Buyers from all corners of the British Isles travelled to Carlisle, for the Bailiffscourt pedigree Ayrshire dispersal, where trade peaked at 1600gns.

The sale, staged on behalf of the Dowager Marchioness of Normanby from Mulgrave Estate, North Yorkshire, saw an in-calf heifer from the Hortense cow family lead the trade, selling to JA McGarva, for his Horseclose herd from Annan.

Selling at this price was Bailiffscourt Hortense 284, a Haresfoot Khan daughter, brought out by manager, Keith Thompson. Bred from two Excellent 91 dams with her grand-dam being the Hortense 267, by Horseclose Jubilee, which featured in an Ayrshire Journal publication a few years ago, she sold due to Stamford Normas Diamond.

Mr McGarva also went to 1550gns for Bailiffscourt Dawn 3 VG86, by Stamford Missing Link. She changed hands half way through her first lactation and due with her second in October to Ardmore Crown Napier.

Just behind, on 1500gns, J and J Kinloch, Walton Farm, Cardross, bought Bailifscourt Thyme 12 VG85, another heifer in milk by Haresfoot Khan, which also sold due in October to Ardmore Crown Napier.

Heifer calves were topped at 880gns for a daughter of Crown Napier from an Ex92 Horseclose Jubilee dam. This stylish calf was purchased by Peter Berresford from the Heydale herd in Derbyshire.

Averages: 43 Cows in milk, £962.09; 22 heifers in milk, £1149.75; 37 in-calf and recently served heifers, £867.52; 12 bulling heifers, £406.00; 27 heifer calves, £425.05.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.