Growing bluetongue concerns in the UK do not seem to be holding back dairy sales, as pedigree stock are making up to 3,650gns.

The August Border and Lakeland club sale took place in the Borderway Sale Centre in Carlisle, UK, during the week.

A spokesperson for Harrison and Hetherington Ltd described it as "one of the best group of cows and heifers ever offered in the Border & Lakeland Sale", with an average price £3,054 per head paid on the day.

Dairy sale

Stowbeck Crushabull Mavis 7 made the top price of the day at 3,650gns.

The July-2024-born heifer has a profitable lifetime index (PLI), similar to Ireland's Economic Breeding Index (EBI), of £61.

Her dam, a VG85 (2yr) cow, produced 14,000kg of milk in her third lactation at 4.59% fat and 3.44% protein.

Stowbeck Crushabull Mavis, who originates from Cumbia, was also crowned the Champion of the show on the day.

Another 10 animals from the Stowbeck herd went on to sell for an average of over £3,000.

The reserve champion the show was Errolston Attico Zwartina, who went on to be the highest selling cow going under the hammer for 3,100gns.

Further top prices from the day included three heifers each selling for 3,500gns/head.

These included;

Berryholme Davinci Flo - February-2024-born, £83 PLI, Dam produced 14,907kg of milk at 4.28% fat and 3.27% protein in fourth lactation;
Broadmeadows Renegade Carol - April-2024-born, £433 PLI, Dam produced 13,820kg of milk at 5.18% fat and 3.83% protein in second lactation;
Parkend Rubels Betsy - June-2024-born, £183 PLI, Dam produced 14,390kg of milk at 3.52% fat and 3.17% protein in third lactation.

March-2024-born Netherside Watson Gail was the highest production heifer in the sale, selling as well as one of the highest genomic heifers in the sale.

She had a PLI of £426 and is giving 49kg/milk. She sold for 3,450gns.

Overall, the sale averaged £3,054/head, with 59 of the 113 animals selling for or more than £3,000/head.

The 91 heifers in milk which went on offer averaged £3,054.76, while the nine cows in milk which were up for grabs averaged £2,846.76

Nine in-calf heifers averaged £2,420.83 on the day, while two heifer calves averaged £1,942.50 between them.