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Tom Brooksbank
2009 starts on a high note
Tom Brooksbank
| Norton & Brooksbank Blog | |
|---|---|
Title | 2009 starts on a high note |
| Author | Tom Brooksbank |
| Date | February 2009 |
| Copyright | © 2009 Norton & Brooksbank |
Our sales calendar started with 2 highly successful sales in Lancashire on January 20 & 22. The Tarnbrook Sale saw the dispersal of a fine herd with 70 years of history, occasioned by the emigration to New Zealand of Andrew & Priscilla France. 5 animals made 5,000 guineas or more with the young stock a particularly strong trade. The 109 lots averaged £2,582 with 27 heifer calves @ £1,557.
Two days later it was back to Lancaster, after a day at the Cattle Breeders Conference in Shropshire to conduct the 600th sale for the Lancashire Breeders club, which held its first sale in 1934. A super show resulted in a record average of over £2,300 for the 106 milking cattle, including 13 making over 3,000gns with a top of 5,000. A strong contingent of Welsh buyers boosted trade on both days.
We have just returned form a highly successful 2 days at the National Holstein Show at Stoneleigh, which saw the National Calf Show and Centenary celebrations for the Holstein UK Society. A fabulous show, resulting in a win for Wills Brothers from Cornwall, was followed by a flying trade for the Genetic Elite Sale. An average of £7,388 included 4 x 5-figure prices with a top (twice) of 14,000 guineas, one of these for an unborn heifer calf out of a maiden heifer! 87% were sold to buyers from all over UK, Holland & the USA.
Despite the general economic downturn, farming seems to be in good heart with all stock prices high. Most milk buyers have knocked 2p / litre off the milk price, but the trade for milking cattle seems to have gone up! Some farmers are buying more cows to produce more milk to achieve the same returns from a lower base price. The dairies must love this!
TB is rife in Wales and the West of England and spreading. We are doing at least a day a week in Wales valuing reactors and await the Partridge case appeal with great interest – ever hopeful our English farmers will get a fair deal on compensation.
The sales season moves on with 180 in Sedgemoor, acting jointly with GTH, on February 24 and over to Hampshire for 350 on March 3. Other bookings are coming in quite nicely.
Tom Brooksbank, February 2009
Two days later it was back to Lancaster, after a day at the Cattle Breeders Conference in Shropshire to conduct the 600th sale for the Lancashire Breeders club, which held its first sale in 1934. A super show resulted in a record average of over £2,300 for the 106 milking cattle, including 13 making over 3,000gns with a top of 5,000. A strong contingent of Welsh buyers boosted trade on both days.
We have just returned form a highly successful 2 days at the National Holstein Show at Stoneleigh, which saw the National Calf Show and Centenary celebrations for the Holstein UK Society. A fabulous show, resulting in a win for Wills Brothers from Cornwall, was followed by a flying trade for the Genetic Elite Sale. An average of £7,388 included 4 x 5-figure prices with a top (twice) of 14,000 guineas, one of these for an unborn heifer calf out of a maiden heifer! 87% were sold to buyers from all over UK, Holland & the USA.
Despite the general economic downturn, farming seems to be in good heart with all stock prices high. Most milk buyers have knocked 2p / litre off the milk price, but the trade for milking cattle seems to have gone up! Some farmers are buying more cows to produce more milk to achieve the same returns from a lower base price. The dairies must love this!
TB is rife in Wales and the West of England and spreading. We are doing at least a day a week in Wales valuing reactors and await the Partridge case appeal with great interest – ever hopeful our English farmers will get a fair deal on compensation.
The sales season moves on with 180 in Sedgemoor, acting jointly with GTH, on February 24 and over to Hampshire for 350 on March 3. Other bookings are coming in quite nicely.
Tom Brooksbank, February 2009
Our Next Auction Sale
FEBRUARY 21 - BRISTOL FEBRUARY COLLECTIVE SALE
THE FEBRUARY COLLECTIVE SALE at The Bristol Sales Centre, Washingpool Farm, Easter Compton, Bristol. (with Gwilym Richards & Co.)