New calvers are snapped up
New calvers are snapped up
DAIRY farmers quick off the mark after the seasonal festivities snapped up some smart newly-calved cattle at the years first sale for the North West Holstein Friesian Breeders Club at Crewe.
Trade was buoyant for cows and second-quality heifers but those prepared to give a little more for top-quality calved heifers left the market with cattle that may prove to be the best buys of the spring season.
"This was a good trade for the cattle on offer but it must be said that the overall quality of the calved heifers could have been better," said auctioneer Clive Norbury.
The 121 calved heifers levelled at £777 with 36 cows at £764 – and only five animals were unsold. Among those who had travelled the furthest including bidders from Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
Topton Farms, Nuneaton, Warks made the days highest big paying 1250gns for the calved heifer Crickett Aerostar Top Tammie from John Clay and Partners herd at Ellesmere Shropshire. Bred out of a Townson Lindy cow she stood champion under judge Mr Charles Sherwin (Middlewich, Cheshire) and was a month calved.
The second-highest call came for one of the cow entries when Bromstead Hill Farm, Newport, Shropshire secured the second calver Airway Charles Echo from Richard Ratcliffes herd at Nantwich for 1000gns. By Boulet Charles and out of a Hanoverhill Stardom cow, she had given 6154kg as a heifer.
Bromstead Hill Farm took several lots on the day paying another 1000gns for Moordown Lindy Gwenda 89th from S J, J M and I R Showell, Nuneaton. She had been calved six weeks and was bred out of a cow by Joylan Analog.
Also joining the same consignment was Kilnhurst Lindy Princess, a second calver tracing back to the 13,400kg Wiseburrow Princess from Avondale Farm, Broadway, Worcs. She had given 8200kg as a heifer and made 980gns. Melton Mowbray vendors A W and R M Stafford also sold to Bromstead Hill Farm who accepted 950gns for their Saxelby Astre Star Shall-Mar, a second calver out of a milky Twizzlefoot cow.
The third entry to make 1000gns was Nantwich-based Joseph Heeler Farms Helton Slocum Patience, an early December calved heifer out of a 9000kg dam by El-A-Ray Valiant Defiance. Buyers were J Speirs and Son, Luton, Beds.
The championship, the second in recent months for Harold and Pat Crapper, went to their Bymalpha Maverick Juanita (Wright-Manley).