One of the largest crowds seen for an Ayrshire dairy sale packed the ringside at Borderway, Carlisle, to witness the final dispersal from the Stevenson family's Changue herd from Cumnock, which saw prices peak at 4200gns, with no fewer than 16 lots selling at or above the £2000 mark.

The Changue Ayrshire herd, which was the oldest in the UK, has been under the management of the Stevenson family since 1850 with the first pedigree cattle registered in 1906. Dedicated to breeding the best, many of the younger calves bred from good cow families sold for well above 2000gns.

Sale leader at 4200gns was the catalogue cover girl, Changue Coffee Cream 30, a VG85-classified daughter of Changue Stadium, bred from a previous Ex90 home-bred Coffee Cream. Recently calved with her second, she was knocked down to neighbouring breeders, Messrs Bryson, Catrine.

At 3200gns, Changue Patsy 96, a rising two-year-old by West Mossgiel Modern Reality, made 3200gns to Messrs McGarva, Annan. Bred from two generations of Ex-classified cows, her grand-dam was the Ex92-3E LP60 cow, Changue Patsy 46, by Howard-Home Caveman-Red.

Just behind, on 3100gns, the 100% Ayrshire cow, Changue Maybelle 161, was bought by Messrs Lockerbie. This similarly aged heifer by Ravenhill Stormin Norman, is bred from the Ex93 Changue Maybelle 115 by Rosehill Slightly Magic, that stood third at the Great Yorkshire Show for the Marleycote herd

Matching that 3100gns bid was Changue Melanie 264, a 14-month-old heifer by East Church Patrolman bred from a previous Melanie from eight generations of VG or Ex dams, by West Mossgiel Seafarer. Final bidder were Messrs Reid, Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland.

Volume buyer was Iain Service, Newton Stewart, who bought 22 heifers, with the star attraction at 3000gs being Changue Charlotte 36, a 20-month-old West Mossgiel Modern Reality-sired female bred from an Ex90-2E Quality Street dam.

The same buyer also went to 2400gns for Changue Wren 44, a yearling heifer by West Mossgiel Modern Reality and a grand-daughter of the Ex90-3E Changue Wren 14.

Changue Carrie, which traces back to a previous Ex92-4E LP60 cow third dam Carrie, and sired by Changue Cadell, made 2900gns to Messrs Millar, Airdrie. She sold fresh in her second lactation.

The entry of two bulls peaked at 2200gns for Changue Highlander, a four-year-old son of Stamford High Definition, bred from the Ex91 Changue Celandine 204 Ex91. He sold to Messrs McGarva, Annan and Messrs Armstrong, Maryport, in a two way split.

OTHERLEADING prices

2100gns – Changue Pamela 61 VG86, by Changue Pendulum, to Messrs Bryson, Mauchline; Changue Celandine 332, by Whitecroft Furtado (13months), to Messrs Armstrong, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire; Changue Wren 43, by Changue Cadell (12 months), to Messrs Bryson, Mauchline.

2000gns – Changue Petula 102, by Changue Fiord (15months) to Messrs Rennie, Mossblown.

Averages: 47 cows and heifers in milk or dry, £1489.95; 46 recently served heifers, £934.27; 88 maiden heifers, £974.71; 17 2018-born heifer calves, £615.79.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.