Just shy of £250,000 changed hands at the dispersal of the Stewart family's milking portion of the Smailholm dairy herd from Sandyknowe near Kelso, where a top price of 2000gns was achieved on two occasions.
The sale, staged at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, as a result of the family's decision to concentrate more on their arable enterprises, was first topped at 2000gns by Nancy 118, an October 2016-born daughter of Queenscairn Fervent, out of Smailholm Nancy 82. She sold fresh in her section, and giving just short of 40kg per day to Messrs Miller, Tarn Lodge, Brampton.
All the animals in the herd were sired by bulls from the Queenscairn Holstein herd and all had calved from the end of September. The herd was also registered with HUKI up until 2014.
Matching the 2000gns high, Messrs Hessin, Grange, Keith, bought a similarly aged cow from the same family but sired by Queencairn Kenloyal. She changed hands giving in excess of 30kg per day.
Ralph Kellett and Sons, White House Farm, Slaley, Hexham, bought two of the next five top sellers at 1900gns and 1800gns. Dearest was Columbine 27, a November-calved Queesncairn Chortle daughter in her second.
They also bought the dearest of the third calvers at 1800gns in Lizzie 65, by the same sire.
Another three fresh heifers sold at 1800gns, to include Vaakje 88, purchased by JT Marrs and Son, Broomhills, Carlisle. She traces back to the Vaakje cow family from Stardale in Lancashire and was paraded a month calved.
Later, Messrs Gribbon and Co, Dumfries, went to the same money for Nancy 132, again by Queenscairn Freddies.
Volume buyer, Langley Park Farms, Millom, Cumbria, purchased a females and the last of the 1800gns heifers in Princess 36, again by Queenscairn Freddies.
Averages: 126 cows in milk, £1306.83; 55 heifers in milk, £1546.17; 13 faulted cows three-quarter or light, £969.23. Overall, 181 head, £1379.56.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
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