An entry from one of the smallest cattle breeds in the world, proved the main attraction at last weekend's sale of rare breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs at Beeston Auction Mart, when a Lowline cow and calf outfit achieved a UK record price of 12,700gns.

The Australian Lowline is a modern breed of small, polled beef cattle and the accidental result of a selective breeding experiment using black Aberdeen Angus cattle at the Agricultural Research Centre of the Department of Agriculture of New South Wales.

Selling at this price was Cammall Isolde, from Ruth and Richard Pilkington and Steve Jones, Shordley Hall, Wrexham, purchased by Angus breeder and local vet, Owen Tunney and his daughter Sophie.

Isolde, a rising three-year-old by Elandra Park Gotcha, is registered with the Australian Lowline Cattle Society and sold with August-born heifer calf at foot by Torlander Hobbit.

Undeterred, the under-bidder, Andrew Morrison, Alderley Edge, went to 5600gns for the next lot in Cammall Blanche, a similarly aged cow, also by Gotch, with April-born bull calf at foot by Hobbit, from the same home.

He also went to 1200gns and 980gns for the next two lots, both part-bred Lowline cows with steer calves at foot.

Auctioneers: Wright Marshall.