Sparkling trade at sale of Willsbro Holsteins

Holstein breeders from throughout the UK and Southern Ireland descended on Wills Brothers’ farm, Wadebridge, Cornwall, for a sale and open day celebrating the work and memory of Anthony Wills, who sadly passed away a year ago

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Willsboro Lambda Roxy
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Willsboro Lambda Roxy

The Willsbro herd of 1,700 cows is averaging more than 14,400kg at 4.06 per cent fat and 3.24 per cent protein and recently won this year's Holstein UK Premier Herd competition.

Claiming the top price of 14,500gns was 10-month-old Willsbro Lambda Baywatch, a granddaughter of the World Dairy Expo champion, Rosiers Blexy Goldwyn, which sold to Bryan and John O'Connor of the Bawnmore herd, Co Cork.

Top priced cow, at 13,000gns, was Willsbro Lambda Roxy 2966, from the Roxy family and a descendant of Stardale Leader Roxy. The buyer was Malcolm McLean for the Relough herd, Co Tyrone, who also paid 9,500gns for another Lambda daughter from the Pammy family.

Messrs Connors paid 9,500gns for another Lambda daughter from the European Galys-Vray family.

Willsbro Perennial Elaya 4320, the current number one PTAT female in the world, made 12,000gns to Mike Potter, bidding on behalf of a syndicate. The highest PLI calf in the sale, at more than £800, was a Cookiecutter Holysmokes daughter from the Lila Z family, which made 7,400gns to Messrs Crummy, Co Roscommon.

Averages - 103 cows and calved heifers, £ 3,773.88; 166 maiden heifers, £2,566.17; 78 heifer calves, £1,626; 347 head, £ 2,713.36; 73 embryos, £560.31.

 Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank with Kivells.

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