British Blue heifers from Michele Wilde’s Ridge Dean pedigree herd – many of which are natural calving – from Soulbury, Buzzard, Bedfordshire, met a flying trade at her fifth production sale at Carlisle, last week, selling to a top of 11,000gns.

Hitting the magical five-figure bracket early on in the day was Ridge Dean Dibbley ET, a rising two-year-old black and white heifer by Visconti De St Fontaine bred from three generations of naturally calving females. She is out of the Sureau de Mehogne daughter Ridge Dean Navette, and is a full brother to the 7000gns Ridge Dean Davie, sold last month. The buyer was A Phillips, The Shooting Lodge, Ashampstead, Reading, Berkshire, who also went to 3400gns for Ridge Dean Dizzy ET, a 27-month-old heifer by Empire D’ Ochain out of Ridge Dean Valentine ET. Dizzy sold due to a Limousin bull.

Ridge Dean Ermie ET, a nine-month-old heifer by the 12,000gns show bull, Ballygrange Alex, sold next at 5000gns to JN and LP Dunn, West Nymph, South Tawton, Okehampton, Devon. She is backed by four generations of easy calving cows being out of the Osborne Van Terbeck-sired cow, Ridge Dean Windsor ET.

Averages: Six served heifers, £3220; 13 maiden heifers, 13 maiden heifers, £3238.85; seven ET calves suckling recip dams, £2940.

For full report and pictures, see this week’s issue, out June 19.