Despite challenging times in the dairy industry and reduced demand for milk in the retail sector, trade held up well for the first Border and Lakeland Club sale since lockdown at Carlisle, where milking females averaged £1808 backed up by the live bidding platform which played an important role.

Robert Forsyth, Baltier Farming Co, Whithorn, bought the top two highest priced lots at 2300gns and 2250gns, with the dearest being Bowberhill Applicable Rarity, from Adam Walton, Beech Holme, Cardewlees, Carlisle.

This January-calved heifer that was bought at the Bowberhill dispersal as a calf, is by the UK’s current No 1 type sire, Stantons Applicable and bred from a VG88 Dorcy dam. She sold served to Toc-Farm Fitz (sexed).

Also heading home to Baltier at 2250gns was Bowberhill Archimedes Thavana Red, a February-calved heifer by Stantons Archimedes, bred from the VG87-classified Bowberhill Lauthority Thavana 2. She also sold served to Toc-Farm Fitz (sexed).

Skirwith Hall Farms, Penrith, sold the April-calved heifer, Stowbeck Euclid Maiden, for 1950gns. She is by Silverridge V Euclid, and was bought by Messrs Irving and Son, Stranraer.

Five fresh females sold for 1900gns, including two heifers from Balcurvie Holsteins, Windygate, Fife. Balcurvie Jareb Myra was knocked down to Messrs Bargh, Penrith, with Messrs Carr, Silloth, Wigton, forking out the same money for Balcurvie Unix Barbs.

Messrs Carr also went to the same amount for Brian Craig’s Kibblestone Tom Wilma, from Brian Craig, Carneil, Carnock, Dunfermline, Fife.

Local breeders, Messrs Dixon, Aspatria, Wigton, bought the other two at 1900gns – Tom Yuill’s four-year-old in milk, Netherside Florence, from West Newton, Strathaven, and Kibbleston Tom Wilma, another fresh heifer from Brian Craig.

Ayrshires were topped at 1550gns on several occasions for some milky heifers consigned by the Stevenson family, from Kirminnoch Farm, near Stranraer.

averages:

Three cows in milk, £1930.00; 33 Holstein heifers in milk, £1808.86; 11 Ayrshire heifers in milk, £1356.40’ six faulted, three-quarters, or slow milkers, £1067.50; six Jersey bullers, £749.00.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.