The sale of Sir Howard Guinness’s Guernsey herd established by his father in 1937 ends a long association with the breed, unfortunately it was also the fourth dispersal in the last 8 weeks and the overall trade was disappointing.
Cows and heifers that were correct in the udder and in full milk were still making high prices, but stale cows and those with high SCC were not wanted. The trade for calves at foot were still selling well and in one or two case made more than their mothers.
Lot 1 the Ex WL Design 31 due with her 8th calf made 500 gns to John Benham-Crosswell.
Lot 7 WL Gillian 52 also Ex but sadly having lost a quarter sold to the Instead herd as a breeding cow and her 89 pt daughter WL Gillian 60 sold for 540 gns to Andrew Gough in Shropshire and Lot 51 her fresh calved Dividend daughter WL Gillian 66 sold for 920 gns to Simon Redman from Devon who bought 2 good cows at Shalford last year.
Simon Redman bought 6 in all including Lot 15 WL Nicola 18 GP 84 at 610 gns and Lot 21 at 920 gns WL Pretty 71 GP 83.
The buyer taking most Lots with 19 purchases was Mr Dallyn from Barnstable who paid the equal top price of the day 950 gns for WL Heidi 7 fresh calved and yielding over 33 kgs daily. Mr Dallyn also purchased Guernseys at the Luckley sale and has 300 Holsteins milked on a rotary parlour.
The other 950 gn purchase was Lot 59:WLPretty 85 a fresh calved heifer by Mr Luck with a super udder purchased by Catherine Mills and her boyfriend to have some "fun" with. Expect to see her at the Dairy Show at Shepton Mallett.
The other high priced lots were Lot 32 at 720 gns WL Daphne 24 this Lorry daughter of WL Daphne 19 EX 92 probably the best cow bred at White Ladies and twice a Royal Champion was purchased by James Warren who is hoping that "lightning might strike twice" as Tiresford Daphne 3 was bred from the full sister to Daphne 19.
Finally Lot 29 at 750 gns was purchased to go to Shropshire by Andrew Gough to join a mixed herd block calved in Feb - March to make the most of grazed grass.
