he Dispersal of the Neatishall Herd of Pedigree Holstein dairy cattle, the property of Fran and Louis Baugh trading as JH & PE Nicholson Ltd., of Neatishead Hall, Norwich took place at Beeston Castle Auction on Tuesday 29^th May in front of a huge array of buyers who had travelled from all corners of the country. There were so many attractions to the sale including an average in excess of 11000 kg., great classification, deep pedigrees, modern sires, 4 year TB region and above all tremendous cattle.

The cattle were sold to farms from Scotland to Kent to Devon and Dorset, West Wales to Essex, all over the North and Midland areas of England as well as a large contingent from the home region of Norfolk and Suffolk.

There were a total of twenty two animals selling at prices from 3000 to 6000 gns including six at 4000 gns or more. The top seller was one of the many stars in the herd; Neatishall Talent Ricki (Ex93-2E) the Reserve All Britain Junior Cow for 2010. She was milking with her third lactation having given over 14000 kg and PD’d back in calf to Wyman for the end of the year. She sold in a joint purchase to leading farm nutritionist Paul Findley for his Bestfed Herd and to Ken and Rebecca Proctor (T/A R Paterson) for their Airfield Herd at Shipdham, Norfolk. Her July ’11 heifer calf by Pine-Shelter Laramee-Mor sold for 2500 gns to Geoff Windsor of the Hendomen Herd, Powys.

Second top seller was the milking heifer Neatishall Decker Rosina (VG86-2yr) who was also due for the late part of the year to Wyman. She sold to NJ & LC Sercombe of Melton Mowbray, Leics. Not far behind was the January calved heifer Neatishall Dancer Leola (VG85-2yr), a daughter of ALH Dancer and bred from 6 generations of VG/EX cows she now joins the Yardgrove Herd at Blandford, Dorset.

Three animals each sold for 4000 gns; the first was Neatishall Duplex Ricki 2^nd (VG87 & SP), a milking second calf daughter of Duplex due with her third in October to Shottle. She now joins John Cawston’s Poringland Herd at Bungay, Suffolk. Also selling at this price was her younger sister, Neatishall Bolton Ricki (GP84-2yr), due with her second next December to Goldfish and she sold to A|ed Jones, Caernarfon for his Hendy Herd. The final animal at this figure was one of the few animals in the sale that wasn’t homebred; Huddlesford Sanchez Paradise (VG85-2yr) is a daughter of Sanchez and the 6^th generation of top classified dams. She sold due with her second in December to Fever and was purchased by Peter Rout for his Tibenham Herd at Norwich.

Two consecutive lots in the catalogue sold for 3800 gns. Each; the first was Neatishall Damoin Kitty (VG88 & SP), a February calved second lactation cow sold to Paul and Ruth Robinson of the Woodhey Herd at Nantwich and the second was another Damion daughter, Neatishall Damion Leoloa (VG87) that was due in October with her third and sold to Elwyn Thomas of the Gatrog Herd at Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

In-calf heifers sold to 3300 gns for Neatishall Advantage Pollula 2^nd by Rosedale Advantage Red and due in August to Baileys Red Rock; she sold to T Crawford & Co Ltd of Bungay, Suffolk for their Topcrofty Herd. At just 200 gns less was Neatishall Damion Marie 3^rd, in-calf for June to Comestar Lofficiel with sexed semen and sold to Baltier Farming Company of Whithorn, Wigtownshire.

Maiden Heifers sold to 3500 gns for one of the last lots in the sale; Neatishall Wisconsin Pollula Red, a May 11 daughter of April-Day Wisconsin Red, and a sister to the top priced in-calf heifer was the choice of Designer Holsteins of Ingatestone, Essex. Another red daughter of Wisconsin, also born in May last year sold for 2800 gns to Peter and Ava Barrell of Shipdham, Norfolk.

Heifer calves topped at 2900 gns for Neatishall Secure Special Red 2^nd ET, a daughter of Crackholm Secure Red from the Blackrose family that also sold to the Baltier Farming Company.

TOP PRICES:                                                                                                                                         GNS

AVERAGES:

122 Cows and Milking Heifers (including 49 heifer calves at £1014.64) £2709.25; 53 In-calf Heifers £2182.22; 8 Served Heifers £1634.09; 59 Maiden Heifers £1497.23.  242 LOTS £2262.79

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