A GOOD show of high yielding heifers, many of which were bred from elite pedigrees, met a buoyant trade at the March Border and Lakeland Club show and sale at Carlisle, where prices peaked at 2550gns and fresh heifers averaged £1688.

Sale leader was the champion – selected by judge, John Hodgson of the Holmeden Holstein herd – Boclair Caviar Barbara from David Brewster, Boclair, Glasgow. This big heifer by Gillette Caviar, is bred from a VG88 Braedale Goldwyn dam that has twice produced lactations in excess of 10,000litres. She calved down a month prior to the sale and sold to G McCulloch, High Ardwell Farm, Wigtownshire.

Just behind on 2500gns was Woodcatt Mardi Gras Maude, the sole entry from D and H Horsley, Woodhouse, Catterlen, Penrith. One of the best bred heifers in the catalogue, this youngster by Mr Moviestar Mardi Gras is bred from Kepculloch Talent Maude 8, a VG88 Talent daughter that traces back to the former Royal Show champion, Dalesend Storm Maude Ex97. The buyer was local producer, J Marrs, Broomhills, Carlisle.

Skirwith Hall Farms' Stowbeck herd from Penrith, sold five heifers to average in excess of £1900 from a top price of 2200gns paid for Stowbeck Utah Jeanie, again purchased by Mr McCulloch, High Ardwell. This 26-month-old by View-Home Utah is bred from a line of Ex or VG cows, a couple of which boast lifetime yields of more than 100tonnes.

The Dunderdale herd of WW and D Boow, Corney Hall, Millom, Cumbria, also enjoyed a good day selling seven heifers to average £1750. Top price here was 2150gns paid for Dunnderdale Masterful Sabrina, by El Masterful. Freshly calved, she traces back to Dunnerdale Intergrity Sabrina Ex94 and was purchased by Smallthwaite Farms, Penrith.

Reserve champion was Warnelview Rydell Susette from KJ and CS Wilson, Wood Farm. She was sired by Warnelview Rydell and is bred from a strong cow family tracing back to an Ex93 Picston Shaker fourth dam. Susette sold for 2000gns to Bowness Farms, Threapland Lees, Aspatria, Carlisle.

Warnelview Lemust Fogey 3, by Comestar Lemust, made the same money selling to RK and C Rudd and Sons, Grassings Farm, Kirkbridge, Wigton, Cumbria, with the herd averaging just short of £1900 for six.

A special consignment of semen which included sires such as Shottle, Skychief, Raider and Windbrook, hit a top of 320gns per dose for Braedale Goldwyn semen, with the total averaging £101.

Averages: 57 heifers in milk, £1688.05; five Ayrshire heifers in milk (Halmyre), £1610.70; 16 dry Ayrshire cows/heifers (Changue), £646.40; 30 in-calf heifers, £1245.90; 50 doses of semen (per dose), £101.71; 37 commercial cows/heifers, £1137.62.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.