More than 50 dedicated years of pedigree dairy cattle breeding came to an end when the current president of Holstein UK, Rob Clare dispersed his former Master Breeder Hawksmoor herd from Market Drayton, Shropshire.
The on-farm sale saw more than £570,000 change hands and a top price of 7200gns paid by a Welsh breeder for Hawksmoor Rene 55. This VG87-classified cow bred from six generations of Excellent-classified cows is out of the Ex94-2 Hawksmoor Rene 50, and sired by Ladys-Manor Grafeeti. She sold due in December with her third to Claynook Fransisco.
The Anvil herd of LE and PM Rees and Son, Llanrhystud, Aberystwyth, went to 6200gs for the milking heifer Hawksmoor Lianne 106 VG-86-2yr. A daughter of by Kings-Ransom 1st Dewars, she is out of the Ex91 SP LP50 cow Hawksmoor Lianne 75 and sold served to Wilder Dalliance.
Two other VG 2yrs headed home to Anvil at 4400gns and 3800gns.
The George brothers bought nine young cows for their Brynhyfryd herd going to a top of 5200gns for the Mincio-sired second calver, Hawksmoor Baroness 72. Her dam is the VG88 SP LP50 cow, Hawksmoor Baroness 54.
Matching that price when selling over the telephone to John and Brian O'Connor of the Bawnmore herd at Kanturk, Co Cork, was the 13-month-old heifer, Hawksmoor May Alta 36. A Farnear Delta-Lambda-sired entry, she is a grand-daughter of the Ex-93-2 LP50 cow, Hawksmoor May Alta 8.
Hawksmoor Shannon 18 Ex95-3, a fourth calver by Dalbytop Phil made 4900gns. A sixth successive generation of Ex or VG cows that stood first at Staffordshire Show in 2018, she was knocked down to S Robinson and Sons of the Cluntagh herd.
Top priced lot heading north to Scotland at 4000gns was Hawksmoor Helen 56 VG86-2yr, by Larcrest Calumet. A 13th successive Ex or VG cow, this three-year-old in milk sold served to Wilder Dalliance, to the Laird family buying for their Blythbridge herd from West Linton.
Some 40% of the cattle were bought through the Marteye Internet platform, with John Mitchell of Grove Dairy Ltd, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, purchasing 42 heifer calves and maiden heifers online.
Averages: 170 cows, £2092.20; 28 served heifers £1764.38; 31 maiden heifers £1757.90; 92 calves £1212.64. Overall, 322 head, £1777.66.
Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank
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