Clover record for Ayrshire breed at 13,000gns

It may well be known as the Black and White sale, but it was an Ayrshire heifer from one of the world's best known cow families that proved the star attraction at Harrison and Hetherington's esteemed pedigree dairy cattle sale at Carlisle, when she sold for a new breed record of 13,000gns.

Add to that a strong demand for females boasting the best of genetics and the event attracted another three five-figure heifer sales, several others at 5000gns and above and averages improved in virtually all sections.

In all, the 33rd Black and White sale saw overall averages settle at just over £4000 with 31 heifers selling for £4000 or more and 76 buyers recorded from five countries and 27 counties throughout the UK and Ireland.

Sale leader was the Sandyford Famed Clover, a 14-month-old, 87.5% Ayrshire heifer from first time consignors, Blaise and Deborah Tomlinson and daughters Evie and Millie's Sandyford herd from Charnford Forest Farm, Loughborough, Leics, which sold to Michael Howie of the Morwick herd in Northumberland.

"She's bred from the best Ayrshire family in the world," said a delighted Mr Howie who intends flushing and showing the heifer next year. He has also already received interest from American breeders looking to buy embryos from her, with the second last bidder coming from a breeder in the US.

A winner at both the Royal Welsh and National Calf show in 2019, this cracker is a grand-daughter of the top show cow, Sandyford Clover Ex97-8E LP120 which boasts numerous inter-breed titles at national events and also has two sons in AI studs.

The heifer's dam, Sandyford Prime Clover VG86-2yr, is almost just as well known with numerous first prize wins at national calf shows, and a heifer yield of 8157kg at 4.11%BF and 3.25%P. A natural born calf sired by of the up and coming young bull, Hunnington Famous which goes back to the Ex96 Fragy family, Sandyford Famed Clover is also a maternal sister to the 4500gns Sandford Mondella Clover.

Topping the Holstein sales at 10,800gns was David and Claire Jones and son Matthew's Wiltor King Doc Centerpiece, a yearling daughter of their Wiltor dispersal sale leader, Wiltor Silver Centerpiece VG89-3yr which made 43,000gns earlier in the year and went on to stand second prize senior three-year-old at the Royal Welsh and the UK Dairy Day. Their entry from the 45-cow Wiltor herd from Wilcrick, Caldicot, goes back to the Ex94-4E GMD DOM3* cow, Larcrest Crimson ET which is the dam of many top sires including Larcrest Contrast. Centerpiece is by the American sire, Woodcrest King Doc and sold to John and Andrew Holgate, buying for their Aliann herd from Rathmell, Settle, Yorkshire.

The same buyers also went to 6800gns for the 13-month-old Leagh Triple T High O Poppi from Tim Fitzmaurice from Kerry in Ireland. This youngster is by High Octane and bred from the Ex95 Triple-T Durham Poppi which stood supreme champion at the Ohio Spring Show in 2017.

Setting the pace early on in the day, was Robbie and Margo Scott's 17-month-old show calf, Nethervalley Kingpin Sara, from Shacklehill, Mossblown, which made 10,000gns to former top dairy breeders, Robert and Kate McInnes of the Moscow herd from Kilmarnock. Described by many as the second best calf in Britain having stood reserve champion at the National Calf Show, second prize summer calf at the UK Dairy Expo and champion at both the Scottish and West of Scotland Calf Shows, this youngster shown by Rory (13) and Kyle (10) Scott, is backed by the best of genetics on both sides. Bred from a special line of the Copywood Integrity Sara cow family and the first daughter sold from the VG88 Sterndale Goldsun Sara, owned in partnership with Colin Laird, she is sired by the new udder specialist Kerndtway Kingpin. This massive heifer also sold five months in calf sexed to Mountfield Mogul, with the Scotts later buying a half share back.

Matt Engel, owner of Luck-E Holsteins, was not only present at the sale to bid on several of the lead lots – to include the last heifer – but also provided the embryos of the next best seller in John and Mary Hill's four-month-old red heifer, Stowey Altitude Jacuzzi Red, from Colehill Farm, Luppitt, Honiton, Devon. This polled heifer is the result of a flush from the Ex92 American show cow, Luck-E Awesme Jacuzzi Red P which sold for $30,000 at the Best of Luck-E sale this year crossed to Farnear Altitude Red. Bred from 11 consecutive generations of Ex classified cows, she sold for 10,000gns to James McNeil buying for his 450-cow Cairnpat herd from Lochans, Stranraer.

Notably, her full ET sister, Heatherleigh Jazzy Red consigned by Daniel Evans, Broad Oak, Shrewsbury, made 8000gns, to Duncan Dawes, Horton, Banbury, Oxford.

Selling up to Nairn at 9000gns, Calum and Steven Innes, Auldearn, bought a grand-daughter of the current World Dairy Expo champion, Butz-Butler Gold Barbara Ex95 2E GMD 1*, in Holben Kingpin Brae, from Holly and Ben Dyer, Firswood Lodge, Harrietsham, Maldstone. This January 2019-born calf which stood first at the South East Calf Show and fourth at the National, is bred from Holben Sid Barbara ET VG87-2yr and sired by Kerndtway Kingpin.

Ali Cook and Willie Fleming, from Annan, and Hillhead, respectively also came up with the goods, selling the first daughter of Unstopabull in Europe, for 7500gns to Molly Harris from Winkleigh, Devon. Auchensala Unstopabull Sumptuous, is a daughter of the 2014 Canadian Royal Winter Fair grand champion, Blondin Destry Sally Ex93 1* LP60, which also bred the Ex94 top show cow, Blondin Armani Stella Artois.

Three heifers sold for 6000gns with the first being the Dennison family's Denmire Victor Marie Anne 2, an August 2018-born calf that was reserve champion at the Lancashire Calf Show and sixth at the National. The heifer, from Scales Park, Aldingham, Ulverston, is bred from the Ex90 SP LP50 cow, Denmire Uno Marie Anne 2, which is a full sister to the Semex bull, Denmire Mesdoor, and sold to Wormanby Farms, Burgh By Sands, Carlisle.

Andrew MacKellar, buying for his Drointon herd from Stafford, went to the same money for the four-month-old red calf, Sprucegrove O Kelly Red ET, from R Timlin, Crofton Park, Ballina, Co Mayo. The first red and white to sell in the UK from the Swiss show cow Decrausaz Iron Okalibra Ex97-3E, she is bred from the Ex91 GS Alliance Attwood Okisha and sired by Apples Absolute Red.

The last of the 6000gns bids came for the five-month-old heifer, Absolute KD Technic-Allie ET, from Absolute Genetics, Kirkham, Preston. Bred from a flush from Absolute Doorman Aringadingding VG86-2yr, which is a full sister to several top show cows, and sired by Woodcrest King Doc, Allie was knocked down the the Hodgsons from Burgh by Sands, Carlisle.

Her dam, a three-year-old by Val-Bisson Doorman, from the same home, later sold for 5000gns to the Mares from Blacksnape, Darwen.

Hugh Neilson, East Brackenridge, Strathaven, forked out 5000gns for Bill Nadin's 14-month-old Sterndale Agronaught Rae ET, from Buxton, Derbyshire. Bred from 10 generations of Ex cows with an average of 93.3points, she is out of the Ex94-2E LP60 cow, Sterndale Snow Wyn Rae ET and sired by Mr Rubi-Agronaut.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.