Prices peak at 4,350 guineas as pedigree Holstein herd sells in Shrewsbury

Prices peaked at 4,350 guineas as the Pims Herd of pedigree Holsteins dairy cattle was sold in a dispersal sale at Shrewsbury Auction Centre on Tuesday.

Ben and Samantha Hargreaves from The Fields Farm, Whitchurch took the sad decision to disperse their much loved herd due to the current turmoil in the farming industry.

“The local community and friends galvanised around this young family’s fabulous herd, producing a record-breaking sale average of £2,896,” said Halls auctioneer Jonny Dymond, Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager.

“Ben, Sam and the girls should be immensely proud of what they have achieved, a herd of cows so loved and admired by all in the market on Tuesday. We look forward to seeing their descendants in our future weekly sales.”

The tone of the sale was set from the very first cow in the ring Uppersevern Marvel Beatexus 2 EX91, who delivered her fourth calf in March and sold for 3550gns.

Leading the trade at 4,350gns was the third lactation Uppersevern Marvel Beeeze 2 VG87, due in November. She was followed at 4,300gns by Alderbarrow Roxami Companion 2 VG86, a fresh cow which sold to an online bidder.

The final lot in the sale, Tilstone Marvel Helen VG86, who calved in February and had been recently served, sailed away to 4,000gns.

“The milk on offer with this powerful herd was fabulous, with a high percentage of senior cows on offer,” added Mr Dymond. “They included a fifth lactation cow at 3000gns, sixth lactation at 2,500gns and the matriarch of the herd, an 11th calved Ked Outside Jeeves Daughter, at 1,700gns!”
Tuesday’s market attracted buyers from a wide area, both in person and online, resulting in a strong trade throughout.

With fresh cows in short supply, prices peaked at £2,550 for Meldamar Darwin Margaret 42 from J. M. & D. Shepherd & Son, Bakewell in the general dairy sale. Another from the same home sold for £2,500.

Mr Dymond said the trade was just “on fire” in the heifer section with six selling for in excess of £3,000 to a peak of £3,650 for Wolston Artist Mosaic 55 from A. D. & R. M. Thomas of Lutterworth.

Another from the same farm sold for £3,200, while a pleasing £3,450 was achieved by Shaneal Tyce Amanda 2 TH, presented by A. & J. Whittaker.

A pair of commercial bred heifers sold for £3,320 for T. A. Wainwright, Marton and M. Trevor Jones, Oswestry. Brian Buxtons journey from Derby was justified at £3,300 for his pedigree heifer.

Hugely productive Norweigan Red cross Jersey heifers from Lomas Farming sold to £2,800 and £2,750.

The sale was boosted by the run of in-calf pedigree Ayrshire heifers from H. W. Oultram & Co, Ewloe, Flintshire, which attracted a large amount of interest.

Prices peaked at £2,600 for Stamford Untold 17, a heifer springing to calf with great depth and potential, out of an Excellent 94 point dam. Stamford Roselinda 136, backed by seven generations of VG and EX, sold for at £2,500.

Four bulling heifers from D. & N. Wragg’s Bronlyn Herd created sold for £2,000 twice for members of the Adeen and Adrienne families and £1,600 twice for more commercial pedigree heifers.

Averages: three fresh cows to £2,550, averaging £2,200, 23 fresh heifers to £3,650, averaging £2,730, 22 Ayrshire in-calf heifers to £2,600, averaging £1,892 and four bulling heifers to £2,000, averaging £1,800.

Picture: The top selling Uppersevern Marvel Beeeze 2 VG87 which sold for 4,350 guineas.