ONE of two bulls sold at the November Pedigree Dairy sale, at Carlisle, attracted the lead price of 3000gns.

Although trade was down slightly on the month, some 52 animals sold for £2000 or more, with heifers selling to 2900gns on two occasions, to average £2039.

Sale leader was Annandale Pepper Street, a young bull from the Armour family's herd from Milton, Moffat, purchased by Messrs Graham, Harthill, Shotts. Sired by Silvio and bred from the Papoose cow family, his dam was a VG88 Reece cow while the grand-dam was a 6000gns Manat Papoose bred from the Sterndale herd.

First of the females to make 2900gns was Watsonfoot Haore Lilias, from Lanarkshire breeders, John and Anne White, Watsonfoot, Newmains, who are dispersing their herd as they calve. A daughter of Wilder Haore, bred from the GP81 Watsonfoot Mel Lilias, this October-calved entry which classified GP84 prior to the sale was purchased by neighbouring producers, J and T Parkin, Higher Davies Dykes.

Another five from the Watsonfoot herd sold to average £2213. The couple also and topped the cow trade at 2500gns with Watsonfoot Grazie Betty, a fresh second calver by ABS Grazie and bred from the Ex91-2E Watsonfoot Betty 3. The buyers were J McCulloch and Sons, West High, Ardwell, Stranraer.

The Stardale Holstein herd of J Burrows and Son, Turnsteads, Barton, sold six heifers to average £2380, with a top price of 2900gns paid for Stardale Achiever Roxy, an ABS Achiever daughter bred from their Roxy line. Her fourth dam, Stardale Leader Roxy SP LP120 37* Ex-95-7E, made 10,000gns to the Willsbro herd, while her third dam is Willsbro Shottle Roxy 3, an Ex96-6E SP LP130 cow. She sold three weeks calved to JC Genetics, Shropshire.

Next at 2400gns was WW and D Boow's Ortongrange Alltime Cummings, from Corney Hall, Millom. Another fresh heifer, this time by SSI Headway Alltime, and bred from the VG85-1yr Ortongrange Dancer Cummings, she sold to AW Dickinson, Greystoke, Penrith.

Just behind, on 2350gns, the Grahams from Blairdrummond, Stirling, bought Espland Unix Sadie, from Alan, Cannon. She sold giving almost 40kg per day and is bred from a high BF Wickham dam.

Matching that 2350gns bid was the served heifer, Wolfa Diamondback Deroute, from Sue and Richard Armstrong, who sold 10 recently served and bulling heifers from their Wolfa herd to average £1481.

The heifer, by Mr D Apple Diamondback and bred from the VG86 SP cow, Wolfa Bradnick Deroute, sold sexed to King Doc. A potential seventh generation Ex or VG cow, she was knocked down to Grove Dairy Farms, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

Averages: Seven cows in milk, £1935.00; 93 heifers in milk, £2039.07; 13 in-calf and recently served heifers, £1506.34; 17 bulling heifers, £2014.68.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.