An auction near Oswestry set a UK record with impressive prices for a commercial Holstein dairy herd, highlighting the strong demand for quality dairy cattle.
An auction near Oswestry, Shropshire, set a new UK record for a dairy herd dispersal sale. The event, organized by Halls Auctioneers on behalf of Guto and Ellie Lewis of Frankton Hall, saw a commercial autumn calving Holstein herd fetch impressive prices.
The herd, consisting of 158 cattle, included 101 in-milk cows that sold at an average price of $2,523.55, while heifers averaged $2,554. The herd had an impressive yield of just under 10,000 kilos of milk, with a butterfat content of 4.79% and protein at 3.54%. Most of the cattle had calved since the previous August, and the sale quickly became a major success, attracting 44 buyers from across England and Wales.
Notable sales included 55 cattle selling between $2,500 and $3,000, with 29 reaching $3,000 to $3,500. The highest price reached was $3,500 for a second-calved cow. Other highlights featured a fifth lactation cow and a third-calved Applejax daughter, which both sold for $3,450. Additionally, an August-calved Denovo Sizzler heifer fetched $3,400.
Johnny Dymond, the Shrewsbury Auction Centre manager, praised the success of the sale, calling it a historic event. He thanked all buyers and staff for their involvement and special recognition was given to Guto and Ellie for entrusting Halls with this landmark sale. A memorable moment of the auction included the sale of two Jerseys, which were offspring of a wedding gift to Guto and Ellie’s children, Medi and Alffi, also fetching competitive prices.
This record-setting sale stands as a testament to the high demand for quality dairy cattle in the UK market and highlights the successful collaboration between Halls Auctioneers and Frankton Hall.
