PRICES peaked at 3000gns at the ninth National Ayrshire cattle sale, at Carlisle, which attracted some top quality animals – many of which were giving 40kg per day.

Sale leader was the pre-sale champion, West Mossgiel Miss Modern 28, a show cow from Stuart Gilliland, Castle Douglas, purchased by Richard Baynes of GG Baynes and Son, Marleycote, Hexham. This seven-year-old, which calved her fourth in May and sold served to Sandyford Elvis, was breed leader at the South-west Scotland Dairy Show. A breeder into the bargain with production figures to match, this Ex91-classified West Mossgiel Aramis daughter which boasts two 12,000kg+ lactations, is the dam of the 2900gns bull, West Mossgiel Modern Talent, sold here in April.

The judge, John Smith, all the way from Wigboro, Wick, found his reserve in the winning heifer, Plaskett Lucky Charm consigned by Messrs Armstrong, Plaskettlands, Maryport. She is by Cuthill Towers, bred from an Ex94 dam and made 1350gns to RC Mitchells and Sons Mirkbooths, Carlisle.

Second top price amongst the females was 2150gns paid for John McGarva's Horseclose Bess 32, which sold freshly calved in her second to Welsh breeders, PA and JM Astley, Cefn Farm, Powys. This 100% Ayrshire by Horseclose Q from Cummertrees, Annan, gave almost 5%BF and 4%P in her first.

Just behind on 2100gns, Northern Ireland breeder, Stewart Baxter, 34 Shanes Castle Estate, Antrim, bought Smartmove Burdette Pretty ET, from the Smartmove Syndicate, Middle Farm, Kings Langley, Herts. A daughter of Palmyra Tri-Star Burdette, bred from the Ex93 Forever Schoon Pretty, this rising two-year-old sold served to sexed semen from Hilltown Oblique.

Leading the red and white at 1850gns was Swaites Bridesmaid 11, from John Adamson and Son, Swaites, Lanark. Bred from a dam with more than 9000kgs in her second and sired by Swaites Dynamite, this freshly calved second calver joins the herd of J McCulloch and Son, West High Ardwell Farm, Stranraer.

Trade for bulls was extremely selective with just over half the bulls selling to average £1735. Topping the section at 2800gns was the second prize winner, Cuthill Towers Raptor ET, from Arthur Lawrie and sons, Andrew and David, Cuthill Towers, Kinross. Raptor is by Forever Schoon Predator, while his dam was the 2016 National champion, Cuthill Towers Radar Ray Ex94 which boasts two lactations of more than 11,000kgs. He sold to S Allen, Caddy Road, Northern Ireland.

Next best at 2000gns, H Tinker and Son, Park Head, Huddersfield, West Yorks, bought L and C Window's two-year-old bull, Hunnington Jester, from Horsepool, Huntingdon. Bred from four consecutive generations of Ex-classified cows, he is out of the show cow, Hunnington Joybell 83 Ex93, and sired by Hunnington Admiral.

Averages: Eight cows in milk, £1752.18 (+£347.80 for four more sold); 20 heifers in milk, £1432.50 (+£34.42 for the same number); seven heifer calves, £775.50; seven bulls, £1735.50 (-£658.50 for two more).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.