First online pedigree sale hailed a success

Just over 80 per cent of the bulls were sold and 100 potential buyers registered.

Glyn Lucas from Harrison & Hetherington said: “Running the spring bull sale online has been a challenge for all involved but I must thank both the buyers and sellers who have embraced this method of selling in a very positive manner. I must congratulate the consignors not only on the quality of bulls on offer but also on the quality of the videos and pictures that they provided us with to promote their animals.”

Topping the sale at £4,600 was Warnelview Norton consigned by Kevin and Christine Wilson, Carlisle. By Unix and bred from Warnelview Final Cut Nita EX97 which to date has produced more than 130 tonnes of milk in eight lactations, it sold to R. Agnew, Stranraer.

The Warnelview herd sold 10 bulls to average more than £3,000 including Warnelview Romano, a Skywalker son from the Ruby cow family at £4,200 to Messrs Ramsay, Stranraer, and Warnelview Merlin, a Lighthouse son from the Minnie cow family for £4,000, which went to Messrs Mercer, Bolton.

Mr Wilson said: “This is a key sale in the dairy calendar so it was important the sale went ahead one way or another. There was a little apprehension how it would go but I would like to thank H&H for turning this very important sale around so quickly.

"There were so many people at the end trying to bid that there was a slight glitch, but for me personally the sale was tremendous and all my bulls got sold. From my perspective it was a good method of selling, it certainly did the job in these challenging times, but I did miss the interaction with the buyers and the opportunity to show the bulls in front of them.”

Tallent Greenwood, another Skywalker son with a PLI of +555 and bred from a high producing dam with over 5 per cent butterfat, consigned by Anthony Brough, Cockermouth, sold for £4,000 to the Johnstone family, Falkirk

British Friesians peaked at £3,000 for Nerewater Alphabet consigned by Richard Bell, Saltcoats. By Collycroft Solo from a 100 tonne grand dam, it went to Messrs Kennedy, Linlithgow.

A consignment of 10 Fleckvieh bulls from S.Q. Fleckvieh Genetics, Dungannon, topped at £3,500 for a high index sire which sold to Messrs Else, Scarborough, who also paid £3,000 apiece for two more Fleckvieh bulls.

Averages - 39 Holstein bulls, £2,559.37; 7 British Friesian bulls, £2,300; 9 Fleckvieh bulls, £2,922.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.