There was a quality entry of freshly calved cows and heifers at Borderway for the April Border & Lakeland Holstein Club show and sale.  The sale averaged £1701 and topped 2,550gns, in general there was a much better offering of quality, well grown animals than the month before and there was a upbeat feel to the trade with warmer weather and spring time just around the corner.

The event was sponsored by Zoetis and Cogent and expertly judged by Miss Vienna Bowe form the Chalkelodge Herd, Dalston.  Her Overall Champion went to Bowberhill Shottle Gina consigned by WM Hutchinson & Son, Kirby Stephen.  She was bred from their top Gina family and sired by Shottle, she sold for 2,250gns to Buckabank Farm Ltd.  This was the third generation of this family to sell in the sale and the second to be Overall Champion.

The Reserve Champion was Errolston E Brax Duchess Ricki consigned by the Davidson family from Errolston Farm, Gretna.  She was sired by Regancrest S Braxton and sold for 2,100gns to J&J Barr, Fife.  Her third dam was the famous Royal Highland Champion Stannock Formation Ricki EX96. Commenting after the sale Vienna Bowe said “...it was a pleasure to judge today and I was really impressed with the overall quality and especially happy to have two super heifers for Champion and Reserve.  These are the sort of animals we value at home and I’m sure they will develop into fine cows in the future”

Other top prices included Wormanby Fever Twain sired by Fever, she was bred from eight Excellent  or Very Good dams with the fourth dam the famous Skychief daughter Eastside S Twain EX96 who was twice National Champion in Ireland.  This fancy uddered heifer sold for 2,100gns to A Waddle & Son, Dewshill Farm.

The Espland herd owned by Alan Cannon have built up a strong reputation for selling super uddered powerful heifers with oceans of milk.  They sold two excellent heifers and topped the trade at 2,550gns for Espland Stanleycup Angela sired by Stanleycup and giving 40kgs.  She was purchased by Mr Wilson, Blackbyres, Kilmarnock. 

The day also included the Spring Red & White sale.  Topping the trade in this section was a very milky heifer consigned by the Davidsons from Halmyre Farm, Castle Douglas. Halmyre Urr Ladybird   was sired by Journeyman was giving 33kgs and sold for 1,950gns to CD & CA Sommerville, Braehill Farm, Dumfries.

The Spring Jersey Sale had a small offering on show and topped at 1,250gns for Hillside Riley Kew consigned by Jamie Wood.  This super uddered heifer was an easy Champion on the day and now goes to the herd of JR Heuchan & Son, Castle Douglas.

Marion & David Holiday, Demesne Cottage, Burgh By Sands, Carlisle sold two very classy heifer calves.  Monument Excitation Legacy was a September born Excitation daughter bred from five generations of Excellent or Very Good dams.  She was the Reserve Champion and sold for 750gns to Mr Joe White, Ulverston.

Leading Prices

Holstein

Lot Gns   Purchaser

33 2550gns SF Wilson & Co, Blackbyres, Barrhead, Glasgow

43 2250gns Buckabank Farm Ltd, Buckabank Farm, Dalston, Cumbria

25 2100gns A Waddell, Dewshill Farm, Forrest Road, Salsburgh, Shotts, Lanarkshire

46 2100gns Barr Farm Ltd, Easter Bucklyvie Farm, Cowdenbeath Fife

39 2050gns John Goldie & Sons, Buistonhead Farm, Kilmaurs, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire

37 2020gns John Goldie & Sons, Buistonhead Farm, Kilmaurs, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire

Jersey

Lot Gns     Purchaser            

64 1250gns JR Heuchan & Son, Gerranton Farm, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire

63  880gns SF Wilson, Blackbyres, Barrhead, Glasgow

61  820gns R Cassells, Mouswald Banks, Mouswald, Dumfries

Ayrshire

Lot Gns   Purchaser

59 1950gns CD & CA Somerville, Braehill Farm, Carrutherstown, Dumfries

55 1580gns R Cassells, Mouswald Banks, Mouswald, Dumfries

56 1500gns J Duff & Sons, The Laythes, Kirkbride, Wigton, Cumbria

Averages

5 Holstein Cows   £1475.20

57 Holstein Heifers £1701.11

8 Ayrshire Heifers £1506.75

4 Jersey Heifers £858.38

10 Jersey Bulling Heifers £535.50

1 Jersey Calf £787.50