A fast trade was witnessed when the bulk of John Yeoman's high yielding Yfarm dairy herd was sold through Exeter Auction Mart.

In all, some 550 head were sold in under seven hours with 68 buyers attending or bidding via Mart-Eye.

Top price was 2800gns with a further 38 animals selling for 2000gns or more.

Sale leader was Vaessensation VNS Maggi 78 ET Ex90, one of several animals imported from Luxembourg. She is by a Mogul son out of a Doorman dam and gave 13,200kg in her second lactation. Calved in December, giving 55kg per day and back in calf, she joins the Walkabout herd of Richard Gay and family, Axminster.

Second top price was 2400gns paid by Tom Letts and Son, Bristol, for Wowcow Brody August Red, a fresh calved heifer giving 34kg consigned by Ben and Lizzie Yates who manage the herd. She is bred from nine generations of Excellent cows.

Top priced served heifer at 2100gns was Yfarm Samovar Lulu, purchased by Seaton Farms in Cheshire.

Yearlings peaked at 1650gns and calves at foot reached 850gns with a good number selling for more than 500gns.

Averages: 311 cows and calved heifers, £1650; 42 served heifers, £1370; 83 yearling heifers, £819; 111 calves (60 at foot), £440. Overall, 547 head, £1257.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank and Kivells