People from all over the British Isles, including over 50 successful buyers, spanning 25 different counties packed the ringside at Raby Hall Farm on Thursday October 30 to see the dispersal of Margaret & Christine Ford’s old established Raby Herd of pure British Friesians.

It is a rare commodity these days to have a herd of pure British Friesians to sell and the interest created was considerable. The two sisters Margaret & Christine had little option other than to sell up as the rented farm needed considerable investment to manage 130 dairy cows and with landlords reluctant to make that investment the cattle had to go. And far and wide they have gone!

Leading the day was the smart young 89 point 2^nd calver Raby Jasmine 59 VG89, who realised 3,000 guineas. She is by Blackisle Garve and was due to calve her third calf in March to Parbury Venue EX, who had some 60 daughters in the sale. The buyer, who has declined any publicity, is from Yorkshire. Parbury Venue was purchased at the Parbury dispersal sale in April 1994 and his influence on the Raby herd has been and continues to be exceptional.

Second top price was 2,250 guineas paid by the same buyer as above for Raby Buttercup 123 VG87, also by Balckisle Garve and out of an EX93 Glen Albyn dam. Buttercup was 5 weeks fresh and had been raised 4 points by the classifier since calving.

Basil Lawson from Fife was in a determined mood and secured 14 head for his Lismulligan herd including Raby Anemone 165 EX90, pictured on the front cover, for 2,000gns and Raby Heather 112 VG88, by Venue at the same price.

Biggest buyer on the day was Evan McKeeman from Northern Ireland who is setting up a new herd near Ballymoney, Co. Antrim. He set sail that evening with 26 quality cows forming a valuable nucleus for his new enterprise.

Served heifers were good to sell averaging over £1,500 with a top of 2,050 guineas for a Marigold by Benloyal and strong yearlings / bullers averaging £1,080 with a peak of 1,680 guineas for a red Shamrock by Benloyal, selling to Richard Pilkington for his Aintree herd near Wrexham.

Calves at foot had plenty of support and reached 1,050 guineas for January born Grove Invader daughter out of an EX92 Geranium. The buyer was Stewart Braid from Dumfries. There were 9 bulls to choose from and Mr P.C Williams from Ruthin paid 2,200 guineas for his pick – Raby Prince, by Benloyal from the Aster family. 

AVERAGES

117  Cows & Calved Heifers           avgd.  £1,463.26 

  17  Served Heifers (pd+)            avgd.  £1,517.56 

  40  Bulling Heifers                      avgd.  £1,080.71  

  20  Yearlings / strong calves        avgd.  £   882.52 

194  lots (incl 29 ‘A’ lots @£515)     avgd.  £1,329.27  

    9  Bulls                                  avgd.   £1,264.67  

203  Lots                                  avgd. £1,326.41  

 Auctioneers:  NORTON & BROOKSBANK with J BRADBURNE PRICE & Co