Fifty years of Denmire Holstein breeding was commemorated in style at the Border and Lakeland opening club show and sale at Carlisle, with the herd producing the top five highest priced lots.

The anniversary sale of 17 select calved heifers from the Dennison family's herd from Scales Farm, Aldingham, Ulverston, not only led the sale at 4400gns but also produced an impressive average of £3058.

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Sale leader was Denmire Apps Marie Anne 7, a Lindenright Apps daughter, which sold for 4400gns to J Harrison, Wickerfield, Penrith. Bred from the well-known show winnning Marie family, her third dam was Goldwyn Marie 102 VG87 SP LP80, the dam of proven bull Denmire Macomber.

Next best at 3900gns was Denmire Rakin Pamela, a grand-daughter of the UK Dairy Expo and National Holstein show cow, Denmire Lheros Pamela Ex96. She is by Denmire Rakin and sold having calved at the end of October, to David Coulthurst, Edenfield, Goosnargh, Preston, who bought several of the top priced lots including two other Denmire heifers at 3600gns and 3400gns.

The first, Denmire Lighthouse Marq 1, by Westcoast Lighthouse, sold fresh in her second and is a grand-daughter of the Ex92-2E Denmire Doorman Marq 1.

Selling for 3400gns was Denmire Apps Fortuna, by Apps, which sold having calved early November. Her dam is Denmire Takeoff Fortuna.

Tom Reed, Seaton, Devon, also forked out 3600gns for a heifer from the Dennisons, when buying the early November calved, Denmire Challenger Margot. She is by Sandy-Valley Challenger and will complete 10 generations of Excellent or Very Goods once she is classified. Her third dam is the Ex90 SP cow, Hindbrook Margot 13 ET.

Skirwith Hall Farms, Preston, also had a good day, selling 13 heifers to average just shy of £2800. Top price here was 3400gns paid for Stowbeck Drogo Gilly 2, a mid December-calved heifer by ALH Drogo, again purchased by Mr Coulthurst.

They also produced the pre-sale champion, judged by Malcolm Hutchinson of the Bowberhill herd, who found his winner in Stowbeck Drogo Mavis 2. Another by ALH Drogo, also purchased by Mr Coulthurst at 3300gns.

In an all Scottish transaction, brothers David and John Brewster, Boclair, Lennoxtown, sold Boclair Lambda Echo 2, a fresh heifer by Lambda, for 3300gns to Robert Denholm and Son, Wester Lochdrum, Bonnybridge.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Averages: Eight cows in milk, £2388.75; 68 heifers in milk; £2721.85; three in-calf heifers, £1505.00; five bulling heifers, £1396.50.