The Hares family from Millenheath Farms, Whitchurch won the Bryan Challenor Cup for the second successive year at Halls auctioneers’ Christmas Cracker Dairy Show and Sale at Shrewsbury Auction Centre.
A record breaking entry of freshly calved dairy cattle competed for the silverware, named after the legendary dairy farmer and businessman from Abergavenny who died aged 70 in 2016 after a brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The overall champion was the winning cow, Millenheath Spring Bernice, which sold for £4,000. The reserve champion prize went to the show’s top heifer, Glanmarton Mingus Grace from C. D. Whitticase, Glanywern Farm, St Martins, which sold for £3,650.
The pre-sale show was judged by Robert Evans, from Richard Bowdler Ltd and 100 dairy cattle went under the hammer – 33 cows averaged £2,713, 57 heifers sold to £3,680 and averaged £2,507, seven dispersal Channel Island cows sold to £750 and three bulling heifers sold to £950.
“An immense turn out of cattle, customers and sponsors resulted in a great show and fabulous trade in the face of the industry’s challenges and my thanks go to everyone for their continued support,” said auctioneer Jonny Dymond, Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager.
“There was eager bidding throughout form the busy ringside with all quality cattle ranging from high flying Holsteins and Jerseys to grass cows and the averages returned were fantastic.
“Our champion was a standout from the second she walked off the trailer as the very first cow in the stall and nothing was going to get passed her.
“Millenheath Farms, loyal supporters of the market throughout the year, deservedly took home the Bryan Challenor Cup Home for the second year running. Congratulations to Robert, Jeanette, Dave, Sarah and all the Hares family.”
Sterndale AM Jodie Red from W. J. Nadin & Co, Buxton, runner-up in the cows section, sold for £3,600 while Whitgreave Applaud Sally GP83 from Paul Stubbs. Whitgreave, Stafford sold for £3,380 to an online bidder. Third prize went to J. Richards from Kempton with Pendyffryn Tropic Mary which sold for £2,850.
It was a day for the new generation of Shropshire breeders, with Ian and Claire Whitticase’s Glanmarton Herd achieving reserve champion but being pipped to the top priced heifer by Robert and Charlotte Higgins, of Longnor, with Bentleyford Lock Mona which sold for £3,680.
Second prize in the heifers went to Seaton Farms, Audlem with Granchester Crush Golda which sold for £3,350 and W. J. Nadin took third with Sterndale Miss Hardy Noel which found a new home for £3,100.
First quality fresh heifers and cows sold regularly for more than £3,000, with the next step down achieving £2,500 and upwards. Buyers seeking more grass based and Friesian types ensured an improved trade, with many selling more than £2,000.
Picture: Bryan Challenor Cup winner David Hares (second from left) with (from left) sponsor Rob Braithwaite from WorldWide Sires, show judge Robert Evans, Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager and auctioneer Jonny Dymond and Alan Tomlinson, dairy steward.
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