| 2018-07-25 |    |
Dalesbrad Dairy Production Sale Reaches 2,600gns
A successful on-farm production sale of 171 pedigree Holstein dairy cattle from the Throup family’s well-known Dalesbrad herd was staged at Higher House Farm, Silsden Moor. (Friday, July 20)
With cattle on the ground standing at an all-time high and buildings full to capacity, Allan and Susan Throup, and their son, Richard, decided it was time to reduce numbers and a tremendous crowd arrived ringside for the beginning of the sale.
Dalesbrad Sale in progress
The top price of 2,600gns fell to a home-bred November, 2016-born bull, Dalesbrad Top Gun, by Sandy–Valley Bolton and from Dalesbrad Shottle Priscilla EX94 (3), which joined the Southwell family in Luddendenfoot.
Another November, 2016, bull from the renowned herd, Dalesbrad Lenny, by another home-bred bull, Dalesbrad Profit (EX90,) out of the EX93 (4) Dalesbrad Shottle Lena, found a new home in Thoralby with John Lancaster at 2,100gns.
In the milkers, it was Dalesbrad Meridian Priscilla who took the limelight. By Sully Hart Meridian, again out of Dalesbrad Shottle Priscilla, she sold giving 26kg for 2,300gns to Robert and Elaine Butterfield, who run the Ingleview herd near Bentham.
Next in line was Dalesbrad Lineman Janie VG85, by Comestar Lineman, out of Dalesbrad Gordan Janie 2 EX90. The heifer, giving 23kg and back in-calf and due December to Ladys-Manor Lamar, sold for 2,100gns to the Atkinson family in Gammersgill, Leyburn.
In all, the milking portion of the herd met an honest trade, with a lot of older cows selling away well and February calving heifers still making into the high teens.
In the maiden heifers, some very healthy prices were seen throughout the sale, with plenty of bidders looking for good quality young stock.
Topping the maidens was the yearling heifer, Dalesbrad Silver Lena, boasting four generations of EX and selling for 1,100gns to the Taylor family, of Thursby, Carlisle.
The March-bred Dalesbrad Lamar, from a VG88 Zoro daughter, was another highly sought after lot, eventually selling for 900gns to Northern Ireland. Many of the maidens sold away between 800gns and 1,000gns, creating a strong average.
Top prices and averages: Pedigree bulls to 2,600gns (av £2,467.50), in-milk cows and heifers to 2,300gns (av £1,516), maiden heifers to 1,100gns (av £841.74).
The sale was conducted by Craven Cattle Marts’ auctioneer Sam Bradley, joined by guest auctioneer Glyn Lucas, of Harrison and Hetherington.
The Throup family first moved to Higher House Farm in 1939 and have always milked cattle, establishing the Dalesbrad herd in 1995.
