A catalogue of 60 high quality cattle of all ages encouraged a good crowd to attend the Bristol Sales Centre on Thursday this week. 33 buyers from far and wide were recorded including 12 from across the border in Wales. An average of over £2,200 and 7 individuals making 3,000 guineas or more illustrated a very good trade.

The joint top price of the day was 5,500 guineas paid twice. Firstly, Richard Thomas of Churchvale Holsteins in Carmarthen showed the lovely Shottle daughter of Hefin Wilson’s great show cow Ridgefield Goldwyn Cinderella ET EX-90, that won both the South-West and Welsh Dairy Shows this autumn. This fine upstanding heifer has won 8 1^st prizes already and sold 4 weeks calved giving 37kg. She joins the BB herd of Messrs B.E Baker & Sons near Usk.

Randolf & Brian Miller consigned 2 heifers to the sale including a much admired Ross daughter from their noted Amanda family. Moorshard Durham Ross Amanda is bred from 11 generations of EX/VG cows and has been successfully shown this autumn. Peter Prior of Designer Holsteins made the successful bid at 5,500 guineas, having secured Excellence Shottle G Lisbeth, a very smart 7 month old calf, earlier in the sale for 3,000guineas.

Terry Cox, always at the top of the market at these events, showed (or rather daughter Beccy did!) a superb Shottle daughter, just 8 days calved, looking a picture and making 4,200 guineas. She is out of an EX-91 show cow bred in the Littlebredy herd and caught the late ferry for the Isle of Wight to join Paul Bradley’s Crockers herd, who purchased 3 very good animals including another Shottle heifer for 2,700gns in-calf to Sanchez from the Mikali Dee Dee family.

Mr T.R Quick of the Mendip herd, near Highbridge, was in fine form, securing Cramar Goldwyn Belle ET, that won Champion Calf at the East of England show this year. She was one of the best of Roger & Diane Steeples’s team, fetching 3,000 guineas. The 12 Cramar youngsters averaged over £1,500.

Messrs D.A & C.L Owens from Carmarthen purchased 3 high class cattle, featuring a  very stylish heifer Yardhayes Talent Carol consigned by Chris Reed and bred from the Llydan Carol family. Due in a month to Samuelo, she made 3,100 guineas.

Most vendors went home happy, with young stock selling particularly well. Embryo bidders were selective with 25 cashed to average £302 a piece.

Averages:         17         cows & calved heifers  avgd.    £2,898

                          9        served heifers                                      £1,762

                        17         maiden heifers                         £1,866

                          1        bull                                                      £1,102

                        44         Lots (incl 2 calves at foot)        avgd.    £2,226

Auctioneers: NORTON & BROOKSBANK