Buyers from all four nations and the Republic of Ireland were forward for the August Border and Lakeland and Summer Coloured Dairy Breeds show and sale at Carlisle, where trade peaked at 3100gns and a further 37 lots sold at or above the £2000 mark.

Alan Cannon's Espland Holstein herd from Espland Hill, Appleby, enjoyed a field day, producing the champion and reserve winners which went on to sell for 2900gns and 3100gns respectively.

The champion, selected by judge, John Whiteford of the Middle Ayrshire herd in Cumbria, was Espland Caviar Maisie, by Gillette Caviar and bred from a GP81 Windbrook dam. She made 2900gns selling to the Alastair and Liz Vance, Bridgehouse, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.

Willie and Alan Brewster, Wester Borland, Stirling bought the champion, Espland Avril 8, a Zelgadis calved heifer bred from a GP83 Pine-Tree Sid daughter. The Brewsters also bought several other Holstein heifers including Skirwith Hall Farms' Stowbeck Punch Ester, by Roylane Boxer Punch at 2700gns and Stowbeck Goodwhone Anne, by TW Goodwhone at 2600gns.

Dairy photographer Jane Steel, Kepculloch, Balfron, was another to have a good day receiving 2900gns for Lomond Goldwyn Ashlyn ET, a Goldwyn daughter out of the Ex94-3E Lomond Alicant ET. Freshly calved, she traces back to the EX962E GMD DOM 16* cow, Tri-Day Ashlyn and sold to the High Whinnow herd of Janice and James Taylor, Thursby, Cumbria.

Top price for Wormanby Farms' Carlisle-based herd was 2600gns paid for Wormanby Jessic Linda, a Gillette Jessic-sired heifer purchased by Messrs Agnew, Stranraer.

Jerseys sold to 2100gns and 2050gns, for females from JM Howie's Wellhouse herd from Stranraer, both of which were purchased by Hannah Graham, Hillhead, Annan. The dearest, Wellhouse Topeka Sally, a calved heifer by Heartland Merchant is bred from the Ex91-3E Wellhouse Ringmaster Sally, while the 2050gns heifer, Wellhouse Shine Spry, is due to calve this month. She is by Freeman Blackstone Shine, and her fourth dam was Tixall Paramounts Spry Ex94 that bred the 2014 Highland Show champion.

The Stevenson family from Kirminnoch Farm, Stranraer, topped the Ayrshire section at 2000gns and sold 16 to average £1755. Tops here was Stevenson’s Nova 103, a calved heifer by Stevenson’s Argo, bred from VG85-2yr dam by Stevenson's Stardust. She was bought by Messrs McCulloch, Stranraer.

Averages: Holsteins – Four cows in milk, £1653.75; 69 heifers in milk, £1979.06. Ayrshires – 16 in milk, £1755.00. Jerseys – Six in milk, £1488.75; 18 in-calf heifers, £1726.66; 30 heifer calves, £933.10.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.