An all-star line-up of high-class dairy cattle from the UK will be going under the hammer in Carlisle in Britain’s Premier Elite Holstein auction in December.
Now in its 28th year, Harrison & Hetherington’s prestigious Black & White Holstein Sale on Saturday December 6th features the cream of dairy milking cows, heifers and embryos consigned from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern and Southern Ireland and Holland. The online preview is available to view at www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk
The event is now the longest-running elite dairy sale in Europe and since 1987, it has generated almost £15 million in revenues for British dairy breeders, whose animals have been sold to dairy businesses across the UK and Europe, the US and Canada and even China.
Glyn Lucas, Harrison & Hetherington’s Senior Pedigree Dairy auctioneer, said: “The Black & White Holstein Sale is the most important sale for dairy breeders in the UK.
“Demand for elite dairy genetics is still one of the most vibrant cattle markets and we are seeing continual growth in demand from abroad for the top quality animals and embryos produced in the UK.
“This year’s sale features an absolutely terrific line-up, giving buyers a rare opportunity to bid on animals that have both proved themselves in the show ring and on the farm. We are expecting massive interest from both the UK and abroad.”
This year’s sale will feature 90 lots including the finest Jersey to sell in a black and white sale, and possibly in the UK. TLC Vintage Tequila is the current UK Dairy Expo Champion Jersey, National Calf Show Champion Jersey and also won her class at last year’s National Calf Show. Tequila will attract international interest and she is widely expected to make a record-breaking price.
Keen bidding is also expected for the highest PLI index heifer ever to be sold in the UK. Fabrick Shotglass Bacardi has an index of £602 and a German index of RZG 157, and will travel to Carlisle from the Isle of Man for this year’s sale.
And breeders will also have the opportunity to bid for Nobold TLC Brokaw Joan, the No.1 Genomic Type heifer in Europe. Her PTAT+4.46 is the highest ever recorded in the European Union from more than 41,000 tested animals. Brokaw Joan, who won Champion Calf at the Staffordshire Calf Show in September, is out of Nobold GW Jenn who was second in the junior two-year-olds at UK Dairy Day. The family is renowned for its butterfat and protein production, with the last five generations all testing at more than five per cent butterfat.
Mr Lucas said: “These are just a few of the highlights of this year’s event. The Black & White Sale is a red letter day for any serious pedigree breeder and any dairy farmer who wants to improve their production capacity with the introduction of quality, proven genetics.”
