The Dispersal of the entire Barmere Herd of Pedigree Holstein dairy cattle took place at Beeston Castle Auction on Tuesday, 29^th November on behalf of Neil Willis, The Willey Farm, Whitchurch. The sale featured more than 360 cattle and turned out to be one of the most successful sales of the year. This was indeed a really good herd of cows which were on the whole fresh, young, milky, sired by proven sires and very good looking although they were not classified and never had been apart from a few for progeny test purposes.

A huge crowd was in attendance from Scotland to Dorset to West Wales and many buyers went home empty handed without getting a look in. The demand for fresh, milky young cows was huge and bidding at times for these great cattle was at times ferocious. However it was a heifer that claimed the top price of 3800 gns; Barmere Bolton Wonder 3^rd a daughter of Bolton that had been calved a month and was giving 34 kg. She sold to Roger Morse of Carmarthen who purchased eight cattle including several of the top priced lots including a second calf Bolton at 3450 gns, a second calf Shottle at 3500 gns and a third calf Drake at 3500 gns.

Harri Evans of Ty Croes, Anglesey purchased a total ten head for his noted Ceinwen Herd based on the island. His leading purchase was Barmere Shottle Stella 3^rd, a fresh third calf daughter of this noted sire who had just calved eleven days at the sale. He also purchased one of the best heifers, Barmere Onward Blomke, a September calved heifer by Andacres Morty Onward for 3300 gns.

A noteable and well respected Cheshire based herd purchased nine good cows with their top purchase being Barmere Outside Nannette a September calved second calver by Comestar Outside that realised 3600 in the sale ring. Not far behind in the price stakes was Barmere Sam wonder 4^th,  a very fresh second calf daughter of Mr. Sam that sold to CE & GS Witter & Son of Wheelock, Sandbach.

There was a wonderful group of seventy five maiden heifers born between September and December last year, that were well grown and nearly all by top proven sires. The top lot was Barmere Garrett Hester 2^nd, a daughter of Schillview Garrett out of a Shottle dam. She sold for 1480 gns and was one of 34 heifers in this group that were purchased by the Baltier Farming Company of Whithorn, South West Scotland.

Calves at foot also sold well selling to a top of 1200 gns for a September born calf by Askew Reece out of a dam by RSVP that had earlier sold for 3100 gns.   

TOP PRICES :                                                                                                                                           GNS

AVERAGES:

222 Cows and Milking Heifers (including 53 Baby Heifer Calves at £598.50) £2067.83;  2 In-calf Heifers £1496.25; 75 Maiden Heifers £1186.64;  300 HEAD £1844.18.

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