The Dispersal of the entire Hafesp Herd of Pedigree Holstein dairy cattle attracted a huge crowd of buyers from all over when they were sold at Red House, Aberhafesp, Nr. Newtown, Mid Wales over two days on 8th/9th February following the sad and tragic death of Arthur Davies who was a true Gentleman in every sense of the word.
The herd numbered over 550 head but was managed on a truly commercial basis following an all year round calving pattern and averaging 9200 kg and cell counts at 128. Top bulls had been used predominantly from the World Wide Sires stud which no doubt added to the attractiveness of the event. Despite the very cold freezing conditions buyers gathered in large numbers particularly from all over Wales but also from as far away as Lancashire, Essex, Kent and Devon and from the English Midlands. It has to be said it is one of the largest crowds seen at a cattle dispersal sale for many years. As a result trade was phenomenal achieving prices which have never been seen before at this level and for all age groups.
The first days selling comprised the entire milking portion and all heifer calves born since 1st September and what a trade was experienced; bids were cascading at the auctioneer at almost frenzied pace from start to finish. The top price for females was 3700 gns for the December calved milking heifer Hafesp Ros Gay 2nd (VG86-2yr), one of the many good daughters of Plain-O Durham Ross in the sale she was sold giving 33 kg daily and was the choice of Jim O’Neill from Moreton Say, Market Drayton who also purchased the fresh heifer Hafesp Duplex Heather for 2750 gns. Just three lots prior was another Ross daughter, Hafesp Ross Lady (VG85-2yr) who calved in October and sold giving 35 kg to David Gethin of Forden, Welshpool for 3050 gns.
The top priced cow was Hafesp Duplex Norah (VG87) a fresh second calver giving 37 kg and having given over 9700 kg with her first calf; she sold for 3000 gns to join Adrian Jones; Garthmyl Herd at Welshpool. Roger Morse of Carmarthen purchased another October calved second calver; Hafesp Ready Stella (VG85-3yr) had been Pd’d incalf to Million and was sold for 2700 gns giving 39 kg. At the same price local buyer Gordon Trow of Llandinam purchased the fresh second calver, Ternbridge Ruth 56th, a daughter of Palmcrest Blitz Blade. On the first day it is an incredible fact that some 57 milkers realised prices of 2200 gns or more.
Calves following their dams into the ring sold tremendously well selling to a top of 1000 gns for Hafesp End Story Heather an October born calf out of a VG85-2yr dam selling to TS & CI Jerman of Llanidloes with another sired by Smiddiehill Saratoga selling for 980 gns to Mike Owens of Tregaron.
On day two it was the turn of the stock bull and all the incalf, served and maiden heifers and what a day it turned out to be and again prices through the roof and again at levels that have not been seen before. Not as many people about, which is always the case on the second day but nevertheless they meant business. There were only a couple of females and the stock bull that were not homebred but it was the bull, Willsbro Roxet that was the headliner selling for the sale’s top price of 6000 gns. He was the first animal to be sold on the second day and is a son of Sanchez bred from 8 generations of VG/EX dams from the Roxy family and was purchased by DW Richards of Pontyberem, Carmarthen.
The In calf and served heifers were also in great demand; top price in this section was 3000 gns for Hafesp Sanchez Norah who had been recently bred to Toc-Farm Goldfish. The dam of this heifer was an EX91 daughter of Zenith and her dam too was also scored Ex91. She was purchased by J Allsop and Son, Church Stretton. Close calving heifers were a very level trade selling to 2450 gns for a daughter of Hidden View Balziar out of a VG89 dam by Damion which sold earlier in the sale for 2600 gns.
Maiden Heifers topped at 2200 gns for Hafesp Million Norah 2nd a June 2010 daughter of England-Ammon Million purchased by J Allsop & Son. The Million daughters were in great demand and they were indeed a great bunch of calves. The very next lot into the ring was also a Million daughter and made 2100 gns; Hafesp Million Darkeye sold to J R Wilkinson of Meifod, Powys. A similar aged heifer by the same sire made 1800 gns selling to AW & JL Thomas of Abergwila, Carmarthen. Towards the end of the sale two August 2011 born calves with show potential, one by End Story and one by Million, both of which were pictured in the sale catalogue caught the eye of Peter Prior of Designer Holsteins, Ingatestone, Essex and were purchased by him for 1800 gns each.
TOP PRICES:
(MILKERS) GNS
Lot 211 Hafesp Ross Gay 2nd (VG86-2yr) J & J O’neill, Market Drayton, Shropshire 3700
Lot 208 Hafesp Ross Lady (VG85-2yr) D & S Gethin, Welshpool, Powys 3050
Lot 112 Hafesp Duplex Norah (VG87) R & RA Jones, Montgomery, Powys 3000
Lot 202 Hafesp Duplex Heather J & J O’neill, Market Drayton, Shropshire 2750
Lot 128 Hafesp Ready Stella (VG85-3yr) Mr & Mrs J R Morse, Carmarthen, Dyfed 2700
Lot 159 Ternbridge Ruth 56th (VG85) W G Trow, Llandinam, Powys 2700
Lot 93 Hafesp Vamp Lianne (VG87) R G Whittall, Meifod, Powys 2650
Lot 188 Hafesp Ziggy Heather (VG85-2yr) E R T Pryce, Hereford 2650
Lot 90 Hafesp Damion Crystal (VG89) R & RA Jones, Montgomery, Powys 2600
Lot 100 Hafesp Shottle Ema (VG88) W & R & E Pritchard, Anglesey 2600
Lot 171 Hafesp Ziggy Primula 3rd (GP82) Mr & Mrs J R Morse, Carmarthen, Dyfed 2600
(NCALF AND SERVED HEIFERS)
Lot 303 Hafesp Sanchez Norah J Allsop & Sons, Church Stretton, Shropshire 3000
Lot 255 Hafesp Balziar Crystal W G Trow, Llandinam, Powys 2450
Lot 237 Hafesp Ross Primula AW & JL Thomas, Carmarthen, Dyfed 2400
Lot 239 Hafesp Design Darkeye W G Trow, Llandinam, Powys 2400
Lot 247 Hafesp Ross Snow J & J O’neill, Market Drayton, Shropshire 2350
Lot 259 Hafesp Bolivia Norah J & J O’neill, Market Drayton, Shropshire 2350
(MAIDEN HEIFERS)
Lot 333 Hafesp Million Norah 2nd J Allsop & Sons, Church Stretton, Shropshire 2200
Lot 334 Hafesp Million Darkeye J R Wilkinson, Meifod, Powys 2100
Lot 332 Hafesp Million Primula AW & JL Thomas, Carmarthen, Dyfed 1800
Lot 474 Hafesp End-Story Rhian Designer Holsteins, Ingatestone, Essex 1800
Lot 481 Hafesp Million Snow Designer Holsteins, Ingatestone, Essex 1800
(CALVES)
Lot 188A Hafesp End-Story Heather TS & CI Jerman, Llanidloes, Powys 1000
Lot 132A Hafesp Saratoga Imogen MJ & J Owens, Tregaron, Ceredigion 980
Lot 195A Hafesp Million Norah 6th James Richards, Churchstoke, Powys 820
Lot 198A Hafesp Million Favourite GE & KM Langford, Welshpool, Powys 820
Lot 206A Hafesp Million Norah 7th GE & KM Langford, Welshpool, Powys 800
(BULL)
Lot 229 Willsbro Roxet ET D W Richards, Carmarthen, Powys 6000
AVERAGES:
212 Cows and Milking Heifers (including 83 Baby Heifer Calves born since September at £620.13) £2144.47;
53 In-calf Heifers £2038.58; 22 Served Heifers £1663.30; 180 Maiden Heifers £1181.66; 468 HEAD £1748.42
WRIGHT MANLEY of Beeston Castle Auction, Cheshire and Halls of Shrewsbury were the Auctioneers.
