Ayrshire breeders from across the UK packed into Borderway Mart, Carlisle, to witness the dispersal of the Stevenson’s show winning Ayrshire herd from Kirkminnoch, Stranraer.

The herd which has been milked by three generations of the Stevenson family and was averaging 7020kg at 4.26% BF and 3.41%P at the point of sale met a buoyant trade throughout selling to 3200gns with a further 14 selling at £2000 or more.

Sale leader was Stevenson’s Buttercup 82, by the Alchemy son of the two times European champion Irene Ex97, out of a VG89 Trump Card daughter that gave more than 12,000kg as a five-year-old. This in-calf heifer, due in the next few weeks, was purchased by local breeders J McCulloch and Sons, Ardwell, Stranraer who also went to 2200gns for Stevenon's Jewel 52, a West Mossgiel Modern Reality daughter, which sold carrying her fourth to Brieryside Respect.

Hew Howie, Wellhouse, Kirkcolm, Stranraer, bought the herd leader, Stevenson's Bunty 114, at 2500gns. Inter-breed champion at Stranraer Show in 2016 and 2017 and first at the UK Dairy Day in same years, this sixth calver classified Ex94 is by Muirston Trump Card and a grand-daughter of the Ex92-2E LP60 cow, Stevenson's Bunty 66.

Her two sons by Stevenson’s Argo and Brieryside Snowman sold in absentee with both making 1500gns, while her two daughters by Ayr-Phoe Ideostar both due with their third calves in April, sold for 1500gns.

The Bunty cow family attracted strong interest and following the sale of the Ex94 show cow it was the turn of Stevenson’s Bunty 154 to find her way into the top price list. A daughter of Wynford BD Appleman Red, bred from three Ex dams all with over 60-ton lifetime yields, she sold freshly calved for 2350gns to Bryan Donald, Welton, Carlisle.

Three lots sold for 2300gns of which two were purchased by New Barns Farms, Newton Stewart. First was Stevenson’s Linzi 18, a Stevenson's Dependable-sired in-calf heifer bred from the Ex95-4E cow, Stevenson's Linzi 2. Also heading home on the same lorry load to New Barns at 2300gns was Stevenson's Bunty 164, a similarly aged heifer by the same sire.

Heading up to Avonbridge, A and R Paton, Easter Greenhill, went to the same money for Stevenson's White Lady 353, a fresh heifer by Stevenson's Outline, and a grand-daughter of the Ex90 Stevenson's White Lady 328.

The same buyers also went to 2050gns for Stevenson's Nova 106, by Cuthill Towers Rambo, which sold dry and due with her second.

averages: 151 cows, heifers and in-calf heifers, £1247.41; two Ayrshire bulls, £1575.00

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.