Strong demand for well-bred, milky females ensured a buoyant trade at the dispersal of the Montgomery family’s pedigree Ayrshire and Holstein herds from Lessnessock, Ochiltree, where trade peaked at 4200gns on two occasions.

The sale, staged at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, saw the Holstein section attract the top two prices with Starlet Erie Hayley – originally purchased as a calf in the Black and White sale – the first to sell at 4200gns. A grand daughter of the two-time Royal Winter Fair and World Dairy Expo champion, RF Goldwyn Hailey, this young cow by Windbrook sold due in May to Stantons Chief to Robbie Scott, for his Nethervalley herd, at Shackleton, Tarbolton, in Ayrshire.

Her Kingboy Rambo heifer calf, born in September, realised 2200gns to Northern Ireland breeder, David Leyburn.

Mr Scott also forked out 2800gns for Stairend Selection Larette, a VG87-classified daughter of Boclair Selection that stood champion at Ochiltree Show as a first calver. She sold due with her third to Stantons Chief.

Matching the 4200gns top bid was the heifer Lessnessock Provider Pastime, a Progenesis Provider daughter out of a show winning female bred by David Yates, of the Meiklefirth herd. She sold jointly to the Sloan family, Mauchline, and Jack Lamb, both Ayrshire.

At 2500gns Messrs Ramsay, Drummore, Stranraer, bought Lessnessock Anu Grace VG86, a second calver by Amighetti Numero Uno, bred from a home-bred VG88 dam.

Ayrshires peaked at 3200gns on two occasions with the first big bid coming for Longwood Dreamer Marie 3, a rising four-year-old and former reserve junior champion at the UK Dairy Expo as a yearling and All Britain winner. She is by Nexus Dreamer and sold due with her third in July to Gwynnog Primetime. She headed down to Devon with DFS Genetics.

Also making 3200gns was Lessnessock Cushie 5, an August, 2018-born ET heifer by Tristar Platinum, bred from an Ex-rated cow from the Ballygreggan herd in Kintyre. Reserve junior at the Royal Highland, she was purchased by Messrs Esquierdo, from Cumnock, Ayrshire.

The same buyer also went to 2700gns for Lessnessock Bunty VG87, a second calver by Lessard Jumper, served to Haresfoot Panache.

Two Ayrshires realised 2800gns including Changue Rosette GP82, a five-year-old cow that sold to Messrs McCulloch and Sons, Stranraer. She is by Rosehill Manderville.

Matching that was Bruchag Starman Jewel Queen, a Bruchag Starman daughter and purchased by Messrs Templeton, Cumnock Ayrshire.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington

averages: Holstein dispersal – 88 cows in milk, £1410.22; 40 heifers in milk, £1749.56; 29 in-calf heifers, £1442.84; seven heifer calves, £654.00. Ayrshire dispersal – 35 cows/heifers in milk, £1593.90; 12 in-calf heifers, £1369.37; five heifer calves, £1491.00