An outstanding catalogue, containing some of the world’s most popular cow families, was equally matched by the quality of the stock on offer when Norton & Brooksbank held their Autumn Showcase Sale at the Bristol Sales Centre on November 1^st.

These days, the big money in the Holstein industry is for animals with high genomic test figures and there was nothing in the catalogue to match Willsbro Niagra Pammy ET, with a GTPI of 2214 and an exceptional type prediction of 3.24. She was sired by Ri-Val-Re 2338 Niagra and out of a VG-87 2yr Baxter granddaughter of the famous Windy-Knoll-View Promis (Ex-95). One of a strong consignment from Wills Bros Ltd’s noted Cornish herd, she attracted strong bidding, finally falling to the bid of 36,000gs from Kay Griffin, representing Seaspray Holsteins, new investors in the Holstein industry.

Bev Baker brought a very smart contingent of yearling heifers across the Severn Bridge and received 10,000gs from Maurice Jones of Calcourt Farms, for BB Alexander Ghost 2 ET, providing a good return on the 27,000 guinea investment that Bev made in her granddam Riverdane Terrason Ghost at the Sterndale Sale in 2005.

A similar sum had secured Smiddiehill Toystory Ambrosia for Sahara Holsteins at the Smiddiehill dispersal Sale and she is proving a highly valuable brood cow. Several of her daughters made high prices at last year’s Sahara Sale and they were in demand here again, with Monmouthshire breeders J.M & B.S.Jones taking the high genomically tested Sahara Man O Man Ambrosia ET for their Larchwood herd at 8,500gs. A sister by Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez made 7,000gs to Andrew Bunting, Dumfries for his Newabbey herd.

One of the features of the sale was a daughter of this season’s outstanding show cow Castellhyfryd Spirte Rosina (Ex-90), that has championships at the Royal Welsh, Pembrokeshire, National and Welsh Dairy Shows to her credit. Sired by England-Ammon Million, she was consigned by Simon & Sian Davies and Kevin & Cathy Thomas and returns to Wales after being purchased for 7,000gs by R.J.D.Jones of the Brynmaen herd, Llanon, Llanelli.

Another to reach 7,000gs after a protracted bidding duel was John Downing’s Wintersell Stella 2 ET. Sired by Cogent Maestro and from a well regarded Stardale family she was finally knocked down to Robert Page bidding on behalf of Tim Gue of Sussex based Huddlestone Farmers Ltd.

A very good selection of milkers opened the sale, topped at 6,000gs for a beautiful heifer by Charpentier Magot from the Misha family, consigned by Northants breeders Roger & Diane Steeples from their Cramar herd. Ben Llewellin had the final bid to take her to his Clarby herd at Clarbeston, Pembrokeshire. The first lot in the ring, a VG-89 second calver of the Sara family from Willsbro, had set the tone for the day, selling for 5,000gs to Nick Kay, Salisbury,Wilts.

AVERAGES

13 cows & calved heifers                      £ 4,200-00

49 served & maiden heifers                  £ 4,300-29

9 bulls                                                  £ 1,216-83

71 lots                                                  £ 3,895-06

Auctioneers:

Norton & Brooksbank