A record crowd gathered for the dispersal of an organic dairy herd in Crewkerne last week.

The dispersal of the organic Holstein and Crossbred dairy herd and associated farm machinery and equipment for Marks Barn Farm Partnership saw cows go to 2300gns and a John Deere 6155R tractor go for £65,500.

Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt welcomed a record crowd on July 26, generating an excellent sale of both the live and deadstock with around 100 successful purchasers on the day.

Despite the recent dry weather fresh milk still topped the cow trade at 2300gns for the fresh Holstein second calver, with fresh calved Holstein heifers at 2080gns, Fleckvieh second calvers at 2020gns, Brown Swiss calved heifers at 2000gns and Shorthorn fourth calvers at 1880gns.

South West Farmer:

The demand was equally as strong for the autumn milk, with Holstein second calvers at 2150gns, Fleckvieh second calvers at 2000gns, Ayrshire third calvers at 2000gns, Swedish Red fourth calvers at 1900gns with all of them due in September.

Fleckviehs due to their fourth in November sold for 2000gns with a strong trade throughout for Jersey’s selling to 1850gns for an April calver in her third lactation.

It is interesting to see that 107 of the cows catalogued were in their fourth to ninth lactations lasting exceptionally well on the organic system.

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The youngstock on offer were a credit to the farm, said the auctioneers, and went on to produce the strongest youngstock dispersal trade of the year.

Dairy Shorthorn incalf heifers due in September to Brown Swiss went at 1950gns, Holsteins due to Shorthorn at 1900gns, Brown Swiss due to Angus at £1800gns and Fleckviehs due in November at 1750gns. Two brown Swiss x heifers born July 2021 topped the bullers at 880gns with three August 2021 born heifers at 800gns. Heifers calves sold after their dams realised 560gns Shorthorn x, 550gns and 540gns Brown Swiss x.

408 head went through the ring and generated the following all-inclusive impressive averages:

  • 231 dairy cows and heifers £1,562.68
  • 25 grazing cows £1,084.44
  • 24 incalf heifers £1,719.81
  • 17 recently served heifers £1039
  • 25 maiden heifers £805.56
  • 37 yearling and younger heifers £710.59
  • 48 heifer calves £335.13
  • 408 head £1,253.13

At noon a dual auction took place with the farm's machinery being sold.

South West Farmer:

Prices of note include a John Deere 6155r premium tractor which sold for £65,500, a JCB 525-60 Agri plus telehandler for £52,000, a Valtra VLN124HS which sold for £51,500, a Keenan Mechfibre 345 mixer wagon at £25,500 and a Harry West 2000 dual spreader which fell for £17,900.