A top price of 12,000gns coupled with a further 19 sales at or above £4000 made for a successful Willsbro Holstein Spring Sale at Exeter Livestock Centre, where Scottish breeders bought several of the lead priced lots.
The sale from the Wills family's 1500-cow herd from Pawton Dairy, Cornwall which boasts average milk yields of 13,576kg at 4.17%BF and 3.22%P, was topped by Europe's leading Conformation Sidekick daughter, Willsbro Sidekick Ashlyn 302.
The No 1 Conformation Sidekick in Europe at +17 and former No 2 Worldwide, this rising six-month-old heifer calf is bred from Willsbro Chief Ashlyn 165 which is turn is the No 2 Confirmation daughter of Chief and recently scored VG85 as a two-year-old. Willsbro Sidekick Ashlyn 302 was knocked down to the Ashlea herd of Mike and Lynn Robertson, Bristol.
Stranraer-based breeder, James McNeil, Cairnpat, bought two of the next three highest priced lots at 9000gns and 8000gns with the dearest hailing from the Amber cow family which is behind many leading sires to include Atwood, Aftershock and Golden Dreams.
Willsbro Amoeba Amber 167 made 9000gns selling to James McNeil, Cairnpat
Willsbro Amoeba Amber 167 VG87-2yr, a 28-month-old daughter of Willsbro Amoeba, whose fourth dam was a full sister to Atwood, calved mid January and sold served to Farnear Delta Lambda sexed. Her dam is the VG87-3yr SP cow, Willsbro Montana Amber 86, with her third dam being the Ex92-3 SP LP80 44* brood cow, Riverdane Shottle Amber.
Selling at 8000gns to Cairnpat was a member of the Sharon family which goes back to the dam of Picston Shottle. Willsbro Tropic Sharon 146, a six-month-old heifer calf by Peak Tropic and the highest GLPI heifer in the sale at +3413. Bred from the VG88-2yr Willsbro Lambda Sharon, this calf also boasts high type figures of PTAT+2.31.
Cairnpat also went to 8000gns for Willsbro Tropic Sharon
Notably, her full ET sister, Willsbro Tropic Sharon 136, a rising eight-month-old heifer, made 7000gns selling to David Yates, buying for the Meiklefirth herd from Meikle Firthhead, Castle Douglas.
The Sharon family was also behind the fresh heifer, Willsbro Abbon Sharon 102, a VG87 potential show heifer that also goes back to the 14,000gns Smiddiehill Goldwyn Sharon VG88. She is bred from the GP84 SP Willsbro Snow Sharon and sold served to Farnear Delta Lambda sexed, to Northern Ireland breeder, James Morton, Ballyhoy Road, Armagh, for 8100gns.
Also selling across the Irish Sea with Malcolm and Barry McLean of the Relough herd from Donaghmore, were the next two top priced lots at 7800gns and 6200gns.
The former, Willsbro Calumet Roxy 170 VG87-2yr, by Larcrest Calumet and bred from 10 generations of successive Ex-classified dams, sold carrying a female pregnancy by Siemers Hanans for November. Her dam, Willsbro Silver Roxy 151 Ex92 SP, boasts a top yield of 14,772litres at 4.56%BF and 3.45%P in her third.
Selling at 6200gns to Relough was Willsbro Yamaska Sharon 104 VG87-2yr, a fresh heifer by Westcoast Yamaska, bred from the Sharon family.
Another Ashlyn that goes back to the Tri-Day Ashlyn Ex96-2E GMD DOM 17* brood cow, Willsbro Erving Ashlyn 137 VG87-2yr, made 5600gns selling to Martin O’Sullivan of Desmond Holsteins, Co Limerick, Republic of Ireland. This rising three-year-old by Stantons Serving, sold carrying her second calf, a heifer to Morningview Rawhide.
Welsh breeder, E Cox, Clwch Dernog, Bach, forked out 5500gns for the second calver, Willsbro Pulsar Pammy 204, a VG89-3yr by Stantons Pulsar bred from the Ex92 SP LP80 25* cow, Willsbro GC Pammy. Pulsar Pammy also sold sexed to Davinci.
Top priced red at 5000gns was Willsbro Shimmer Saskia Red 51, a nine-month-old heifer calf by Schreur Shimmer bred from the Willsbro Aikman Saskia Red 9 Ex91-2E which is a sister to Willsbro Nugget – one of the highest GRZG bulls in Germany. The buyers were PA and CT Barrett, Tresallick Farm, Callington, Cornwall.
Later, Kevin and Christine Wilson and Sons, of Warnelview Holsteins, Wood Farm, Carlisle, forked out the same money for the June 2019-born Willsbro Magictouch Dior Rae 34, which calved at 22-months. She is by S-S-I Modesty Magictouch and bred from the Ex90 SP cow, Willsbro Rubicon Rae which sold privately to the Riverdane herd.
Averages: 43 cows and heifers in milk, £4082.79; 48 yearling heifers (born 2020), £2821.88; 31 heifer calves, £1900.16; 39 embryos, £595.00. Overall, 124 Holsteins, £3298.00.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington and Kivells.
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