Annandale herd tops Holstein Club sale at Carlisle at 6,800gns

Last week’s Annual Bull Sale held at Borderway, Carlisle on behalf of the Border and Lakeland Holstein Club saw one of the largest crowds in attendance with buyers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competing for the best dairy bulls in the country. 

There were fifty eight buyers from seventeen different counties with a top of 6,800gns to average £3,007 for sixty two bulls.

The top prices were dominated by the Annandale herd who sold nine bulls to average just short of £5,000.  Topping the trade on the day was Annandale Pronto, sired by Annandale Trustee and bred from the Klaaske cow family originally from Holland.  The Klaaske cow family is proven and trusted to produce long life cows with great health traits.  Annandale Pronto sold for 6,800gns to R Neill and Sons of Thornington Farm, Scottish Borders.

Annandale Cape Town sold for 6,000gns, he was sired by Annandale Binocular from a VG88 New-World Empire dam this great line of cows traces back De-Su Blackstar Caitlyn VG87.  This impressive young bull now joins the herd of T Adams of 30 English Road, Co Antrim.

Also selling for 6,000gns was Annandale Essential, he was sired by Askew Reece and bred from the original Ellen cow family developed at Annandale over the past fifty years.  He was purchased by AD and A Richardson Ltd of Low Bank End Farm, Cumbria.

The reserve champion, Annandale Frankel sold for the same money. This one is sired by Ridgefield Black Gold and bred from a wonderful line of Excellent cows tracing back to Bon Haven Elevation Dixie EX 2*.  The pedigree oozed quality with generations of high producing dams all testing high for fat and protein.  This stylish bull was consigned by the W and J Armour, The Milton, Moffat, and sold for 6,000gns to S Wilson of 74 Deerfin Road, Co Antrim.

There was only one O-Man son in the sale and he attracted a lot of attention both for his stunning type and his outstanding pedigree.  Queenscairn Kimoman was consigned by Robert Shanks, Queenscairn, Kelso, and was bred from the much admired Kimo cow family developed at Painley and orginhating from Calbrett.  He was placed second in the senior class and sold for 5,600gns and was bought by N Forshaw of Bolton Fold Farm, Preston.

The top price British Friesian was consigned by first time consignees Tortworth Estates, Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire.  Morcourt Regan was sired by Lakemead Ranger and bred from Morcourt Tina 81 EX92 4E.  He is the highest PLI British Friesian to ever sell in this Annual event and is aternal brother to Morcourt Hilton who currently tops the UK‘s PLI rankings.  He sold for 4,600gns to TW and AM Moscrop and Son of Ryeclose, Cumbria.

The overall show champion went to Newabbey Rabbie consigned by Andrew and Alison Bunting, Midtown Farm, Dumfries.  He was sired by Mr Burns from a VG86 Debonair purchased at the Willsbro sale in 2010, his grand dam was a Shottle purchased for $250,000 at the Global Glamour Sale in 2007 daughter of Redrose EX96.  Rabbie was purchased by J H Towers and Sons of Tunstall Hall Farms, Lancashire for 3,600gns.

Averages: 67 Bulls, £3,007.62 (Harrison and Hetherington)