25th Annual Black & White Sale
2011-11-21

Enthusiasm is building in the world of dairy breeding as the 25th Annual Black & White Sale takes place on Saturday 3rd December. The event, which celebrates the world of dairy genetics, is organised by Harrison and Hetherington, one of Europe’s foremost livestock auctioneers and will be staged in the new Exhibition Centre at the company’s Borderway complex, Carlisle. As befits the occasion, on sale will be some of the most distinctive and coveted livestock in the breed, anywhere in the world.

Glyn Lucas of Harrison & Hetherington

Attracting breeders and buyers from across the world, the event’s silver anniversary is automatically a focal point throughout the industry. Harrison & Hetherington’s Head Pedigree Dairy Auctioneer Glyn Lucas describes the impact the sale has. “Our goal over the past 25 years has been to provide a marketing venue for British agriculture, for producers to showcase British livestock genetics to an international and domestic audience.”

The event also gives British breeders the chance to enhance their herds with championship stock from across the world. He adds “Each year, the Black & White attracts interest from across the world with this year’s event featuring consignments from both Canada & USA.”

Glyn adds that the Black and White incorporates a sale preview at 7pm, Friday 2nd December. “The Borderway Sale Centre will be playing host to Europe’s most prestigious annual dairy cattle sale and our popular format includes an international reception during the sale preview.”

The sale totals 95 lots and includes milkers, in-calf heifers, maidens, first choice heifers and embryos. To start the sale are two unusual lots – a coveted vehicle registration for a dairy person R2 MOO - and 27 doses of Braedale Goldwyn. However, the big story in this year’s sale is the chart topping heifers. For the first time since the introduction of genomic testing in dairy cattle, animals in Europe now top the world rankings.

The Dennison family owners of the Denmire herd are selling a first choice heifer from eight pregnancies by Windbrook from the number one genomic cow in Europe.

Denmire Goldwyn Marie 102 VG87 2yr has a genomic index of GTPI+2344 PTAT+3.66 in addition. This places her third in the world rankings. Her first son Merchandise is at Semex with a GTPI+2837 and is tipped to be the next sire of sons at the leading Canadian stud.

Haffey Family with Glora

The Haffey family from Portadown have taken the world by storm with their Glasson JD Goldwyn Glora. This young cow has gone all the way to number one position on the world rankings for type, recently classifying VG88 just a few weeks calved. Glora is a descendant of the famous Donovan Sheik Gloriette and possesses an amazing sire stack. Selling from this global superstar is an Aftershock heifer born in June with a GTPI+2118 PTAT+4.08.

Glyn Lucas adds, “We are celebrating 25 years of Black & White sales by simply offering our best selection of world class pedigrees to date. Whatever your preference in dairy genetics the 25th Black & White Anniversary Sale offers “la crème de la crème” of breeding, we would like to welcome everyone to the event. It’s the best weekend in the Holstein calendar.”

You can get more information at www.livestock-sale.co.uk If you would like to order a catalogue please call the Pedigree Office on 01228 406230 or email a request to glyn.lucas@borderway.com.

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