandegla, D & AC Shakeshaft, Ellesmere and Messrs Ishmael.

In-calf heifers met with as good a trade as has been witnessed recently selling to a top of 1420 gns for a September calving heifer by Oman Pello, purchased by T G Morgan, Mold. Seven more sold for 1400 gns ranging from April to July calving heifers. Maiden heifers again were as dear as they have been in recent months and sold to 880 gns on two occasions for two consecutive lots; firstly for a Gillespy daughter bought by I & H Roberts and secondly a Pello daughter to R Trevor, Whitchurch.

AVERAGES:
157 Cows and Milking Heifers (including 34 Heifer Calves at £406.72) £1259.12; 21 Served Heifers £1368.50; 60 Maiden Heifers £719.95.

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