Increased demand for milking females saw no fewer than 59 in-milk Holstein heifers sell for more than £2400, with the 95 head averaging £2286 at Harrison and Hetherington’s monthly dairy day sale.

The event, which attracted an entry of 300 head, saw prices peak at £3000 for Errolston Attico Geke, a heifer by Attico Red from the Davidson family’s Errolston herd, from Gretna. Another from the Davidsons, Errolston Lancaster Rose, by Prehen Lancaster, made £2920.

The Wormanby herd of H, M and D Hodgson sold four heifers to average £2500, with a top price of £2980 paid for Wormanby Sidekick Rose.

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The Grahams, from Greenrigg, Wigton, also had a good day selling six heifers to average £2525. Top price here was £2900 for Greenrigg Verity, an Applejax daughter giving 35kg per day.

A good consignment of British Friesian cows from several breeders peaked at £2150 twice for fresh second calvers from the Willimson family, Barrowmoor, near Appleby.

Ayrshires were topped at £2400 for a milky second calver from Richard Baynes' Marleycote herd, in Northumberland, with Jerseys selling to £1400 for a fresh second lactation cow from Lanarkshire breeder, Robert Hunter.

Sanders Farms’ Ballalough Farm, on the Isle of Man, sold 59 freshly calved cows and dry cows to average £1539. These were mainly Scandinavian Reds or British Friesian cows bred from Holstein cows and sold to £2250 for a fresh second calver by Lakemead Jingle.

Averages: In milk – 95 Holstein heifers, £2286.40; four Holstein cows,£2472.50;16 British Friesian cows/heifers, £1670.63; seven Jersey heifers, £811.43; five Ayrshires, £1940.00; nine faulted ¾, £1168.89. Sanders Farms cows – 49 Swedish Red, £1539.23; 10 dry Swedish Red, £1369.00. In-calf heifers – 86 Holstein, £1666.27;15 Swedish Red cross-bred, £958.67. Bulling heifers – 14 Swedish Red cross bred, £815.00.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.