HighHopes Halcyon Dispersal Sale

Highhopes Tops at 10K

Richard & Claire Barber held the complete dispersal sale of their Highhopes and Halcyon pedigree Holstein herds at Manor Farm on Thursday 30th July, attracting widespread interest from dairy farmers and pedigree breeders throughout the United Kingdom.

Strong demand resulting in an excellent sale and a buoyant trade across all categories and age groups.  Leading the sale at 10,000gns was one of the chart topping genomic heifers, with miking cattle topping at 4,000gn, with volume buyers from Cumbria and Scotland and animals traveling to 21 different counties across the UK resulting in an overall average of £2508 per life.

The strongest competition was seen for freshly calved cows and heifers.  Highhopes Heatwave Glenda topped the milking heifer trade selling for 4,000gns to Mr McErlean in Ayrshire.  She was bred from a deep cow family tracing back to Eastland Holsteins in Holland and to the famous Eastland Golden cow who was the dam of proven sire Cash.  Glenda was only one week fresh and excelled in style, her Anahita heifer calf sold for 1100gns. 

The Lambda dam to the Heatwave topped the milking cows at 3,500gns.  Highhopes Lambda Glenda was classified VG88 and calved back in March.   She was bought by the Mawson family from the Baileyground Holstein herd in Cumbria.  Her Anahita heifer calf sold for 2200gns she was a high type heifer with a Conf+11.

When Richard and Claire Barber established HighHopes Holsteins, their ambition was straightforward to build a herd of balanced, profitable cattle capable of thriving in a modern commercial environment.  They became early adopters of genomic testing, embryo transfer, and IVF technologies.

The high value genomic heifers that featured in this special event were some of the highest to ever sell in the UK and they attracted widespread national and international interest.  Topping the sale at 10,000gns was one of these stars.  Highhopes Phoenix Cosmo was an April born heifer bred from a modern line of the Larcrest Cosmopolitian line, she had a GTPI+3216 and a very impressive balanced linear.  She was bought by the Cogent stud for their breeding programme.

Cosmopolitan featured in several of the leading prices.  Topping the In-Calf heifers at 3,800gns was a very classy Thorson daughter from a Very Good 87 Captain.  She had a GTPI+3230 NM$1001 and was due to Hi-Pace in October.  She was bought by the Errolston Holstein herd near Gretna.  Her heifer calf by Ripcord topped the heifer calves, selling for 4,300gns to Thomasson Farms in Cheshire.  Her index was chart topping with a GTPI+3378 NM$1125 and high milk figures of almost +2000. 

Auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington expressed their gratitude to the vendors for entrusting them with the sale and thanked the many purchasers and underbidders whose support helped make the dispersal such a success.

Leading Prices
Lot         Gns                                                                                                      Purchaser
153        10,000 Highhopes Phoenix Cosmo                                      Cogent Breeding Ltd, Chester, Cheshire
130A     4300     Highhopes Ripcord Comet                                        Messrs Thomasson, Nantwich, Cheshire
127        4000     Highhopes Heatwave Glenda                                 Messrs McErlean, Ayrshire
130        3800     Cogent Thorson Comet A                                           Messrs Davidson, Gretna, Dumfriesshire
58           3500     Highhopes Lambda Glenda VG88                          Messrs Mawson, Seascale, Cumbria
27           3300     Highhopes Froukje CN Elysian VG88                   Messrs Coulthurst, Goosnargh, Near Preston
57           3300     Highhopes Illusion Glenda GP81                          Bubney Farms Ltd, Whitchurch, Shropshire
55           3200     Highhopes Rouge Glenda VG85                              Bubney Farms Ltd, Whitchurch, Shropshire
75           3200     Halcyon Froukje IV Leviticus VG86                        Messrs Coulthurst, Goosnargh, Near Preston
73           3100     Highhopes Highclass Maybelline GP83              Bubney Farms Ltd, Whitchurch, Shropshire
125        3100     Highhopes Illusion Kizzy                                            Messrs Park, Ellel, Lancaster
 

Averages
114  Cows & Heifers in milk       £2508.02 (including all faults)
11 In Calf Heifers                            £2940.00 (calving in 2026)
12 Short Bred Heifers                   £2038.75 (calving in 2027)
10 Bulling Heifers                           £2793.00
35 Heifer Calves                             £1897.50
4 Ayrshire Cows in Milk                £1785.00
2 Ayrshire In Calf Heifers            £1837.50
2 Ayrshire Heifer Calves              £1522.50