Kivells Auctioneers held the two day retirement sale of the Heddonvalley herd of Pedigree Holsteins on behalf of Messrs BG Nicholls of Barnstaple which were removed to the excellent facilities at Exeter Livestock Centre, Devon for convenience of sale. Two sales were held a week apart with the milking herd split over both days, the in calf heifers on the first day and Bulling heifers on the second.

A strong crowd of over 100 buyers packed the ringside on both days to witness a phenomenal trade and a total of 74 animals were sold over £2000, with 42 over £2200! The leading top price was 2750gns for a fourth calver “Heddonvalley Lilac 44 VG8” by Comestar Stormatic having just calved on October she sold to Bittadon Farms of Barnstaple.

At 2650gns was “Heddonvalley Matilda 37” a September calved heifer by Winkleigh Space Shuttle, she sold giving 34kgs to Messrs Partridge of Morchard Bishop. At 2580gns was a beautiful third calver “Heddonvalley Amy 13” a VG85 Regancrest Mr Samuelo daughter and she sold fresh to Len & Jack Bartlett of Honiton.

Dry Cows sold over 2000gns on 5 occasions to a top call of 2180gns for “Heddonvalley Penguin Red 4” by Winkleigh Space Shuttle and due in December to her second. Spring calving cows sold to 1950gns for “Heddonvalley Polly 13 VG88” a fourth calver by Oliveholme Aeroline due in March to her 5^th.

In calf heifers sold to 1600gns for December calving heifers and January/February calving heifers also sold to 1600gns and 1550gns. Bulling heifers saw an immense trade with a large crowd of potential buyers around the ring trying to secure quality young stock. Top price was 1180gns for 13 month old “Heddonvalley Pansy 97” by Cleave Mercury Mario out of an EX90 dam, she sold to David Jones of Monmouthshire. The majority of these heifers were all 11-14 months old and sold exceptionally well with other February 12 born yearlings selling to 880gns.

Heifer calves sold well behind their dams to a top of 650gns for a spring born calf by Heddonvalley Luke, son of Picston Shottle. Several others sold between 500-600gns. Stock bulls sold to great demand and the Holstein bull by Mammoth sold at 1550gns and the four year old British Blue bull met great demand with the hammer finally falling at 2650gns to round off an exceptional sale.

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Kivells