Sterndale and Peak Holsteins milking portion soar to 10,500gns
Elite Sterndale and Peak Holstein genetics attracted a European-wide ringside of bidders at Beeston Castle Auction on Thursday (20 July) with a top call of 10,500gns and 10 lots hitting 5,000gns or more.
Wright Marshall’s sale saw 78 buyers competing for 103 animals forward as bidding came from Scotland, Dorset, Wales, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and across Northern and Southern Ireland.
The entire milking portion of Bill Nadin and Yamin Bradbury’s milking herd of East Sterndale, Buxton, saw heifer calves level at £2,201.82, although it was Yasmin’s granddaughter, Miss Millie Wardle, who saw two five-figure calls.
See also: Beef price helping resilient dairy trade
Trade topped with two females from the Rhapsody line owned by Miss Wardle, the top price going for Milliedale Dusk Rhapsody (EX94), bought by D Neville, Croagh, County Limerick.
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Miss Wardle topped the trade with Milliedale Dusk Rhapsody knocking down to D Neville, County Limerick © Tim Scrivener
She is out of “The Tank” Peak Goldwyn Rhapsody, herself a Braedale Golwdyn daughter, and by Scientific SS Dusk.
She gave 12,359kg in her second lactation at 4.21% fat and 3.18% protein and is the 14th successive generation of EX cows.
She calved in December to Delta-Lambda and is still giving 46kg daily.
Close behind was her stylish December daughter, Milliedale Doorman Rhapsody (PLI +£354), at 10,000gns, heading to County Down with IL McMurray, Banbridge. She is by Val-Bisson Doorman.
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December-born heifer calf Milliedale Doorman Rhapsody headed home with Mr McMurray, Bainbridge, County Down, for 10,000gns
Next at 7,500 were Sterndale Explode Rachel (VG89) and Sterndale Ladd Airy Red (VG88). Explode Rachel by Wabash-Way Explode, is giving 37.9kg after a November calving and knocked down to Messrs Phillips, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
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Welsh bidders Messrs Phillips from Llanelli bid 7,500gns for Explode Rachel (VG89) © Tim Scrivener
Ladd Airy Red (PLI+ £252) gave 9,514kg at 4.24% fat and 3.13% protein as a heifer is by Tiger-Lily Ladd P Red, a Scientific Destry son.
The ninth generation of VG or EX cows, she caught the eye of MJ and LJ Robertson and Dtr, Bristol.
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Red and white milker Ladd Airey Red caught the eye of the Robertsons, Bristol © Tim Scrivener
Yasmin Bradbury and Bill Nadin, who will continue milking 35-head at home and showing cattle, were “very surprised” by the number of bidders and the distances travelled.
“There are plenty of animals heading to Northern Ireland and the Republic as well as Luxembourg,” Ms Bradbury told Farmers Weekly.
“Embryos sold well too – we were both really pleased.”
At 6,800gns was Sterndale Saloon Ghost (VG88), knocked down to R Hassard, Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh.
Sold dry, the Sandy Valley Saloon daughter is out of Sterndale CL Ghost, by the 91-point Comestar Lauthority and is in-calf to DG Charley.
Another Northern Irish bidder then stepped up for mature cow Sterndale Destry Maureen (EX94), who knocked down for 6,200gns, this time heading to J Wilson, County Fermanagh.
She has bred Sterndale Doorman Maureen (VG85) and is by Braedale Goldwyn, out of Jet Maureen Red and gave 5.01 fat and 3.52% protein in her second lactation.
Sterndale Seagual Ghost (VG89) then knocked down to J McNeil, Lochans, Stranraer, for 5,300gns. She is a Gen-I-Beq Seagual daughter and last calved on August 10 and is due in April to Val-Bisson Doorman.
Averages: 103 cows and milking heifers, £3,535.62; 2 bulls, £2,257.50; 30 embryos, £521.85
(Wright Marshall)