MID-MONTH DAIRY CATTLE SELL TO £2380 ON A GREAT TRADE

The Mid Month sale continues to hit the headlines by attracting the largest entry of pedigree and commercial dairy cattle at any market anywhere in the UK. The February event at Wright Manley’s Cheshire market attracted and entry of 258 cows and milking heifers for its sale catalogue of which 234 were forward on the day. There were also a good entry of incalf and served heifers as well as few maiden heifers and calves and a couple of stock bulls. I all total of 280 head changed hands in a very vibrant market place.

MILKERS:

The entry was great for February and although the quality was not quite as good as last month there was still many great individuals in the sale. As usual buyers came from all over and made for a good day’s trading. Everyone went home happy with prices they received despite the poor cull cow prices which undoubtedly affect base prices for fresh milkers.  Nevertheless 43 milkers sold for £2000 or more.

Top price this month was £2380 and was for an entry from Jeremy Platt of Lach Dennis, Northwich with a daughter of Woodmarsh Metallic; Lachstone Wood Metallic Kariel was sold giving 32 kg and was the choice of IL & OG Roberts of Forden, Welshpool. There were two heifers at £2300 each; the first was the homebred Wigland Loader Sunset from Mark and Ann Bowden of Malpas she sold giving 30 kg. to Brian Parker of Haughton, Stafford. The second at this figure was the leading lot of a great entry 20 heifers from Jack and Barclay Taylor of Myddle, Shrewsbury; Starward Shottle June 5th is a daughter of Shottle and sold to JG Williams, Nantwich. Another form the same home, the homebred Burnbrae Twister Cherry was sold for £2280 giving 34 kg daily to Roger Ryley, Hodnet. The Taylors had a further four heifers selling between £2200 and £2250; they were a Twister at £2250 and a Karona Bonair at £2200 to PA & E Ford of Nantwich; a Laramee Mor at £2220 to Brian Parker and a Dubs Ellrod at £2200 to IL & OG Roberts.

Terry Goldstraw of Audlem sold an unregistered Shottle at £2250 to E Roper of Preston and a daughter of Sandy Valley Denethor at £2150 to PA & E Ford. DB Kippax & Sons of Garstang sold two daughters of Middle Jason at £2150 to Brian Parker and £2100 to Roger Ryley. Five other heifers sold for £2100 each; one from Graham Kirby of Kirkham, Lancs, one from WJ Lewis & Co., Farndon, one from Alastair Shirt of Barlow, Sheffield and two from the Taylors.

Cows were a great trade peaking at £2120 for a second calf Gerard from John Eastham of Samlesbury, Preston followed at £2110 for a second calf Jeeves from Haydn James of Bozeat, Northampton and a second calf Samuelo from Andrew Stafford of Melton Mowbray at £2100. Three others broke the £2000 mark.

Coloured breed heifers peaked at £2000 for Brown Swiss cross from the Taylors at £2000 and the top Ayrshire was £1910 for a heifer from RG & A & RT Lloyd of Anglesey.

IN-CALF AND SERVED HEIFERS:

A much better trade this month and it has to be said a good quality entry. All the top prices were consigned by Grosvenor Farms Ltd., of Chester whose top six animals ranged from £1750 to a top of £1980. Their top seller was a daughter of Kings Ransom Dover due in March selling to E Roper of Preston who also purchased daughters of Ingles and McCormick from the same home at £1900 each.

MAIDEN HEIFERS:

A Small entry sold to a top of £1020 for a bulling heifer by the Irish sire Lynally Blizzard from AJ & GM Cliff Ltd of Burwardsley with a pedigree 14 month old daughter of Ards Reunion from Tollemache Farms Ltd., of Peckforton selling for £1000.

HEIFER CALVES:

Again a much smaller entry than usual topped at £400 for a daughter of Misty Springs Smokin from Tollemache Farms Ltd. Another from the same home by Ralma Focus sold for £380.

STOCK BULLS:

Just one lovely 15 month old pedigree Hereford from R & RI Shaw of Ledsham sold this month for £1800.

AVERAGES:

69 Cows £1537.80; 152 Milking Heifers £1782.24; 32 Served Heifers £1560.63; 12 Maiden Heifers £808.33; 6 Heifer Calves £331.367. 1 Stock Bull £1800.00

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