A GOOD crowd of buyers from across the UK was forward for the Border and Lakeland Holstein Club show and sale of bulls at Carlisle, on Monday, where three bulls sold at or above the 6000gns mark.

Top price was 6400gns paid for the 98% British Friesian, Nerewater Launcher Junction, a 16-month-old bull from the Bell family from Saltcoats, Kirkbride, Wigton, purchased by R Neill and Son, Thornington, Mindrum, Northumberland.

The bull, by the home-bred Ex94 classified Nerewater Launcher, is bred from the BFE92-2E Nerewater Juliana 7, a cow that boasts six high BF and P lactations. Third in his class at the pre-sale show, Junction is also a paternal brother to Nerewater Champion and Nerewater Launch Topic which made 4000gns and 3600gns at the last two bull sales here.

The Bells enjoyed a cracking trade for their bulls, selling three Friesians to average £4480. They also sold the second top priced lot in the section at 4200gns, Nerewater Lawrence, to Messrs Neill and Son, based at Stranraer. This 15-month-old by Marshside Rocket, is a grandson of the Ex96 7E LP100 Blackisle Laura, being bred from the BFG 80 Nerewater Laura 3.

Leading the Holstein trade at 6200gns was the production champion, Warnelview Rand, from K and C Wilson, Wood Farm, Thursby. This January 2017-born bull is a son of De-Su AltaSuperstar and had a PLI of +£502 from the Ruby cow family.

Bred from the Ex93-2E SP LP50 cow, Warnelview Iota Ruby, he is backed by a further five consecutive generations of Ex cows, and boasts big positives for both butterfat and protein in his genomic proof along with a Type Merit score of +1.5. The Smith Family from Greentower Farm, Lanark, were the final bidders.

The Warnelview herd sold nine bulls to average £3622 including another prize winning bull, Warnelview Rivet by Larcrest Contrast. Another from the Ruby cow family, this 15-month-old bull bred from Warnelview Ruby 2 Wind Ex90 SP, made 5500gns selling to the Telfer family from High Branchal Farm, Bridge of Weir.

The champion, selected by the judge, Hugh Kennedy of the Carngillan herd, Ayrshire, sold next at 6000gns. This was Matthew Armour's Annandale Avatar, a son of Askew Reece from The Milton, Moffat. Bred from the Annanbel cow family that traces back to a USA cow family from Autumn-Ridge, his dam has always produced five-figure lactation yields. Avatar, a rising two-year-old, was knocked down to William Black, Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

Ireland. The Annandale herd sold nine bulls to average almost £3000.

The reserve champion, Berryholme Peroni, from David and Frances Wright, Berry Holme, Kendal, made 3500gns to R and A Agnew, West Dhuloch, Stranraer. A son of Stantons Applicable, he is bred from Berryholme Posh Flo Ex94, which is a full sister to the 2010 National champion Berryholme Shottle Flo.

Selling at 4000gns was Skirwith Hall Farms' Stowbeck Flo Rida, a Silverridge V Euclid son bred from a home-bred VG88-2yr daughter of the Ex91 SP LP50 cow, Berryholme PT Sid Flo, that is backed by five consecutive generations of Ex cows. This bull from Skirwith, Penrith, headed north with Messrs Davidson, Bridge of Don, Aberdeenshire.

Averages: 41 Holstein bulls, £2650.60 (-£361.48 for seven more); nine British Friesian bulls, £3348.33 (+£346.62 for nine fewer).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.