averages: 40 cows of all breeds and with all faults, £1572.08; 116 heifers of all breeds and with all faults, £1685.22; 15 in-calf and served

heifers £1161.50.

CONTINUED strong demand resulted in another bumper sale at Wright Marshall's Mid-Month Dairy cattle sale at Beeston, where a 100% clearance was met.

While trade failed to reach the highs of the previous month's big sale, numerous lots sold for between £1700 and £2000 with top prices of £2200 paid on two occasions.

Fife breeder Gavin Struthers' Balcurvie Holstein herd from Windygates, was again to the fore, selling two of the top five highest priced lots at £2200 and £2050. Dearest was Balcurvie Heiltje 81, an Edway daughter which sold six weeks calved and giving 36kg.

Selling at £2050 was Balcurvie Captain Star, a similarly aged heifer giving 37kg. She is by Eildon-Tweed Captain.

Shropshire breeders, D and AC Shakeshaft, Whattall Farm, Ellesmere, sold the remaining three of the lead five to include Dilandy Pety Begonia, a Siemers Mogul Pety-sired heifer that calved early November and sold giving 34kg. She made £2200.

The previous lot, Dilandy McCutchen Doreen 4, by De-Su BKM McCutchen made £2100 giving 34kg having calved down at a similar time.

The Shakeshafts also sold the lead priced cow at £2050. This was Cranage Altaclint Thelma, a fresh third calver by Mr Vision-Gen Altaclint.

In-calf heifers were topped at £1370 for an early February calver by Larcrest Cancun from David Ishmael of Wigan with several others selling from £1200 to £1350 from the same home.

Auctioneers: Wright Marshall