Balcurvie Dispersal Sale

Balcurvie Heifers Disperse In Style

Crimson Tops At 4K

The much respected and highly valued Balcurive Holstein youngstock were dispersed at the Borderway Sale Centre on one of the hottest days of the year with buyers travelling from across the United Kingdom for this historic event.  Trade topped at 4,000gns with heifers averaging £1863, buyers were recorded from 18 counties with all the home nations recorded on the buyers list.

Gavin Struthers and his father, owners of the Balcurvie herd have a rich history in the dairy business that encompasses both the Ayrshire and Holstein breeds.  In the 1980’s Balcurvie Ayrshires won major awards and shows before the decision was taken to introduce Holstein genetics.  The Balcurvie herd quickly developed into an impresses and highly efficient herd excelling in production with robust fertile strong cows.  In 2012 following some personal health issues Gavin dispersed the milking portion of his Balcurvie herd to give him some space to evaluate the future of the business. 

Following this successful sale Gavin decided to focus on marketing freshly calved heifers each month, using sexed semen to breed as many of his own and purchasing young calves and yearling heifers from high health and productive Holstein herds .

Topping the sale at 4,000gns was one of these special heifers that had been purchased from the Overside herd as a heifer calf.  Overside Top Crimson was sired by AltaTop Red and was a granddaughter of Wiltor Silver Crimosn EX92 who is full sister to the 42,000gns Centerpice cow that was named Grand Champion at UK Dairy Expo in 2020. 

A stylish short bred heifer from the Roxy family due in January sold for 2,300gns going to Richard Carlile near Brampton.  She was sired by AltaTop Red and goes back to a Strom sister to Scientific Debutane Rae. 

Heifer calves averaged £973 and topped at 2,200gns for Balcurvie Pellegrino Hilary, she was the highest PLI heifer in the sale with a PLI+£524 and was purchased by Mr McCauley from N. Ireland.

Our next dairy sale takes place on Wednesday 21^st June and features 121 dairy cattle in the Border & Lakeland sale, this includes the Errolston Summertime Sale featuring 33 of the BEST from the Errolston herd.  A catalogue for this sale can be viewed online at www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk or can be order from the Pedigree Office 01228 406230     

Averages

138 In Calf Heifers                                            £1863.45

62 Short Bred Heifers                                     £1375.25

44 Bulling Heifers                                             £1170.51

93 Heifer Calves                                                £973.45

Leading Prices

Lot          Price                      Purchaser

29           4000gns                Messrs Millar & Son, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Lockerbie Dumfriesshire

35           2300gns                Messrs Bradley, Newry, Co Down

151         2300gns                Messrs Carlile & Son, Longtown, Carlisle Cumbria

32           2250gns                Ling Dairies Ltd, Southwaite, Carlisle, Cumbria

6              2200gns                Messrs Nash, Leigh, Stoke, Staffordshire

91           2200gns                Messrs Mitchell, Stoneykirk, Stranraer

102         2200gns                Messrs Mitchell, Stoneykirk, Stranraer

269         2200gns                Messrs Macauley, Ballyward, Co Down

43           2150gns                Ferney Lees Farm Limited, Tiverton, Tarporley, Cheshire

69           2150gns                Messrs Mitchell, Stoneykirk, Stranraer

72           2150gns                Ling Dairies Ltd, Southwaite, Carlisle Cumbria

84           2150gns                Messrs Mitchell, Stoneykirk,Stranraer

116         2150gns                Ferney Lees Farm Limited, Tiverton, Tarporley, Cheshire

22           2100gns                Reay Farming, Grinsdale, Carlisle Cumbria