The sale of David Morgan’s herd of British Friesians near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, attracted a large crowd of buyers from throughout South Wales, the Midlands and the West Country.

The top price of 1,950gns (£2,047.50) was paid by H B Phillips & Son of Rogiet, Monmouthshire, for the Huddlesford Doraman daughter Smoothstone H D Arabella.  This freshly calved heifer was out of a Marshside Performer dam.

The same buyers paid 1,850gns for another Huddlesford Doraman sired calved heifer out of a Lavenham Arizona dam.

The second highest price of 1,900gns was purchased by R J & D L Morgan of Raglan.  Their purchase was the Dovea Sem sired calved heifer, Smoothstone Sem Estelle.

J B & M Williams of Rowlestone, Hereford, purchased the top priced cow for 1,700gns, the December calved Lavenham Arizona daughter Smoothstone L A Sian.  They also bought a heifer due with her second calf I October for 1,800gns.

In-calf heifers sold to 1,700gns purchased by Alun Jones & Co of Tregaron, Ceredigion.  The Huddlesford Doraman daughter was due to the South Devon bull next month.  Bulling heifers sold to 920gns.  There were no heifer calves on offer.

Principal auctioneer Gwilym Richards was highly delighted with the outcome considering the gloom facing the dairy industry at present with lowering milk prices and the persistent rain, as well as the herd being loose-housed, averaging 5,450 litres and containing many old cows  - 31 of the 46 cows having had 4 calves or more.

20 buyers successfully purchased the 85 cattle sold with 12 cattle being bought by one Pembrokeshire buyer.

Averages:

19 calved heifers £1,404.24

46 cows £1,052.97 (31 four + lacts)

5 in-calf heifers £1,625.40

15 maiden heifers £834.40

85 head £1,126.59

Auctioneers:  GWILYM RICHARDS & CO

with Newland Rennie Wilkins