A top price of 2,450gns and twenty one cattle at 2,000gns or more summed up a highly successful sale on behalf of Alan and Barry Yarnold of their Criftens herd of Holstein dairy cattle at Sapey Common, Worcester.

The loose housed herd attracted a very large crowd of buyers from twelve English and Welsh counties.

The top price of 2,450gns was paid by Rob Davies of Sandhurst, Gloucester for the red and white third calver Criftens Metallica Dolly Red.  The Mister Metallica daughter was freshly calved having given 9,143kg in her second lactation.

E T Morris & Sons of Orcop, Hereford, paid 2,400gns twice for freshly calved heifers, both of which were sired by Leif.  Criftens Leif Quince was out of a 12,509kg Braedale Freeman cow and Criftens Leif Arabis was a daughter of a 9,625kg Delta Gerris cow.

The highlight of the sale was the consistent trade for the 20 served heifers that averaged £1,978.20 with S & A May of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, buying both section leaders at 2,100gns each.  Both were daughters of Leif, the first was out of a 11,938kg Oliveholme Aeroline daughter and due to Blackisle Benlomond in June,and the other was a daughter of the 11,850kg Lobito with a sexed Co Op Oman Lloydie calf due in July.

Yearling heifers by Leif also met a roaring trade selling to 1,420gns purchased by M J & S C Pugh of Bodenham, Hereford.

Messrs Pugh also bought the top priced heifer calf at 950gns, she was a Poos Stadel Classic daughter.

TOP 7 PRICES:

Lot                                                                                  Gns

Averages

81 cows and heifer calves    £1,936.14 (including 42 heifer calves at £621.50)

20 served heifers               £1,978.20

21 maiden heifers              £1,142.50

6 heifer calves                    £754.25

128 lots                           £1,757.10

AUCTIONEERS:  GWILYM RICHARDS & CO