Big names from some great cow families featured in Robert Veitch’s Vetech Summer Sensation sale of pedigree Holstein heifers at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, where trade peaked at 5000gns twice.

The sale from Strandhead Farm, Ayrshire, also saw a further seven change hands for more than £4000. Such was the quality, depth and strength of the heifers forward, buyers from the five home countries were recorded, with 39 heifers purchased online.

First to hit the 5000gns mark was the second heifer in the catalogue, Vetech Brady Elegance 2 ET, a Butz-Butler Atwood Brady daughter bred from no fewer than eight successive generations of Excellent classified cows with the first three being Ex96.

Her dam, Forte CS Elegance, was the second prize mature cow at UK Dairy Expo in 2015, and her maternal sister was a top seller in the Black and White Sale at 32,000gns in 2005. This August, 2018-born entry sold due in the next month, sexed to Kerndtway Kingpin to Emerald Isle Farms, Republic of Ireland.

Her Atwood sister, Vetech Atwood Elegance 3 ET, followed her into the ring and sold for 4200gns going to the Carlanton herd, in Bolton, owned by Messrs Grimshaw. She also sold due in the next month sexed to the same sire.

Emerald Isle Farms also went to 4500gns for Vetech Hardrock Robette, a 16-month-old heifer and a potential 18th generation to classify Ex from the Rhapsody cow family originally developed by Pinehurst Farms. She is by Cookiecutter MD Hardrock and sold served in June, sexed to Woodcrest King Doc.

Also making 5000gns was Vetech Kingboy Adeen, a similarly aged heifer due in November to Peak Tropic sexed. She is a great grand-daughter of the Ex92-2E SP cow, Lavenham Adeen that was overall champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, UK Dairy Expo and Agriscot in 2013. Sired by Morningview MCC Kingboy, she sold to Bryce and Robert Sloan, Darnlaw, Cumnock.

Baby heifers peaked at 4400gns for the five-month-old Vetech Crushtime Robette, Crushtime daughter from the Rhapsody cow family. Another potential 18th generation to classify Ex, this youngster was purchased by the Lairds, from Blythbridge Holsteins, Blyth Bridge, West Linton.

Blythbridge Holsteins also went to 3100gns and 3000gns for well-bred heifers. Dearest of the duo was Vetech Casper Dundee, a 10-month-old by Claynook Casper bred from the Ex91 Vetech Atwood Dundee.

Selling at 3000gns was the 14-month-old, Vetch LMF Elegance, which sold served in August sexed to Sandy-Valley KR Excalibur. She is by Maple Wood Light My Fire and is a potential 10th generation Ex cow.

Another two heifers came under the hammer for 4200gns to include the yearling, Vetech Crushtime Ghostie ET, another by Crushtime, bred from seven dams all high scoring Excellent cows. She goes back to Lemington Skychief Ghost E95-3E SP, and sold to Hugh and Andrew Neilson, buying for their Overside herd from Strathaven.

Later, the Carldanton herd also went to the same money for Vetech Doch Stampede, a February, 2020-born heifer by Woodcrest King Doc, bred from the Ex91 Riverdane Goldsun Stampede.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

averages:

20 in-calf heifers, £2289.58; 31 recently served heifers, £1823.95; 34 bulling heifers, £1496.25; 37 heifer calves, £1327.26.