Great Festive Cheer and Trade at Lancaster Christmas Dairy Show and Sale

The mulled wine, christmas cake and Santa’s little helpers looked positively festive and there was a lovely atmosphere at the Christmas show and sale, and the final sale of the year. A Christmas cracker of a line up of 50 entries with congratulations and thanks to our 14 vendors for the day and for their continued support of the dairy sale and the great job they do in presenting month on month top quality, genuine stock. Many thanks to our judge for the day Mr David Alderson of Scotch Corner, who certainly had a challenge on his hands.

For the sale itself there is really no better place to start than with the top priced animal for the day; Lot 37 Stardale Flame Vaakje entered by J Burrow & Son, was a stunning heifer that had everything you look for in the modern Holstein with width, strength and a real clean ‘dairyness’ and superb udder it was unsurprising that she had come from 10 generations of excellent. Strong interest and bidding intense, the hammer eventually fell to A Bargh, Wood Close, Skelton for £2,500. Following closely in the pricing stakes was our overall champion and 1st place in the non-halter led heifer class lot 17 entered on behalf of regular and fantastic supporter to the sale, Tomlinson Bilsrow Ltd; Bilsrow Corinthian Tellar was certainly a worthy champion, having calved on the 27th November and yielding 30.kg this was a superbly balanced heifer with a lovely openness of rib and tremendous rear udder. There was many admirers she was sold for £2,300 to GCL Stephenson LTD, Deansbiggin, Kirkby Lonsdale. Staying with Tomlinsons Bilsrow Ltd, they also had a number of notable entries including lot 15; Bilsrow Corinthian Christina selling for £1,950. Staying with the heifers and another strong line up from Drinkall Bros, the pick of the bunch was lot 12; Pennine Dorothy 514, a real correct heifer with a sweet udder having calved on 3rd December and currently giving 31.kg and leaving the ring for £1,920 and heading to JS & KM Wilson & Son, Kendal. Additional notable entries included a sweet run of heifers from EH & R Eccles and the Denhamhill herd, with another group of really correct and genuine heifers which included lot 41; Denhamhill Sensation April which also scooped 3rd prize in the halter led heifer class and 1st place in the pairs class. She would sell for £1,900 to E E Thornton & Sons, Downlands Farm, Heaton, Lancs.

Onto the cows and leading the way was vendor J Burrow & Son with Stardale Pirate Vaakje (lot 35) a real milky 2ndcalver. Currently giving 55.kg and with a cell count of a mere 19 and from 13 generations of very good or excellent. Taking 3rd place in the cow class and finally seeing the hammer fall for £1,900 to MJ & K Ayrton, Bambers Farm, Moss Lane, Lancaster. Following closely behind her was lot 21 entered by regular vendor H Wright & Son; Berryholme Durbin Flo with a PLI £332 and giving plenty of milk was sold to a local buyer for £1,750.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for the fantastic support for this quality monthly sale. A strong trade and ever increasing numbers month on month we are looking forward to being part of the continued development of this sale in 2019.

We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.