Scottish breeders made their presence felt at the dispersal of Andrew and Jane Whittaker’s award winning Knowlesmere Holstein herd from Weston-under Redcastle, Shropshire, buying several of the lead priced lots.

The on-farm sale which included top show animals, not only attracted a top price of 20,000gns but also a further four, five-figure sales, with the event grossing in excess of £770,000.

Main buyer was Stranraer-based breeder, James McNeil of Cairnpat, who purchased five of the lead sellers to include the two top lots at 20,000gns and 18,000gns.

Mr McNeil first gave 18,000gs for Knowlesmere Solomon Diamond Ex-93, an All Britain winner for the past three years in succession, bred from four successive generations of Ex classified cows. She is a daughter of the Ex96-6 SP LP100 Knowlesmere Jordan Diamond, sired by Walnutlawn Solomon, and sold in her third lactation having produced in excess of 10,600kg in her second.

Her five-month-old heifer calf Knowlesmere Crush Diamond, by Crushabull, made 9000gns selling to local breeders Brent Crothers, buying for his ToiToi herd.

The matron, show wining cow Knowlesmere Jordan Diamond (Ex-96), was also behind the 20,000gns sale leader, Knowlesmere Sol Diamond VG-88, a calved heifer also by Solomon. She is bred from the Ex91 SP LP50 cow, Knowlesmere Fever Diamond. The 24 Diamond lots averaged £5228.

Also heading home to the Cairnpat herd was Knowlwesmere Fitz Chancel VG-87-2yr at 8200gns and Logan Chief Edie at 6300gns.

Andrew and Jane’s daughter Izzy and her husband Gary Jones, have had their own cattle registered under the Jones prefix, and as they are about to relocate to Ireland, these were part of the dispersal. The six-month-old Jones Awesome Jelly ET, which is the first daughter from the prizewinning Knonaudale Jasmine to sell in the UK, made 13,500gs to the Forsyth family’s Baltier Farms, bidding online from their Wigtownshire base.

Another fancy similarly aged calf, Jones Firstlook Lexi Red, and a member of the famous Blackrose family, made 11,200gns selling to Claire Swale on behalf of Hautmont Hill Holsteins from Belgium. Lexi Red is bred from Icerose which is bred from an Ex90 Rosedale cow, and sired by Mr Blondin Warrior-Red.

Members of the Poppi family are always in demand and Iwan Morgan went to 12,000gns for the VG-87-2yr Knowlesmere Jones Octane Poppi, a calved heifer by Stantons High Octane, in partnership with Elite Haven Holsteins.

This was the first online sale conducted by Norton and Brooksbank in their link with MartEye and saw 19.2% of buyers purchase online, with a total of 246 people bidding online during the day and more than 3700 people in nine countries following the sale live stream.

OTHERLEADING prices

7800gns – Knowlesmere Solomon Chic, to L Murphy, Evergreen. 7200gns – Knowlesmere Doorman Elegant ET VG-87 to G and AE Smith and Sons, Alandrew. 7000gns – Knowlesmere Chief Diamond to JL Gray, Drumtall.

6000gns – Knowlesmere Atwood Chic VG-89, to SRJ Leyburn, Lislea; Knowlesmere Jones Crisp Amarok to L Murphy, Evergreen.

5700gns – Knowlesmere Jones Diamond to J Sproule. 5400gns – Knowlesmere RT Jordy Red Lingerie Red VG-87 2yr to SRJ Leyburn, Lislea. 5300gns – Knowlesmere Impression Diamond VG-87 2yr, to C Thomasson and Son, Norville. 5200gns – Knowlesmere Denver Diamond VG-86 2yr, to Laird Farming Co, Blythbridge; Jones Impression Fame ET, to G and AE Smith and Sons, Alandrew. 5100gns – Knowlesmere Miss Brandysnap Ex-92-2, to D, R and BMThomas, Churchvale; Knowlesmere Unix Elegant, to R Watt, Mountainview.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank with guest auctioneer J Diamond, Halls

averages:

142 cows and calved heifers, £2903; 55 served heifers, £2045; 63 maiden heifers, £2240; 62 calves at foot, £1704. Overall, 322 head, £2396.