Greenslades conducted the sale of one of the leading Guernsey herds for the Executors of John Pettit-Mills on 10 June 2003 and saw prices rising to levels not seen since their was Cohort money in the system at the Slindon and Honingham Sales. More than 1/3 of the adult lots sold in excess of 550 gns* with the star lot being Lot 67 Hyde End Pearl 8th , a T Jay Luxury daughter a week off calving, and with a tremendous frame and a perfectly attached udder.
HE Pearl 8 was one of 7 top quality heifers purchased for the Sunninghill Park herd of FE Thomlinson and Sons to go to Mealsgate Cumbria. Mr Thomlinson also purchased 11 animals for Mr Armstrong of Longtown Cumbria the first Guernseys to join his Holstein herd and these included Lot 40 at 820 gns Hyde End Sylvia 24th who had given 8034 kgs at 4.7% in her 2nd lactation and is on course for 9000 kgs this time.
Frustrated underbidder for the "Pearl" was Rita Folland ,but she did purchase Lot 57 for 860 gns HE Susan 37th again by Luxury and also bought for 380 gns. Lot 76 a very white Luxury bulling heifer HE Lilly 55th.These heifers will join the Rosewood herd at Totnes, one of the best kept secrets in the Guernsey breed !
Mr Davis who had bought Guernseys at the Shalford sale to join his Holstein herd at Tiverton bought 8 lots including Lot 15 HE Peaceful 15th for 570 gns. who had given 7000 kgs as a heifer and these cows will add a welcome splash of colour visible from the M5 as you travel west.
David Paull bought 7 lots for his Hurdlebrook herd at Babcary and these will help to provide Cream and milk for the growing "Farmers Markets" business that Dave and his Father now supply these included Lots 30 at 650 gns and Lot 43 at 660 gns.
Derek Moody purchased two Lot 28 for 500 gns and Lot 36 for 600 gns to join the Mount Prosperous herd at Hungerford that he manages for RD Kent, another herd that is producing for Farmers Markets and local outlets.
Berkley Farms from Wroughton purchased 2 cows Lots 18 & 20 and 2 served heifers Lots 69 & 70 the last one for 600 gns to join his Organic Artis herd supplying Guernsey milk to Waitrose and also Retail rounds on the edge of Swindon, which have seen a 200% increase in sales since his milk was featured as part of BBC Radio 4's "The Food Programme" last weekend.
A very welcome feature was the purchase of 5 bulling heifers by Andrew Gough of Sheriffhales Shropshire again a first time buyer of Guernseys. Active amongst the Youngstock were Duncan Vincent buying into the best cow families to join his Kenvin Herd as were Robert Cole and Robert Bevin from the Midlands area.
The best cattle met a good trade, but there were too few buyers for the younger cattle but it was heartening to see the interest from outside of the breed and significant that those selling direct to the public were all buying more cows.
* What is a "gns" --- it's a Guinea. According to Paul Lewis' website about Victorian coinage, "A guinea was £1-1s-0d (which is £1.05) and could be written as '1g' or '1gn' or, in the plural, '3gs' or '3gns'. It was considered a more gentlemanly amount than £1. You paid tradesmen, such as a carpenter, in pounds but gentlemen, such as an artist, in guineas. It was a tradition in the legal profession that a barrister was paid in guineas but kept only the pounds, giving his clerk the shillings (they were all men then)."
