Roger and Lin Edwards’ online dispersal of the Willenhall Holstein herd from Little Hall, Whitchurch, Shropshire, proved successful, with an overall average just short of £1600 for 200 lots.

With the sale originally planned for April 16 at Shrewsbury, the COVID-19 pandemic, meant all females had to be sold differently.

Cows and heifers were re-lotted into social groups of approximately 10 animals, and viewing days were set for individuals to look over the herd, one at a time to comply with social distancing.

Auctioneers, Hassall Bros and the Edwards family worked with Newline ASP, who run the auction mart’s website and used the platform to run a timed online auction on the same date as the dispersal sale was planned.

The auction opened a couple of days prior to the sale and concluded at 8pm on April 16.

Interested parties had to register to bid with final bidders of a group, being the buyers of the whole group of animals in that lot.

Trade was consistent from start to finish, with 23 registered buyers from all over the UK and a top price of £2200 paid for an elite group of milking females purchased by AJ and LA Duthie and Son, Newport.

The same buyers also purchased a dry group at £1575, an October-calving selection at £1732.50 and a similarly sized number of milking heifers at £1522.50.

Summer and autumn-calving cows met a strong demand selling to £1575 per head.

Other volume buyers included William Seabridge from Stoke on Trent who secured seven lots including an E1 group of cows due in May at £1575, another group due October at £1522.50 and December calving cows at £1365.

Also heading home on the same lorry was a group of heifers which calved in February and realised £1575, another fresh group of heifers at £1732.50 and two groups of in-calf heifers at £1575 and £1470 per head.

Richard Bowdler bought a selection of 10 fresh calved cows at £1732.50.

In-calf heifers also sold well and especially late autumn, early winter heifers which readily achieved £1500.

Auctioneers: Hassall Brothers.

 

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