A splendid crowd assembled at Rectory Farm on June 21^st for the dispersal of the Messrs Oughton’s old established Swell herd. With a history of over 70 years the prefix is one of the oldest in the black & white breed, but with farm sold and the new owner pursuing different enterprises, the herd had to be sold. Over 40 buyers were registered from as far afield as Essex and Pembrokeshire. 14 Welsh buyers were determined bidders and claimed a sizeable proportion of the cattle. The TB history in the area kept Northern buyers away, further illustrating the regrettable North/South divide between livestock buyers.

16 animals made 2,000 guineas or more, with several more making into the high ‘teens’ of guineas. Bidders were cautious on anything with a blemish but were quick to pounce on the better cattle. Philip Robertson from Wootton-under-Edge runs a very high yielding herd and his eye caught the very stylish Swell Bandana Deidre 49, who had calved two months ago and was giving 45 litres. She was easily the best cow on the day and made the top price of 2,750 guineas.

Richard Jenkins from Kilgetty in Pembrokeshire purchased 14 milkers for his Dawesford herd including the second top priced Swell Emperor Pansy 166 for 2,250 guineas. She was in full milk having calved 2 months earlier.

Calves at foot were a lively trade averaging out at £506 and peaking at 680 guineas for a Sandy-Valley Denethor daughter out of a 2,000 guinea Kendall dam. Served heifers looked the best value on the day selling up to 1,780 guineas for a Toystory daughter, but buyers able to buy late summer calving heifers due at 2 years old for 12-1400 guineas. The yearlings heifers were more keenly sought with a top of 1,100 guineas twice.

Dairy equipment sold really well with the Fulwood 24/24 DTL parlour making £16,000, a Cotswold 24 point cluster flushing system £6,600 and the 10,000 litre DX bulk tank £9,000.

Averages:-    180   Cows & Calved Heifers                     avg. £1,489

                         67   Served Heifers                                   avg. £1,200

                          49   Maiden Heifers                                   avg.     £803

                        296   Lots                                                       avg. £1,310

                            1  Aberdeen Angus Bull                                 £1,869

                         29   3 / light quartered cows                  avg. £   909

Auctioneers: NORTON & BROOKSBANK

With GWILYM RICHARDS & Co

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