SOME 45 years of pedigree dairy cattle breeding came to an end for Elwyn and Cheryl Thomas, when they decided to retire from milking cows and sold their Gatrog Holstein herd at Carmarthen Mart.

A former Master Breeder in 2018 with the herd featuring no fewer than 33 Excellent-classified cows and 97 VGs, prices peaked at 4700gns for the second calver, Churchvale Doorman Jodie VG86-2yr, which had been purchased at the Welsh Sensation sale in 2023 for 5000gns.

Sired by Val-Bisson Doorman, her fifth dam is the Ex94 16* brood cow, Fradon Encount Jodie. Bred from 12 generations of VG and Ex-classified cows, Jodie sold fresh in her second and giving just over 40kg, to Mark and Caroline Davies of the Tynewydd herd at Little Newcastle, Haverfordwest.

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The breeders of that cow, Richard and Bethan Thomas, forked out 4500gns for Gatrog King Doc Lola Ex92 for their Churchvale herd. Dairy champion at the recent Llandyfaelog Show, she is bred from Aliann Armani Lola Ex-91-2 which was purchased at the herd sale in 2019. Lola sold fresh in her third , while her six-week-old heifer calf by Progenesis Photobooth made 2000gs to the Llanllwni herd of L Davies and Son.

Matching that 4500gns sale was a calved heifer grand-daughter of the former South Western Dairy Show champion, Noremead Baxter Kansas. Gatrog Chief Kansas VG86-2yr, sold due in February sexed to Blondin Energy, to Meurig Davies of the Paxtonview herd, Llanarthney.

The George family of Brynhyfryd who now trade as SB Farms, gave 4200gns for an 88-pointed second calver by Stantons chief. Gatrog Chief Roxy VG-88 is a grand-daughter of Gatrog Ross Roxy Ex-93-6, LP60. Brynhyfryd was the last volume buyer purchasing 15 head.

Four other animals made 4000gns, and a further 40 sold for 3000gns or more, with heifer calves under a year old peaking at 3000gns to average just shy of £1500. Sale leader in this section was the six-month-old heifer, Gatrog Ryder Jingles, a descendant of the Welsh Dairy Show Champion Gatrog Bolton M Jingles, sired by Koepon Oh Ryder Red. The buyer was Irfon Jones of the Coedllwyd herd.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank and Nock Deighton.

Averages: 147 cows and calved heifers, £2783.57; 34 served heifers, £2152.50; 35 recently served and maiden heifers £1372.50; 50 heifer calves, £1494.15. Overall, 266 head, £2274.87; seven embryos, £762.00.