Prices peaked at £2050 on two occasions at the Monthly Dairy Day sale at Carlisle, last week where a quality offering of productive milking females averaged £1632.

First to make £2050 was Dunnerdale Unix Eve, a fresh heifer by Unix from Stephen Boow's Dunnerdale herd from Bootle, Millom, West Cumbria. She changed hands giving 33kg per day to CV and CA Somerville, Braehill, Carrutherstown, Dumfries.

The same buyers bought four of the five highest priced lots to include the second at £2050. Selling at this price was Netherside Apropos 40, a heifer by Topspeed Kodak, giving 35kg per day from from Gavin Struthers' Balcurvie herd from Windygates, Fife, who sold 10 lots to average £1844.

The top priced cow from Mr Struthers, Netherside Rosina 78, a second calver by Westenrade Altaspring, was also bought by Messrs Somerville at £2000.

Matthew Gemmell of Brownfield Holsteins, Dumfries, also had a good day selling six heifers to a top of £2000 to average £1888. His sale leader, a Numero Uno daughter, giving 35kg, was another heading home to Braehill with Messrs Somerville.

The last of the £2000 bids came for a heifer giving 33kg from Andrew Garves, Home Farm, Tallentire, purchased by IS Carlile and Son, Becklees, Longtown.

Mr Garves also produced the lead price amongst a select show of Ayrshire heifers, taking £1650 for Bruchag Starman Caroline, bred by the McAllister family from the Isle of Bute.

A quality consignment of British Friesians was topped at £1780 for a heifer by Winnoch Black Jack from R Neill and Sons, Thornington Farm, Mindrum, Northumberland.

Just behind, on £1700, Stewart Birse, Drumraik, Creetown, Newton Stewart sold a milky Fleckvieh cross Brown Swiss cow giving 36kg.

April/May calving cows from Mark Farm peaked at £1000 for a youthful daughter of Olmar Jeeves Dare due in May to Mardi Gras.

In-calf heifers were in most cases a buyer’s market, selling to £1150 on two occasions for heifers by Warnelview Ingram from the Long Meg herd from Penrith.

Averages: 12 Holstein cows, £1558.75; 69 Holstein heifers, £1632.06; seven British Friesian heifers, £1475.00; four Ayrshire heifers, £1416.00; four Fleckvieh crosses, £1501.66; 10 April/May calving cows, £787.27; nine three-quarter and faulted cows and heifers, £860.00; 11 in-calf heifers, £1005.00.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.