Blue bull tops Alvintone sale at 3700gns

A fierce demand for young stock – with 25 deals over 1500gns – off-set the impact of being in a bluetongue surveillance zone when David and Rosemary Fox dispersed their Alvintone Holstein herd based near York.

The highest priced animal of the sale was a British Blue bull. Ridge Dean Acajou – a son of top easy-calving sire Hazelwood Freshman – made 3700gns to H Garside and Son, Huddersfield.

Best of the Holstein trade was a 2200gns call for a smart daughter of Guided-Path Tomahawk from the herd’s Frances family which traces back to the best of the Eranda breeding from Ascott Farms. This third calver was giving almost 50kg after eight weeks into her lactation having given over 11,200kg with her second. Buyer was Peter Stone from Stone, Staffordshire who took home a wagonload of cattle.

Local buyers J Liversidge and Sons paid 2020gns for the fresh heifer Alvintone Ford Sylvesty while W J Fox and Sons, Sheffield, accounted for 13 milkers paying up to 2000gns for a fresh second calver.

Averages: 106 cows and heifers £1215; 20 served heifers £1547 and 41 maiden heifers £855. (Norton and Brooksbank with Stephenson and Son).