ORTON GRANGE SALE TOPS THE TRADE

The first sale of 2015 for the Border & Lakeland Holstein Club took place at Borderway, Carlisle in front of a packed ring side of buyers from Scotland and the North of England.  In total 110 head sold to average £1734 with a top of 4,000gns with twenty seven selling for £2000 or more, despite the current downturn in the milk market demand for quality pedigree cows remains.  A rise in the value of cull cows and the number being culled has been an important factor in firming the trade for fresh milkers.  Animals offered that were slightly under condition sold well below their true value and will look exceptional purchases come summer time.

The show was sponsored by Paragon Veterinary Group and Cogent and was judged by Brian Harrison from the Lowhouse Holstein herd.  His overall Champion went to Orton Grange Talented Jazz Red VG88, a special red & white who was part of the Orton Grange sale from Richard Martin.  Sired by Ladino Park Talent, this super uddered cow classified VG88 only thirty days fresh, she sold for 2,900gns to Andrew & Euan Lawrie, Lanark.

The reserve Champion went Skirwith Hall Farms for Stowbeck Goldboy Anne sired by Goldboy and bred from an Excellent Duncan Progress dam.  This beautiful uddered heifer sold for 2,300gns to Barr Farm Ltd, Fife.

Other leading prices included Boclair Triumphant Camilla consigned by the Brewster family.  Camilla was bred from three generations of Excellent or very Goods cows all with impressive lifetime yields.  A very nice Gibbs-I Claynock Dude heifer bred from an Excellent 92 dam with 110ton lifetime, was consigned by Wormanby Holstein, Carlisle. These heifers were purchased by Andrew & Euan Lawrie, Lanark  for 2,600gns and 2,500gns respectively.

Orton Grange Sale

Following the club sale the Orton Grange herd owned by Richard Martin consigned a special group of forty five cows and heifers.  The group was made up of twenty freshly calved animals and twenty dry or ready to go dry animals due in the Spring and early summer plus a number of in-calf heifers.  Trade topped at 4,000gns and averaged £1815 for a complete clearance.  The Martin family would like to thank everyone who supported the sale and wishes them much success in the future.

As already mentioned Orton Grange Talented Jazz Red VG88, stole the show winning the overall Championship selling for 2,900gns to Andrew & Euan Lawrie, Lanark. 

Topping the trade at 4,000gns was a perfectly balanced second calve cow with a close to perfect udder.  Orton Grange Design Shannon was recently classified VG86 only a few weeks fresh in her second.  She was purchased by R & A Agnew, Stranraer who also purchased the first Orton Grange cow, Orton Grange Apple May Red VG85 2yr.  May Red was sired by Big Apple Red and bred from a VG87 Buckhorn-Acres Raid dam, she sold for 2,800gns.

A very classy Red Lawn Boy cow sold for 2,850gns to Holehouse Farms, Ayrshire.  Orton Grange Lawnboy Velvet Red was classified VG86 and was giving over 40kgs, she traces back to the prize winning Haresfoot Ayrshire herd.

The cover girl and the cow with the biggest earning potential sold for 2,800gns to Andrew & Euan Lawrie, Lanark.  Orton Grange Shottle Ghost was the tenth generation of cows classified either Excellent or Very Good from the famous Ghost family.  She had classified Excellent in her third only three weeks fresh; her Observer daughter had sold in the Black & White sale in 2013 for 4,500gns.

Leading Prices

Lot      Purchaser                                                                                                     Gns

119     R & A Agnew, West Dhuloch, Kirkholm, Stranraer                              4000

128     Messrs Lawrie, Grangehall Farm, Pettinairn, Lanark, Lanarkshire          2900

125     Holehouse Farms, Holehouse Farm, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire                         2850

101     R & A Agnew, West Dhuloch, Kirkholm, Stranraer                              2800

107     Messrs Lawrie, Grangehall Farm, Pettinairn, Lanark, Lanarkshire          2800

64      Messrs Lawrie, Grangehall Farm, Pettinairn, Lanark, Lanarkshire          2600

63      Messrs Lawrie, Grangehall Farm, Pettinairn, Lanark, Lanarkshire          2500

132     R & A Agnew, West Dhuloch, Kirkholm, Stranraer                              2500

21      F Talbot & Co, Lower Alston Farm, Ribchester, Preston, Lancs              2300

59      J & J Barr Farm Ltd, Easter Bucklyvie Farm, Cowdenbeth, Fife             2300

34      J & D Mackie, Westerboard Farm, Twechar, Kilsyth, Glasgow               2200

Averages

4 Cows in milk/calf             £1317.15

61 Heifers in milk/calf                   £1702.28

45 Orton Grange Sale          £1815.33

Prize List