Holstein heifers hit £3280 at Gisburn

IN-MILK females averaged £2340 at Gisburn Auction Mart’s sale of pedigree and commercial dairy cattle where three lots sold for in excess of £3000.

The champion, a Peak Altavelvet-sired heifer from A Bretherton and Son’s Beaconside herd at Whitechapel, Preston, topped the sale at £3280. She is from the herd’s prolific Hope family and out of a 13,584kg dam. The 25-month-old fresh heifer sold giving 30kg to Goosnargh buyers NW and JM Coulthurst for their Edenfield herd.

The same buyers went to £3220 and £3120 for fresh heifers. The dearest, a DeltaLambda heifer from J Seed and Sons’ Thornley herd near Preston is from the Barbara family, and out of a homebred, high fat and protein Aftershock dam.

At £3120, was the reserve champion from M and J Bristol, Newton-in-Bowland. Claremont Denver Vanessa is out of an 11,382kg CoyneFarms Dorcy dam and traces back to the Italian brood cow, Aquila Cleitus Vanessa.

A bid of £2800 secured a Copycat-sired heifer, also from Messrs Seed’s Barbara family, when purchased by BF Blezard, Ribchester.

Close behind on £2780 was a 35kg Rubicon heifer from R and M Cowgill’s Mistfy family from the Hoole herd, Preston. She is out of a 60t dam and sold to Messrs Coulthurst.

Non-registered heifers peaked at £2650 from AR and C Parkinson, Chipping whose four entries averaged £2312. Messrs Swires, Otley, sold two fresh heifers at £2580 apiece while a smart Shorthorn cross heifer giving 32kg from DH and JA Ryder and Son, Otley, made £2520.

By the end of the day, newly calved pedigree heifers averaged £2560 with fresh cows at £2383. Non-pedigree newly calved heifers levelled at £2091, fresh calved cows at £2580 and in-calf heifers at £1950.