Fleckvieh bulls secured the top prices at the weekly dairy sale at Beeston Auction Mart, which attracted an entry of 64 animals and top prices of £3850 and £3550.

The bulls, from Slatequarry Fleckvieh Genetics of Northern Ireland, were led by £3850 bid from JW and JH Collinson, Lancashire for an October 2-17-born entry, with the second, a similarly aged bull from the same home being purchased by A and M Roberts and Son of Anglesey.

Leading the female trade at £2020 was the Holstein heifer Moordown Alexander Peggy, from Showell Farms, Warwickshire. Bred from nine generations of cows in the top two grades, Peggy is by Golden-Oaks St Alexander and out of the Ex90 Carhall Brady Peggy. She calved mid February and sold giving just shy of 40kg per day to Bowdler Farms Ltd of Amaston, Shrewsbury.

Minutes earlier, Moordown Levi Peach from the same stable, made £1950 to Mamex Farms, Burwardsley. She is bred from 11 generations of cows classified VG or Ex, being out of the Ex91 Moordown Allen Peach and sired by Zani Bolton Mascalese son, Moordown Levi. She sold giving 38kg per day having calved on March 1.

Shrewsbury-based producers, M and J and E Hughes, Criggion Hall, Criggion, sold two heifers at £1800 each, both of which were purchased by EW Moss and Son, Blackwood Hill, Stoke On Trent.

Milking cows peaked at £1550 for a third calved cow from KJ Morris, Redditch and in-calf heifers sold to £1390 from A and K Thompson, Winsford.

Averages: In-milk cows of all breeds including faults, £1510; in-milk heifers of all breeds including faults, £1548; four Fleckvieh bulls, £3575.

Auctioneers: Wright-Marshall and Hassall Brothers