The dispersal of the entire Pilch Herd of pedigree Holstein dairy cattle took place at Beeston Castle Auction on Thursday last in front of a useful crowd of dedicated bidders who had travelled from as far as Cornwall to attend the sale.  

The herd was transported from its home base at Adstockfields, Nr. Winslow in Buckinghamshire; Pilch Farm where the herd lived is a very well run unit owned by Mrs Amanda Nicholson and has been managed for some forty years by Roger Knibbs who looked after the cattle as if they were his own. The herd followed an all year round calving pattern with a bias towards late autumn and winter milk production and was loose housed. The rolling herd average was in excess of 8400 kg. at 3.75% butter fat and 3.13% protein.

The continuing dry weather and the severe lack of grass, compounded with the fact that herd was loose housed did have an effect on attendance and the ensuing trade that followed, but nevertheless trade was definitely better than had been anticipated earlier in the week.

Top price in the cows was 2100 gns for the milking heifer Pilch De Plex Gal Fern (GP83-2yr) who is due with her second in December to Shottle this daughter of Decker was much admired and was one of ten head purchased by Mrs JM Griffiths & Son of Barbridge, Nantwich. Selling at 2050 gns was the second calf cow Pilch Talent Th Ina (VG87-3yr), a daughter of Talent out of a (VG87) dam she was due with her third in November to Deann and was purchased by an undisclosed South Wales breeder.

Two animals made 1900 gns each; the first was the fresh fourth calver Pilch Jack To Peggy (VG86), a daughter of Weeton Jackson sold giving 47 kg to DR & A Higgins of Shrewsbury, whilst the second at this price was the fresh second calf Talent daughter Pilch Talent AA Neeltje who makes the long trip to Cornwall selling to AN Denford of Marham Church, Nr. Bude.

The in-calf and served heifers were an undoubted feature of the sale, most of which were due from October onwards. The top price was 1600 gns twice; the first at this figure was Pilch De Tale Bonny, a daughter of Decker due in September to Shottle who sold to James Harrison Farming of Tattenhall whilst the second was the October calving (also to Shottle) Pilch Bax Jack Liz who was the choice of PWJ & S Wilson of Cleobury Mortimer who took tow others by Baxter and Decker at 1550 gns each.

The group of heifer calves born since last summer were very good and very well grown and topped at 980 gns for a daughter of Shottle selling to Jack and Barclay Taylor of Myddle, Shrewsbury.

The top price of the day however was reserved for the wonderful pedigree Aberdeen Angus bull, Stowe Fine Regard H294, born March 08 and a son of Cheeklaw Esteem D160. He sold for 2400 gns to Alan Davies of Betchton, Sandbach. 

AVERAGES:

158 COWS and MILKING HEIFERS £1343.73 (including 63 heifer calves at £606,67); 52  Served Heifers £1240.82; 4 Maiden Heifers £748.13; 1 Angus Bull £2520.00; 215 Head £1313.23.

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