DAY 1
Day one of the Mellguards dispersal is in the books, trade topped at 2,200gns with an overall average of £977. The ring at Borderway was packed with buyers from all of the four home Nations, in total 72 buyers got their names in the book from a total of 18 counties.
The cow that graced the front cover of the catalogue stole the show, Mellguards Mel Jennifer VG88 sold for 2,200gns to an undisclosed buyer. She was fresh in her second and bred from three generations of Excellent or Very Goods.
Mellguards Reddevil Joanne was another fancy uddered second calver that attracted a lot of interest she sold for 1,650gns and was also purchased by an undisclosed buyer.
Mellguards Bluesky Jennifer (same family as the top price) sold for 1,650gns, she was a fresh third calve cow giving close to 40kgs. She was bred from an Excellent Duncan Progress cow and was purchased by H & EM Hunter & Son, Berrier Head, Penrith.
The milking heifers gave buyers an excellent opportunity to purchase quality and topped at 1,600gns for Mellguards Bossman Dorothy. She was the highest yielding heifer in the sale giving almost 40kgs and sold to AJ Knowles, Higher Park Head, Preston. In total 92 heifers sold to average £1083, included in this group was a youthful group of 37 freshly calved heifers that averaged £1137.
The 28 young heifers calves born in 2016 were in demand topping at 4,00gns for Mellguards Roebuck Francis sired by Denmire Roebuck (a super bull selling tomorrow). These young calves averaged £293.
Leading Prices Day 1
Lot Purchaser Price
206 Undisclosed buyer 2200gns
139 H & EM Hunter & Son, Berrier Head, Penrith, Cumbria 1650gns
210 Undisclosed buyer 1650gns
311 AJ Knowles, Higher Park Head, Preston, Lancs. 1600gns
42 Undisclosed buyer 1550gns
242 JJ Taylor, High Whinnow Farm, Thursby, Carlisle, Cumbria 1500gns
117 M & A Robinson, Low Knockglass Farm, Stranraer 1450gns
85 M & A Robinson, Low Knockglass Farm, Stranraer 1400gns
709 AS & CE Coulthard, Justicetown Farm, Westlinton, Carlisle, Cumbria 1380gns
22 Bowness Farms, Threapland Lees, Aspatria, Wigton, Cumbria 1350gns
190 Wilson of Woodside Ltd, Woodside Farm, Carlisle, Cumbria 1350gns
204 Wilson of Woodside Ltd, Woodside Farm, Carlisle, Cumbria 1350gns
224 JE Walton & Sons, Fox Lane Ends Farm, Kirkham, Lancs. 1350gns
329 AJ Knowles, Higher Park Farm, Preston, Lancs. 1350gns
DAY 2
Day 2 of the Mellguards dispersal once again saw a huge crowd of buyers in attendance with many returning after being so impressed with the milking herd from Day 1. It was also very nice to see so many friends and neighbours of the Fisher family supporting the sale both in attendance and by purchasing. Richard would like to pass on his gratitude to everyone who supported his sale and wishes them much success with their new animals.
The was a brisk trade for all ages of young-stock starting of the in-calf heifers. They topped at 1,150gns for Mellguards Regent Daisy sired by Warnelview Regent and bred from a high producing dam who gave almost 100ton lifetime. She was purchased by volume buyer B&MJ Nelson, Milnthorpe, Cumbria.
There was a super group of 42 heifers running with the bull and mostly due from mid Summer and into the Autumn. The fine group of heifers averaged £674 and topped at 900gns for Mellguards Reddevil Sue who was purchased by R Hares Millenheath Farm, Cheshire.
Topping the trade for both days was one of the herd sires. Denmire Robuck was sired by Gillette Windbrook and bred from twelve generations of Excellent or Very Good cows. His dam is a top cow in the prize winning Denmire herd producing over 100ton lifetime with numerous lactations over 16,500kgs. This super fancy bull sold for 4,100gns to B&MJ Nelson, Milnthorpe, Cumbria.
The 60 bulling heifers were exceptional quality and exhibited huge potential. A large number of these heifers sold to a joint top price of 650gns. The youngest heifer in the section being one of them, Mellguards Goldbull Olga sired by Willem’s Hoeve W-H-R Gold Bull and bred from the Olga cow family that has been so successful at Wormanby Holsteins who are the UK’s current Premier Herd winners. This fine heifer was purchased by A & JM Foster Weary Hall Style, Wigton, Cumbria.
Leading Prices Day 2
Lot Purchaser Price
404 B & MJ Nelson, Halforth Farm, Milnthorpe, Cumbria 4100gns
405 J Maughan & Sons, Gateshaw Mill, Heads, Heads Nook, Brampton, Cumbria 2100gns
329 AJ Knowles, Higher Park Head, Preston, Woodplumpton, Lancs. 1350gns
327 TL Sherwen, Yew Tree Farm, Middlewich, Cheshire 1200gns
335 R & S Clark, Fineview, Glenluce, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire 1200gns
338 J Scott & Son Farmers Ltd, Caldale Farm, Kirkwall, Orkney 1150gns
354 B & MJ Nelson, Halforth Farm, Milnthorpe, Cumbria 1150gns
321 L & CM Harrison & Son, Sanden House Farm, Wigton, Cumbria 1100gns
331 D & MC Taylor, Whitehouse, Thornby, Wigton, Cumbria 1100gns
336 G & NA Bainbridge, Park House, Wigton, Cumbria 1100gns
341 B & MJ Nelson, Halforth Farm, Milnthorpe, Cumbria 1100gns
346 B & MJ Nelson, Halforth Farm, Milnthorpe, Cumbria 1100gns
353 B & MJ Nelson, Halforth Farm, Milnthorpe, Cumbria 1100gns
Averages
188 Cows In-Milk or dry £925.50
92 Heifers In-Milk or dry £1083.09
37 Freshly calved heifers £1137.97
36 In-calf heifers £982.33
42 Heifers running with bull £674.50
60 Bulling heifers £582.57
79 Heifers 12-6 months old £483.39
66 Heifers 6-3 months old £373.86
37 Heifer calves born 2016 £282.93
2 Bulls £3255.00
