Friday the 13th proved anything but unlucky for Aberdeenshire milk producers, R and L Barron, dispersing their Darrahill Holstein herd when trade peaked at 2400gns, with milking heifers averaging in excess of £2000.

The dispersal of 105 head from Darrahill, Udny, staged as a result of Muller no longer collecting milk north of Aberdeen, was staged at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, and saw no fewer than 23 animals sell at or above the £2000 bracket.

Sale leader was Darrahill Request Dee, a daughter of the German Racer son, Request, bred from a VG85-3yr dam that produced in excess of 12,000kg. She sold to neighbouring producers G and A Taylor, Upper Braickley, Methlick, Ellon.

The previous lot, Darrahill Supershot Joyce, a fresh heifer by Supershot, bred from Darrahill Mvp Joyce, made 2350gns selling to Messrs Sloan and Son, Mauchline, Ayrshire. She sold served sexed to Stantons Alligator.

Matching that 2350gns sale was the highest yielding heifer, Darrahill Goodwhone Sheba, by TW Goodwhone, which sold producing 50kg per day to the Smiths from Croston, Leyland, Lancs. She is bred from a good line of productive milking females with her grand-dam being the VG88 SP LP60 cow, Darrahill Talent Sheba.

Also heading home in the same lorryload down to Croston at 2300gns was Darrahill Fantasmic Flicker G77, a freshly calved De-Su Fantasmic daughter in her third, bred from a VG87-4yr Zelgadis dam.

Heading south to Northwich also on 2300gns with Messrs Green and Son, Lach Dennis, was the fresh heifer, Darrahill Kimball Dana, by Seagull-Bay Slvr Kimball. She is also bred from a high production dam, being out of the VG SP LP110 cow, Darrahill Ross Dana.

The Forsyths of Baltier Farming, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, forked out 2250gns for the Cogent Supershot-sired calved heifer, Darrahill Supershot Joceline. Her third dam is the Ex91 SP cow, Monyruy Igniter Joceline.

In-calf heifers peaked at 2250gns for Darrahill Kingsleay Lead, a July 2018-born entry by Kingsley and a grand-daughter of the Ex90 Darrahill Goldfish Lead. She sold sexed to Woodcrest King Doc, to JH Whitton and Sons, Ellercow, Ousby, Penrith.

Averages: 41 cows in milk, £1696.13; 24 heifers in milk, £2008.12; 33 in-calf heifers, £1673.18; four faulted ¾ cows, £1273.18.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.