Potential buyers from New Zealand, Germany, Denmark and France, registered for the Spotlight sale of elite pedigree dairy cattle sold through Greenslade Taylor Hunt auctioneers, which saw a top price of £7100 paid for a Jersey heifer.

The first timed live sale through the auctioneers, which took place over three days, was led by Layward Cosmo Starry Fizz, a yearling heifer bred from three generations of world renowned show winners from Northants breeders, A Harvey and T Wake, Kettering.

The only daughter of Elliotts Cosmo Starry Fizz in the UK with her third dam, Huronia Centurion Veronica Ex97, being a former supreme champion at the World Dairy Expo, she sold to the Fleming Family from Ireland, buying for their Potterswalls herd.

Topping the Holsteins at £5600 was O Coombes’ Withamvale Chief Rae, from Frome, Somerset. Bred from 10 generations of Excellent dams that averaged 93.5 points, this November 2018-born entry hails from the Sterndale line of Raes and sold due to Siemers Lambda Haniko sexed, to Conor Mcaufield, buying for his Lissue herd from Ireland.

The Raes created huge interest with two red daughters from Rockset Integral Rae VG87 selling for £4100 and £3800.

Monmouthshire breeders, David and Claire Jones of the Wiltor herd sold the former, Wiltor Jordy Rae Red to Larchwood Holsteins, also from Monmouthshire and Stowey Jordy Rae Red from John and Mary Hill, Devon, made £3800 selling to R Harris buying for his Winkleigh herd.

The Wiltor herd had a great day with other heifers at £5000 and £4900 both selling to Kevin Norman of the Hillvale herd, Wiltshire. Wiltor Triple Jodie Red, a seven-month-old red calf from the Jodie family sold at £5000 while Wiltor King Doc Britany, a 10-month-old heifer calf from the same family as Jacobs Goldwyn Britany, made £4900.

The Hill’s Stowey herd also came back with another big seller at £4200, when their December 2019-born Stowey Tatoo Sara ET, bred from an Ex95 dam that was followed by Ex94 and Ex95 dams behind her, sold to Irish breeder Steven Robinson of the Cluntagh herd.

Flying the flag for Scotland, Kirsty Yates of the Meiklefirth herd from Castle Douglas, bought Mathew and Ruth Harper’s classy heifer, Lilyhall Chief Royal, a seven-month-old calf from Maryport, bred from 17 generations of Ex-classifed cows, at £4000.

Strong demand from all corners of the UK and further afield saw an overall clearance rate of 83%.

averages:

Holsteins – Six in-calf heifers, £3250; 25 maiden heifers, £2620; 10 heifers calves, £230; 15 embryos, £464.