Passion for Pedigree dairy sale tops at 10,000gns
The Passion for Pedigree production sale of Sahara and Wiltor herds on behalf of Sheikha Noora Alkhalifa and Dave and Claire Jones from Magor, Monmouthshire, peaked at 10,000gns at Beeston last week (29 April).
Despite the low milk prices trade was fantastic with 36 lots averaging over £3,000.
Commenting after the sale Dave Jones said he was “delighted” with trade, adding: “It goes to show that even in today’s dairy climate, well bred animals still attract a premium in the market place.”
Leading trade at 10,000gns was the first lot in to the ring Ortongrange Snowman Alysia (VG89), a second calf daughter of Snowman who was All-Britain Junior Heifer in-milk 2014. She is bred from Comestar Alysia Goldwyn (Ex94). Alysia gave over 10,000kg as a heifer and was giving almost 50kg in her second, having calved in early January. Bidding opened at 5,000gns and the gavel eventually fell to Stephen Robinson, County Down, Northern Ireland, for his Cluntagh herd.
Her November-born Doorman calf then made 2,400 gns when selling to Ruth Harper Dearham, West Cumbria.
At 5,500gns was Sahara Bradnick Ambrosia, a daughter of last year’s Royal Welsh champion and reserve All Britain Junior Cow Sahara Atwood Ambrosia (Ex93-4yr), who boasts a UK type Merit of +2.95. This one went to St Clears, Carmarthenshire, with Lyr Lloyd.
High genomic animals were well bid for. Selling at 5,600 gns to Hugh Neilson of the Lanarkshire based Overside Herd was Sahara Silver Fleur. She boasts a GPLI of +£541 – the highest in the catalogue. This August 2015-born daughter of Seagull-Bay Silver is out of Sahara Oak Fleur (VG87-2yr).
Her ET-bred sister, Sahara Silver Faith, who is just a day younger and boasts a GPLI of +£524, sold for 4600gns to Carys Jones for her Monmouthshire-based Chequers Herd.
Their dam, Sahara Oak Fleur, sold for 3700gns to an undisclosed East Midlands buyer. Sired by Altaoak and out of Apina Fleur (VG98-3yr), she is a maternal sister to Sahara Casino and Sahara Obama, both at Genus, and has a PLI of +£509.
Selling at 5,100gns to Andrew Mackellar, Drointon Farms, Stafford, was the young dry cow Sahara Numero Uno Jasmine (VG87-2yr), sired by Numero Uno and out of Hood ATM Jessica (Ex93). She gave 9,013kg at 4.54% as a heifer and sold a month off calving to Cookie Cutter Harper.
Selling for 4,500gns was the freshly calved heifer Sahara Cruise Roza (VG87-2yr) a daughter Wiltor Cruise and out of Rieten Snowman Roza. She calved in February and sold giving 34kg to A and B Bargh of Skelton, Penrith, for their Woodclose Herd.
Averages: 11 cows and milking heifers, £4,371.18 (including four heifer calves at £2,100); eight served heifers, £2,506.88; 17 maiden heifers, £2,730; 36 lots in total, £3,182.08.
(Wright Marshall).