The Whitsbury name has been synonymous with the best of thoroughbred horses and pedigree dairy cows, but after more than half a century in the dairy industry the estate owners decided that the dairy had to go and the entire herd of over 300 cattle were auctioned on Thursday the 9^th December at Sedgemoor Auction Centre where auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt were pleased to welcome Norton & Brooksbank as joint auctioneers.

Plenty of buyers filled the ring travelling from all parts of the West Country and from Wales, Gloucestershire and Hereford. Buyers were selective in their bidding, competing strongly for the best young cows full of milk and the young stock but slowed the pace on anything off note or showing a blemish.

Picston Shottle was once again in the limelight siring 6 of the top 9 prices, but it was a daughter of Comestar Outside that topped the sale at 2,500 guineas. Whitsbury Outside Tangle was fresh calved and giving almost 60kg daily with her 3^rd calf and travels to Dorset to join Ollie Rose’s Stourvale herd. Messrs D.M & G Davies made the long journey from Llanydydder in Carmarthenshire to purchase 15 cattle including several of the best milking stock. These included a 3 months calved Shottle heifer giving 36kg daily at 2,250gns, Wansdyke Delegate Rita VG-85 giving 52kg daily at 2,200gns and a very milky ‘Shottle Contrary’ at 2,150 gns.

Served heifers, due from January onwards, were a very level trade, peaking at 1,320 gns for an Outside daughter, bulling heifers averaged over £850, selling up to 1,000gns and calves and yearlings had good support with the best making over 500 gns.

TOP PRICES

Averages:         Cows & Calved Heifers (inc a Lots)        £1,411.70

                        Served Heifers                                      £1,159.94

                        Bulling Heifers                                       £   861.78

                        Yearling Heifers                                     £   721.00