Field Farm, near Farringdon was a busy place on Thursday this week with a large crowd from all parts of UK there to see Messrs Manners’ good Flamborough herd go under the hammer. After many years in dairy farming the decision was made to change the farming enterprises and cease milk production. 36 cattle buyers were successful from 17 different counties stretching from Kent to Northern Ireland and Carmarthen to North Wales & Lancashire.

Milking cattle were steady with what looked to be some good value animals fetching between 1,200 and 1,500 guineas. The cows were winter housed on covered straw yards, which tends to put off those with cubicle housing.  Top price in the milking herd was 1,710 guineas, paid for Flamborough Joshua Coralle GP80 2yr, an August calver still giving 30kg daily. She was one of several daughters of recent stock bull Nobold Joshua, who had left many outstanding daughters in the herd. She travels to Staffordshire on a load of 11 for Mr B Mould.  A dozen cows made 1500 guineas or more including another Joshua daughter at 1,660gns heading to West Wales.

The 21 heifers served for calving in May-June time were keenly sought and peaked at 1,680 guineas for another Joshua daughter, selling to Messrs Morgan of GoFarm Ltd, Usk in Monmouthshire. Longer dated heifers due in approx. 5 months peaked at 1,350 guineas.  

Calves at foot averaged £373 with the top seller being a daughter of Scientific Destry purchased by Neil Morris of Sontley Farms for 760 guineas. She joins a load of 39 yearlings bound for Wrexham. Maiden heifers were a consistent and buoyant trade with a top of 1,000 guineas for ‘Awesome Bimbo 2nd’ who is bound for Co Londonderry in N Ireland

Earlier in the day a Kuhn Euromix II diet Feeder made £9,600 and the Serap 12,000litre bulk tank £9,200.

Averages:   132 Cows & Calved Heifers avgd.  £1,130.02  

  21 Served Heifers avgd.  £1,462.00  

                38 August > calving Heifers avgd.  £1,098.63  

                56 Maiden Heifers avgd.  £   823.31  

                2 Bulls (incl 1 A-Angus) avgd.  £   934.50  

                249 Lots (incl 31 calves @£373.26) avgd.  £1,082.68  

Auctioneers:  NORTON & BROOKSBANK