The State of the Crime Novel in 2021, Part 2: Writing During the Pandemic

Townlaw Rule Supreme At Ochiltree

FATHER and son team, Robert and Bryce Sloan from the Townlaw Holstein herd ruled supreme at another impressive show of dairy cattle at Ochiltree, when their Holstein leader went one better than James Nisbet's beef champion.Taking the inter-breed title before going on to stand supreme of the show was Townlaw Hamish Lisa VG88, a second calver from the 190-strong herd run alongside 55 Jerseys at Darnlaw, Auchinleck. Bred from three generations of Excellent cows, she was paraded giving 54kg having calved in November. Securing the reserve supreme honours was James Nisbet's commercial bullock from Orchardton, Mauchline. On just its first outing, the nine-month-old pure Limousin bullock, named Razzle My Tazzle is by Lodge Hamlet and was bought at Brecon calf sale, in February. Reserve beef was a British Blue cross bullock from Stuart Watson, High Tarbeg. George and Jan Templeton, and daughters, Laura, Claire and Rachel, who run their 300-strong cow herd at Knowe, Auchinleck, picked up the reserve dairy inter-breed title with their Ayrshire leader, Knowe Buttergirl 212. This VG88-rated first calver, by Diladdy Fabio, is giving 30kg a day having calved in December. The Templetons had more to celebrate when they produced the reserve honours in the Ayrshire section with Knowe White Lily 619 and won the maiden heifer, pair and group of three titles, while the Mortons who run 270 Holsteins at Auchinbay, Ochiltree, won the group of five. The Mortons also picked up the reserve title in the Holsteins with their three-year-old heifer by Toystory. She was paraded giving 38kg.

Jamie Morton (7) from Auchinbay, stood champion in the calf section with his Holstein heifer calf by Seagull-Bay Solaris.

Huge Demand For Annandale Holsteins At On-farm Dispersal

Averages: 172 cows and heifers in milk, £2222.09; 82 in-calf heifers, £1763.23; 40 bulling heifers, £1428.00; 106 heifer calves, £1226.32; seven bulls, £3645.00; 15 faulted ¾ cows, £1337.00. Overall, 422 Holsteins, £1806.98.

The much awaited dispersal of the Armour family's Annandale Holstein herd attracted a huge crowd for their on-farm sale at The Milton, Moffat, and a flying trade throughout with just shy of 200 animals selling for more than £2000; females to 10,000gns and bulls to 8000gns.

Matthew Armour's impressive record of breeding robust, powerful Holsteins, backed up by strong pedigrees, saw trade peak at 10,000gns for the fresh heifer, Annandale Baby Spot Rose Red, which sold to Messrs Wilson, Ballymena, Northern Ireland. An ET, she is bred from the Ex91-6E LP60 cow that is a full sister to the All-American 2012 winner, Penn-Gate Piclo Fife Red Ex90. Her next dam is an Excellent 92 Advert followed by Penn-Gate Skychief Finesse and the dam of 16 Excellent-classified daughters in the USA. Bred from five successive generations of Ex cows, she is sired by Gen-I-Beq Aikman.

Spectators and buyers gathered to watch the Annandale dairy dispersal sale at Milton farm near Moffat this week Ref:RH240821028 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Northern Ireland producers bought a large proportion of the herd to include the second top priced lot at 8000gns, Annandale Kraft Ex95, a seven-year-old bull by Askew Reece and the sire of many of the females in the sale. He is bred from the VG87-2yr Annandale Damion Kim which is backed by eight generations of VG or Ex dams. Kraft sold to Messrs Black, Aghadowey, Coleraine, Co Londonderry.

The same buyers also went to 4500gns for Annandale Lanvin Rhapsody, a five-year-old bred from 14 generations of VG, and Ex SP cows. She is by Ladys-Manor LG G Lanvin and bred from the Ex92-2E Annandale Toystory Rhapsody that traces back to the Ex96-4E GMD cow, Pinehurst Rapture. Lanvin Rhapsody sold dry due to Dalliance for September, with her previous heifer by King-Doc topping the calf trade at 3200gns when selling to Messrs Threlkeld from Kendal.

Spectators and buyers gathered to watch the Annandale dairy dispersal sale at Milton farm near Moffat this week Ref:RH240821016 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Next best at 5800gns was a substitute entry purchased by Messrs Dickinson, Hesket New Market, Wigton, Cumbria

One of the unique features of the herd was the way home-bred bulls were used to breed the Armour's well known 'Annandale type' which also saw a 5500gns sale for Annandale Mayday Oriole, a VG88-3yr old milking in her third, purchased by Messrs Stewart, Portaferry, Newtownards, County Down. She is by Annandale Mr Mayday, and sold served to Farnear Delta Lambda sexed. Her grand-dam is the Ex91-6E cow, Annandale September Oriole which traces back to the Mar-River herd in the USA.

Spectators and buyers gathered to watch the Annandale dairy dispersal sale at Milton farm near Moffat this week Ref:RH240821021 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Investment in the Millie family that stems back to the Meadow Bridge herd in Ontario, also paid dividends when Annandale Allclass Millie, a VG87-2yr, bred from 10 Ex or VG dams made 4800gns to Desmond Farms, Republic of Ireland. This five-year-old is bred from the Ex91-2E cow, Annandale Lucious Millie and by Ladys-Manor LQ G Lanvin.

Another from the same family made 4000gns selling to Martin and Cyril Millar, Coleraine, Co Londonderry. Annandale Atwood Millie, another five-year-old, is bred from the VG88 Annandale Atwood Millie and sold sexed to Stantons Chief.

Heifer calves met a strong trade throughout with others selling to 3000gns for Annandale Henry Melinda, again purchased by Mr Stewart from Northern Ireland. She is by Annandale Henry with her first six dams all classifying Ex going back to the powerful Ex95 pointed Pond-oak Ned Boy Margot.

OTHERLEADING prices

Heifers in milk – 3600gns – Annandale Pharo Marie VG85-2yr and served by Sandy-Valley J Pharo, to Messrs Howie, Well House, Kirkcolm, Stranraer. 3400gns – Annandale Hang-Time Bria VG86 and served to Annandale Kraft, to Messrs Stewart, Portaferry, Newtownards. 3200gns – Annandale Solomon Hope VG86-2yr, in calf to EDG Rubicon, to Leyburn Farming, Derrynoose, Armagh

Cows in milk – 3800gns – Annandale Yamaska Meggie VG86-2yr, in calf to Col DG Crushtime, to Messrs Vance and Sons, Whithorn. 3600gns. 3300gns – Annandale Seaver Lausan VG86-2yr, to Messrs Taylor, Lockerbie.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

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