Averages slipped more than £400 on the month due to several recent milk price reductions at the final Border and Lakeland show and sale of Holstein cattle of the year, at Carlisle, where trade peaked at 2650gns.

In all, 157 lots levelled at £1515, with heifers with world class pedigrees, top classifications, good milk yields and impeccable health traits, meeting the strongest demand.

Sale leader was Alan Cannon's pre-sale champion, Espland Atwood Sasha, a Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood-sired heifer that calved at in the first week of November, from Espland Hillm, Appleby. She sold to the judge, Liam Millican, Arkleby House Farm, Arkleby, Wigton.

Mr Cannon enjoyed a good trade with other sales at 2050gns and 2000gns. Dearest was Espland Mincio Sadie 3, a similarly aged and calved heifer, this time by Bertaiola Mincio. She changed hands giving 36kg and headed up to Lanarkshire with Greentower Farms, Moor Road, Catland.

Espland Momumnet Sadie, by Monument Impression and bred from the Ex91-2E Espland Shottle Sadie 2, made 2000gns to J and J Barr, Easter Bucklyvie, Cowdenbeath, Fife. She also calved in November and sold giving 34kg per day.

Second top price was 2100gns paid by JT and EM Marrs and Son, Bromhills, Orton Road, Carlisle, for Holmland Baloo Marie. This freshly calved heifer by Sahara Baloo from Stephen Bell's Holmland herd from Carlisle, is bred from the Marie cow family which boasts four consecutive Excellent dams behind her. She changed hands giving 37kgs.

And, at 1900gns, Brian and Valerie Davidson, Errolston, Gretna, sold Errolston Surefire Allie, a November-calved heifer to J Bryson and Son, Dykehead, Lesmahagow. She is by Wa-Del Surefire.

The sale kicked off with 16 elite embryo lots consigned by leading breeders from throughout the UK and Europe. These were led at 650gns for a full clearance for four Absolute Reds from RZH Enya Red VG88 bought by the Mattinson family.

The first part of the Sprinfieldview dispersal was led by the Ballycairn Cameron Cherokee-sired Springfieldview Cherokee Marion. Bred from a VG dam with more than 12,000kgs, she sold for 1800gns to Buckabank Farm, Dalston.

David Altham from Yanwath Hall, Penrith, saw the first part of his pedigree Yanwath herd sell to 1520gns for Yanwath Batman Anita, which sold fresh in her second. She was purchased by Greentowers Farm, Lanark.

Averages: Six cows in milk, £1347.50; 52 heifers in milk, £1515.64; 50 embryos £438.57. Yanwath dispersal – 49 cows and heifers, £1088.14. Springfield dispersal – 33 cows and heifers, £1371.36.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.