A quality catalogued entry of pedigree dairy cattle for the August Border and Lakeland Club sale at Carlisle, attracted buyers from the four home nations, Ireland, France and The Netherlands, along with a lead price of 5800gns for a second calved Holstein.

Add to that no fewer than 44 milking heifers selling for more than £2000 to average £2002, with a 100% clearance, and milk producers had plenty to smile about.

While there was a strong demand for in-milk heifers, it was adult cows that topped the trade selling at 5800gns, 4000gns and 2900gns, with several of the lead priced lots from Robert Hunter and family's Letterkenny Holstein herd from West Tarbrax, Shotts, which was being dispersed to make way for more Jersey females.

Dearest however, was DG Golden Fame Red ET consigned by Gareth Ogden and Kevin Hay, Penrith. Fame, which had recently scored VG88 in her second and carries the Variant Red Gene by Genervation Epic, is a full sister to Maple Wood Epic Giggle Red Ex90, which made $270,000 in the Ri-Val-Re Sale in 2013, while her dam, Morsan Manoman Fools Gold Red ET realised $64,000 at the 2012 Genetics by Design Sale. Fame Red, which gave 7196kg in her first and sold having calved her second early July, realised 5800gns to Elite Haven Genetics, Republic of Ireland.

Robert Hunter's Letterkenny herd secured the next four top sales at 4000gns, 2900gns, and 2350gns twice with the top two both selling to GJ Mutton, buying for his Billincoat herd, Barrow in Furness.

First was Letterkenny Explode Laurie, a fresh second calver that was champion at the 2014 Scottish Calf Show, and gave just shy of 11,000kg in her first. A daughter of Wabash-Way Explose, out of the Ex90SP cow, Astlowhall Goldwyn Laurie, her grand-dam is the Ex92-2E LP80 3* cow, Ridgefield Rubens Laurie.

Selling at 2900gns was Letterkenny Goldfish Dellia which scored VG86 in her first and just recently fresh. The breeding behind this Toc-Farm Goldfish female includes the dam, Letterkenny Sanchez Dellia Ex90SP while her fifth dam was Snow-N Denise Dellia Ex95.

Mr Hunter also sold two at 2350gns to include a fresh second calver by Regancrest S Braxton. Letterkenny Braxton Betty, was purchased by Buckabank Farm, Dalston, Carlisle.

Later, Letterkenny Smokin Kate, a fresh heifer by Misty Springs Smokin, which stood reserve champion at the pre-sale show, made the same money, selling to W Brewster, Wester Boreland Farm, Thornhill, Stirlingshire.

The same buyer also went to 2350gns for KJ and CS Wilson's Warnelview Mincio Beatexus, a fresh heifer by Bertaiola Mincio, from Wood Farm, Thursby, Carlisle.

A classy group of bulling heifers was led by Ali Cook's Auchensala Diamondback Rox, a potential 11th Excellent generation Roxy bred from the VG88-3yr Lillyhall Mahogany Rox Red ET, that was sold at the 2014 Black and White sale for 7000gns. This 15-month-old heifer by Mr D Appleback Diamond, from Auchensala, Ruthwell, Dumfries, made 2800gns to Shaun Rennie, Brocklehill, Ayrshire.

Just behind, on 2600gns, Matthew and Ruth Harper's Lillyhall and Lambroda herds sold Lambroda Barwire Delight Red, to S and A Morley, Petteril Bank Farm, Carlisle. This six-month-old Holstein by Hylite Barbwire-Re, is red from the VG86 SP Cheviotview Angel Delight Red which boasts 10 generations of VG or Ex dams behind her.

The similarly aged Brown Swiss heifer, Lillyhall Blooming Sambuca, by Scherma Glenn Blooming, out of the 4100gns Inspired Jongleur Schnappy VG86-3yr, made 2350gns to Robert McColm, High Boreland, Lochans, Stranraer.

Jerseys peaked at 2100gns for Studdah Endeavour Top Glamour consigned by J Pratt and S Clapman, Studddah, Leyburn. This in-calf heifer bred from the Ex94-3E Potterswalls Glamours Pride, sold carrying a sexed Ahelm Genominator calf to JB McLean, who owns the Priestland herd in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Leading the Ayrshire section at 2050gns was Morwick Lintie 21 consigned by DA Howie Morwick Farm, Morpeth and purchased by C Dent Bridge End Farm, Kirby Thore. This fresh heifer is by Morwick Courtesy Red.

Having enjoyed a grade trade for his Letterkenny Holsteins, Mr Hunter purchased the lead priced Jersey at 1000gns from the Grahams Family Dairy, Bridge of Allan. This was Grahams Jadestar Snowflake, an 11-month-old heifer calf by Forest Glen Impuls, out of Strathallan Vernon Snowflake GP83.

Averages: 34 cows in milk, £1955.70; 61 heifers in milk, £2002.98; 15 Ayrshire heifers in milk,£1779.40; 11 Holstein in-calf heifers, £1503.40; 46 bulling heifers and heifer calves, £1116.93.

Lillyhall and Lambrod herds – 10 heifer calves, £1666.35. Grahams herd – 14 Jersey heifer calves, £888.00.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.