The Dispersal Sale of the very good NURSERYFIELDS herd of pedigree Holsteins took place on Thursday 31st May at Beeston Castle Auction on behalf of F S Wooley, Nursery Fields Farm, Monyash, Bakewell, Derbyshire who had decided to cease milking. The sale numbered almost 240 head and was attended by buyers representing most local regions and in particular throughout the Midlands and North Wales, plus a large Cheshire contingent. 

This was a good herd of cows, very commercial in its approach to management, on a low input system where the cows were grazed during the summer and fed just grass silage during the winter months. Herd average was a credible 7297kg, milked twice daily and followed a year round calving pattern. On the whole the cows were strong, had super udders and tracked over good legs and feet, displaying frames capable of producing larger volumes of milk, should they be required to. 

Within the milking portion 2000gns was broken on eleven separate occasions. Top price of the day was achieved for a cow fresh in April with her second, sired by the stock bull Shirewood Super Magnum and sold giving a daily yield of 34 kg, for 2350 gns; she was purchased by JG & CA Bayley of Nuneaton who also purchased Nurseryfields Magnum Fetiche, who calved in February; she had been recently served to Vortex Lexxi Foxx, and was giving 38 kg and sold for 2300 gns. H Sinker & Sons, Warrington paid 2250 gns for N. Magnum Teardrop 3rd, sold fresh with her second in April and giving a yield of 33 kg. Next in the price list was 2200 gns, again a Super Magnum daughter who had freshened in April, and sold giving 36 kg, selling to Messrs Bayley. 

Heifer calves were keenly sought throughout the sale and topping at 700 gns for an eight month old daughter of Lineman. 650gns was paid on two occasions, firstly for a Spiderman daughter and secondly for an 8 month old heifer by the home bred sire N. Santana Evan. In total 10 sold in excess of 500 gns. 

In-calf heifers sold readily over 1000 gns, unfortunately those closest to calving were springing heavily and were unable to attend. This portion were in turn mostly recently served. Topping at 1380 gns for a Bidlea Izunio daughter sold 5 months pregnant to the Hereford. 1350 gns was paid for a Jareb Cri heifer, calving to Hereford in September and 1320 gns for a Galaxy daughter calving in the Autumn. Maiden heifers were as dear as they have been in recent months and sold to 1100 gns for a 15 month old daughter of Cosmos, with three others selling for 1000 gns, by Numero Uno and N. Santana Evan. 

AVERAGES: 

105 Cows and Milking Heifers (including 40 Heifer Calves at £414.49) £1420.64; 29 Served Heifers £882.38; 41 Maiden Heifers £744.99. 

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