Prices peaked at 11,000gns to average almost £3000 per life at the dispersal of Matthew and Ruth Harper’s Lillyhall and Lambroda Holstein and Brown Swiss herds from West House Farm, Dearham, Maryport.

The event, staged at Carlisle, following the Pedigree Dairy Day sale, was topped by Lillyhall Atwood Cortina, a 13-month-old heifer which attracted bids from the Netherlands and Germany, before selling for 11,000gns to Andrew Holgate of the Aliann Holstein herd from Rathmell, Settle, North Yorkshire.

Her dam, Hellender Champion Cortina Ex94 is the current Holstein Cow of the Year in Switzerland, while her sister, Hellender Goldwyn Glinnia was best udder and reserve grand champion at Swiss Expo in 2016. The grand-dam, Hellender Juror Jurgolin, is one of the all-time favourite cows and a two times winner at the Swiss Expo.

Second top price was 5400gns paid by Emerald Isle Genetics, Republic of Ireland for Lambroda Chief Margot. She was placed in the milking yearling class at UK Dairy Expo in March, only a few weeks fresh, and since then, has developed into a two-year-old that won the junior heifer championship in the Border and Lakeland herd competition this summer. A January 2018-born female by Stantons Chief, she is bred from the Ex93-3E SP LP50 cow, Lambroda Gold Chip Margot and sold due with her second in January, to Diamondback.

Her seven-month-old maternal sister, Lillyhall Diamondback Margot, made 4300gns to Brian and Michael Yates, buying for their Logan herd from East Logan, Castle Douglas. She is by Diamond Back with her grand-dam being the Ex90 SP LP60 cow, Niscot Durham Margot.

Just behind on 4200gns and topping the cow trade was Lambroda Fitz Elegant, a fresh second calver by Toc-Farm Fitz, bred from the Ex94-3E SP LP60 cow, Lambroda Guthrie Numero Una. She was purchased by the Carter family from Gerrard House, Wigton and boasts nine Excellent classified cows from the Blackstar Jean cow family in her pedigree.

Lambroda Silver Royalty, which boasts no fewer than 17 generations of VG or Ex dams in her pedigree made 4000gns to Martin Denholm, Wester Lochdrum, Bonnybridge, Stirling. She is by Seagull-Bay Silver and out of the Ex90 SP cow, Boclair Doorman Royalty that goes back to the Pinehurst Rapture cow family.

Two lots sold for 3800gns to include Lillyhall Dalliance Bonita, a fresh second calver by Wilder Dalliance bred from the VG88-3yr SP cow, Lillyhall Seaver Bonita which is backed by nine successive generations of Excellent classified cows. She heads up to Lanarkshire with Andrew and Euan Lawrie, Grangehall, Pettinain.

The next lot in sold for the same money to Desmond Farms, Co Limerick. This was Argh Avalanche, a three-year-old by Luck-E Absolute in her first that sold served sexed to Mr Stone-Front Reeve. Her dam is Luck-E Redburst Aphrodite VG87.

Her seven-month-old heifer calf, Lillyhall Jordy Atlanta Red by Cycle McGucci Jordy Red, made 3200gns selling to Messrs Threlkeld, Burton in Kendal, Lancs.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

averages: Five Holstein cows in milk, £2730.00; three Brown Swiss cows in milk, £2117.50; nine Holstein heifers in milk, £3278.33; five Holstein bulling heifers, £4074.00; 14 Holstein heifer calves, £2163.75. Overall, 40 head, £2721.33