LEMINGTON SALE IS A MAJOR ATTRACTION

The biggest on-farm Holstein herd dispersal in Scotland since 2007 took place last week November 14^th and 15^th when Jimmy and Fiona Hodge sold their Lemington herd in Berwickshire. The sale had many major attractions for buyers an impressive 10,000 litre average was obviously one as was the outstanding functional traits achieved over the last ten years through the astute breeding decisions Jimmy made resulting in a herd with tremendous longevity, fertility and dairy strength.

With so many quality animals on offer it was no surprise that the ring-side crowd was huge and the opening trade was brisk with thrilling atmosphere. Buyers from twenty nine counties took part resulting in animals being dispersed as far north as Orkney and Aberdeen and as far south as Kent and each of the five home Nations represented on the buyers list. Volume buyers also made the most of the quantities on offer with numerous farms purchasing twenty or more.

Top price came near the end of day 1 for Lemington Jazzbolt Placida a daughter of Colvend Jazzbolt and bred from ten generations of Excellent or Very Good dams. Her dam was a youthful Goldwyn scored VG86 and with so much more still to offer. This is the same direct maternal line to Alistair & Colin Lairds show winning cow Ardgairney Juror Placida EX95. She sold for 5,000gns to B. O’Connor, Co. Cork, Rep. of Ireland.

One of the highlights in the sale was the Baxter daughters all made with so much width and strength and amazing udders. Selling for 4,400gns was Lemington Baxter Jane VG88, she was a youthful second calver giving well over 40kgs. She now joins the herd of J&K Rennie, Brockehill, Ayrshire.

Another youthful and fancy uddered cow that attracted a lot of attention was Lemington Axoim Trammy VG86 3yr bred from seven generations of Excellent or Very Good dams. She was sired by Canyon-Breeze Axiom and from the Quality Jet Trammy family. She was purchased by AH Laird, Blyth Farm, West Linton for 4,200gns

An outstanding truck load of special young cows and heifers was purchased by R McNeil, Cairnpat, Wigtownshire the best in this group was Lemington Design Linsey. She was a young second calve cow sired by Regancrest Design and was freshly calved in the middle of October she sold for 3,5000gns.

Also sired by Regancrest Design and selling for 3,500gns was Lemington Design Benita going to one of the up and coming herds in the UK owned by the Lawrie family Grangehall, Lanarkshire. Benita was near the end of her first lactation due early January to Picston Shottle.

At the end of day one the trade exploded with a number of freshly calved and recently calved heifers on offer. These exceptional young animals were a credit to the Hodge family and their fantastic team with the best of these heifers selling for 3,600gns.Lemington Jordan Velvet was sired by Gillette Jordan and bred from Koepon O-Man Velvet EX91, Velvet was purchased by J Mitchell & Partners, Kennetsideheads, Roxburghshire.

Day two commenced as day one had ended with flying trade for the in-calf heifers with a number of volume buyers selecting the best of these tremendous animals. Topping this delightful group was a heifer that Jimmy purchased in the spring at the Global Classic Sale from Sterndale Holsteins. Sterndale Lavanguard Tuesday was sired by Comestar Lavanguard, her grand dam sold for 10,000gns in the Sale of the Century in 2009. Tuesday sold for 4,000gns to J Mitcheel & Partners, Kennetsideheads, Roxburghshire.

On behalf of the Hodge family we would like to thank everyone who attended and purchased cattle at the two day sale and hope the animals are as successful in their new homes as they were at Lemington.

Leading Prices

Lot Purchaser GNS

Averages:

207 Cows in milk £1783.18

74 Heifers in milk £2173.85

56 In-Calf Heifers £2184.38

22 Recently served Heifers £1794.55

46 Bulling Heifers £1313.64

60 Maiden Heifers £1230.78

59 Heifer Calves £ 499.55

SALE IN CONJUNCTION WITH WRIGHT MANLEY