Raughton Sale of Holstein & Scandinavian Red Cattle
07/08/07

One of the most successful dispersals of Holsteins and Red & White cattle took place on Thursday 2nd August 2007 at Raughton Farm, Dalston, Cumbria. The herd was expertly managed by Mark Shadwick and his family who together ran a very successful farming enterprise.

Mark’s strong point has always been his ability to be a market leader in the development of new breeds of dairy cattle and other types of livestock. This was further proved in the dispersal, when, for the first time in the United Kingdom Swedish and Danish Red & White cattle were sold at public auction.

This collection of Red & White cattle was of exceptional quality, beautiful dairy frames, outstanding feet and legs, udders of amazing quality and texture, bred for their high fertility and wonderful longevity. Top Price of 3500gns paid for the Red & Whites was for a Fyn Cent daughter. Frida calved early January and sold safely back in calf to B Jurist who is one of the leading Red & White sires in the world today. She now joins one of the other leading Red & White breeders in the UK J Morrison, “Inch”, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, who commented shortly after the sale “... the Scandinavian Red has an extremely important role in the future of dairy farming”.

Second top price in the Red & Whites was for Hjarta a R Drama daughter, this exceptionally strong and powerful animal sold to Messrs Copeland on behalf of a client for 3400gns. She again calved in January and sold in calf to B Jurist. Her pedigree index was in the top percentage for the Red & White breed projected for almost 8,000 kgs with protein percentages at 3.67%. Her January born son sired by Peterslund sold for 2,400gns to the UK’s leading AI station Cogent.

Another star in the Red & Whites was Alba sired by T Moberg making an impressive record with almost 5% fat. Alba had one of the most amazing udders ever seen on a Red & White cow, with tremendous veiniation, definition of medium suspensory ligament, exceptional teat placement and length. She also joins the “Inch” herd in Northern Ireland for 3000gns.

Selling along side the Red & Whites was the Raughton herd of Holstein cattle. This herd was restocked after the devastation of Foot & Mouth in 2001, with functionally correct commercial cattle, some of which came from pedigree herds. Most of the Holsteins sold in-calf to a Swedish or Danish Red, that was one of Mark’s breeding policies. “I think crossing the Swedish Red with the Holstein cow will result in an animal with high production gained from the Holstein blood, but at the same time improving its fertility, longevity, butter fat and protein percentages. Therefore, improving the bottom line.” Mark commented.

Top price in the Holsteins was 2400gns paid by Mesrs Sanderson, Lanercost. This was for Raughton Titanic Bettina, sired by Titanic with an amazing mammary system, she sold giving 32kgs, in calf to J Valon another leading Red & White sire.
Second top price in the Holsteins was paid for Horsley Phylliss 4 a Kenrik daughter. She calved in early June, in her first lactation, giving 33kgs per day and PD in calf to the Belgian Blue bull. She know joins volume buyer, Mrs S Forgrave, Ballymena, Northern Ireland for 2100gns.

Mrs Forgrave also bought the third top price at 2000gns for a non-pedigree, Dixie-Lee Aaron daughter. This strong and powerful second calver, calved early June and sold giving 40.8kgs daily, and sold in calf to Orraryd.

Also sold for 2000gns was Horsley Barenske 3 to Mesrs Sanderson, Lanercost. Sired by Southland Marker, this impressive Holstein cow is backed up with a high production pedigree and wonderful sire stack consisting of Hardly Leadership, Madawaska Aerostar and Quality Cascade.

Harrison and Hetherington were extremely happy with the success of the sale, and would like to thank the Shadwick family for their invitation to manage their dispersal, and wish all purchasers genuine success with their animals.

Averages
183 Cows & heifers in-milk £1259.66
26 Scandinavian Reds £2427.12
7 In-calf heifers £1350.00

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