One of the largest crowds from all over the country as well as Northern Ireland and Spain ever seen at a sale at Beeston Castle Auction gathered for the first sale to disperse the famous Huddlesford Herd of Pedigree Holsteins on behalf of the father and son team of Tom and Andy Cope from Huddlesford House Farm, Lichfield, Staffordshire.

This famous herd of cattle has won so much in its recent history including Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor at the National Holstein Show last year, Regional Winner in last year’s National Herds Competition and three Supreme Championships at the Royal Show. The build up to the sale was huge, the presentation of the whole event was phenomenal and as one would consider a few high prices were expected which did not fail to materialise.

It was Huddlesford Mrs Melody (Ex90 & SP), the Reserve Intermediate Champion at last year’s National All Breeds Show that brought the red carpet of shavings to light as she graced the ring with her enormous presence and sparkle. This beautiful daughter of Regancrest-Mr Durham Sam had freshened with her third calf, a heifer, on New Year’s Day and was sold giving 50 kg. The bidding opened at 10000 gns and quickly soared to the final selling price of 32000 gns (CAN$54,000) when the hammer was knocked down to David Maddocks of the Wyndford Herd at Newport, Shropshire with Morsan Farms, Alberta, Canada being the contending bidder. Her really stretchy heifer calf sired by Aftershock was also in great demand and sold for 8000 gns (CAN$13,500)to John Lomax for his Chorlton Herd at Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire.

The major buyer at the sale was Agustin Celis Romero of Ponderosa Holsteins, Lleida, in the North of Spain who purchased 19 head, many of which were amongst the top selling individuals in the sale. His highest priced purchase was the outstanding second calver, Huddlesford Duplex Kitty (VG88-2yr & SP) who gave over 11000 kg with her first lactation and who had freshened in December with a bull calf. She sold for 20000 gns (CAN$33,500).  They also purchased Huddlesford SS Jodie ET (VG88-3yr & SP) who sold for 11500 gns (CAN$19,500), dry due with her third calf in March to Crackholm Secure Red and the highest priced calf, Huddlesford Paradise Red ET, a Redliner daughter bred from six generations of Very Good or Excellent dams from the noted Paradise family for 10000 gns (CAN$17,000).

A good contingent of buyers from Northern Ireland were in attendance and the leading purchase to cross the Irish Sea was Huddlesford Laurie Sheik ET, a yearling heifer by To-Mar Fortune who has two VG-2yr sisters and who is bred from five generations of top classified dams from this illustrious family. She sold for 7500 gns (CAN$12,500) to Charlie Weir of Waringstown, Co. Armagh.

David Maddocks was in the market again purchasing the much admired Huddlesford Duplex Rose (VG88) for 6200 gns (CAN$ 10,500)a second calf daughter of Duplex, milking with her second lactation having recently been bred to Scientific Destry. Another much admired cow was the milking heifer Huddlesford Carismatic Kitty (VG88-3yr), a milking heifer by Dupasquier Carisma who had recently been bred to Lauthority, She sold to Ponderosa Holsteins, Spain who also purchased another similarly scored member of this great family, the Duplex daughter, Huddlesford Double Kitty at 5200 gns (CAN$ 9000). The latter mentioned was the dam of a great November ’09 calf by Goldwyn which sold for 5200 gns (CAN$ 9000) to Frank Phillipson of Ulverston.

One of the leading served heifers was Huddlesford Talented Hope ET who won 3^rd junior heifer at the National All Breeds Show last year. She was by Talent and had 5 Excellent dams and sold for 5600 gns (CAN$ 9500) to an undisclosed Scottish buyer. Morsan Farms of Alberta, Canada have been great friends to the Cope’s over the years and made two purchases; the first was Huddlesford Jas Promise ET, a June ’09 Jasper from the heart of the Promise/Pledge family with six VG sisters. She was recently bred to Fever and made 5000 gns (CAN$8500). Morsan also made a joint purchase with Ann Harrison of the Bassingthorpe Herd, Grantham; this was for Huddlesford RL Paradise Red ET for which they paid 5500 gns (CAN$9400). She is an April ’10 born full sister to the 10000 gns (CAN$17000) Paradise Red mentioned earlier.

Even after a marathon nine hours selling trade kept up right till the end and late on in the day two animals made 5000 gns (CAN$8500) each; the first was the beautiful milking heifer Huddlesford Dame Medora (VG87-2yr), a daughter of Damion bred from 9 generations of VG/Ex dams from the family of Mason and Milan. She sold to an undisclosed Welsh buyer.

The last animal to make 5000 gns (CAN$8500) was part of the last offering of the day; two ET sisters by Goldwyn and Sanchez born on 1^st and 6^th January respectively came into the ring at 7.00 pm and were sold on choice. They were grand daughters of the three times All Canadian Tomalynn Leduc Della (Ex95) (Ex97-MS) and the first members of this family to be offered for sale in Europe. The first choice made 5000 gns (CAN$8500) and Ponderosa Holsteins opted for the Goldwyn.

Over ninety different buyers were recorded and the cattle were distributed from Central Scotland in the North to Cornwall and Sussex in the South as well as to Northern Ireland, Spain and Canada.

TOP PRICES :                                                                                                     GNS

AVERAGES:

159 COWS and MILKING HEIFERS £2669.04 (CAN$4276.80)

including 29 Heifer Calves at £2788.66 (CAN$4468.48)

53 Served Heifers £1901.29 (CAN$3046.58)

28 Maiden Heifers £2467.50 (CAN$3953.86

2 Bulls £2572.50 (CAN$4122.11)

242 LOTS £2476.78 (CAN$ 3968.73)

WRIGHT MANLEY of Beeston Castle Auction, Cheshire together with Norton & Brooksbank, Glos., were the Auctioneers