Breed Record Smashed At Barr Dispersal

The Breed record average for milkers was smashed when one of the finest herds of dairy cattle ever to grace Carlisle’s Borderway Mart was dispersed on Wednesday 4th November. The “BARR” herd of pedigree Ayrshires established in 1919, is the oldest registered herd in existence today and has always been in the Kirkpatrick family’s expert hands.

Over the past 30 years the herd has won no less than 92 National and Local Breed Championships with animals from some the Red & White Breeds most sought after families. Hardly surprising then that the packed ring at Borderway included most of the Ayrshire Breeds leading proponents, all desperate to be a part of this rare opportunity and invest in the stock for sale.

It is unusual for the older cows in a dispersal to feature amongst the leading prices but this was a trend of the sale and reflected the wear ability in the breeding and the excellent management of the herd.

Ten cows and heifers made over 4000 gns with five over 6000 gns, three of which made 7000 gns or more.

The top price of 7200 gns secured for Welsh breeder Mr GR Thomas “Gwynnog” Herd for a fresh second calf cow “Barr Sandy Rose 48 VG88(3yr)”. She was 1st prize winner at Dumfries and South West Scotland Shows, she is the 6th successive VG or EX and by the highly rated sire Morwick Sand Ranger Red. Her 4th calf EX90 sister made 4000 gns and her yearling daughter made 2700 gns.

At 7000 gns was an eight year old cow, due next April with her sixth calf “Barr Ranger Lottie” the first ever Excellent 95 Ayrshire ever to sell in the UK, she now joins Colin Laird (Snr) and Ann Laird’s new venture at Blythbridge, West Linton, Peebleshire. Her two heifer calves made 3700 gns and 3800 gns, one by West Mossgiel Class Talent and the other by KC Roses Chatter T Red.

The third 7000 gns bid came for a potential big show heifer “Barr Brown Sugar 2” classified VG87 and two months fresh she carried a lass dazzling back pedigree than some of her contemporaries but her style and correctness attracted huge interest. Her sire is the homebred Barr Apache and she joins Messrs Gilmour’s “Humeston“ herd, Maybole, Ayrshire.

One of the fanciest in milk heifers forward was a Barr Victory Song daughter “Barr Bright Scorpio VG88(2yr)”. Calved in May, and due again next June to McCornick Nelson she joins another esteemed Scottish herd, “Halmyre Urr” of the Davidson family near Castle Douglas. The other 6000 gns heifer was a daughter of probably the most successful breeding cow in the herd recently. The VG88 July calved heifer is one of three big time show daughters of the EX94 Barr Retrospective, she now goes to the Mull of Kintyre, to be milked and shown by Messrs J & M Barr of Clockkeil near Campletown.

One of the Auctioneers involved with the sale, Edward Brown, said that he and his colleagues at Harrison & Hetherington were privileged to be associated with the sale and it had been enlightening to be confronted by so many wonderful animals, superbly bred and skilfully managed. “We are not surprised that the breed record average for milkers was broken. This herd deserved to do it.”

Leading Prices - Lot, Price in Gns and Purchaser

  • 48 - 7200 - G R Thomas, Tyreglwys Farm, Llangennech, Llanelli, Carmarthen
  • 36 - 7000 - Colin (Snr) & Ann Laird, Blyth Farm, Blyth Bridge, West Linton
  • 72 - 7000 - I C Gilmour & Sons, Humeston, Maybole, Ayrshire
  • 28 - 6000 - J & M Barr, Clockkeil, By Campbeltown, Argyll
  • 66 - 6000 - L Davidson & Sons, Halmyre Farm, Haugh-of-Urr, Castle Douglas
  • 29 - 5200 - R & B Cunningham, West Mossgiel, Mauchline, Ayrshire
  • 18 - 4500 - G R Thomas, Tyreglwys Farm, Llangennech, Llanelli, Carmarthen
  • 46 - 4000 - B Danforth, Walton Lodge Farm, Wighill Lane, Tadcaster, West Yorkshire
  • 51 - 4000 - A Myers, Low Thorgill, Rosedale, Pickering, North Yorks
  • 105 - 4000 - M W & A Stevenson, Kirminnoch, Dunragit, Stranraer
  • 36B - 3800 - G Lawrie, Brieryside, Monkton, Prestwick, Ayrshire
  • 87 - 3800 - A K Taylor, Old Mill of Schivas, Ellon, Abendeenshire
  • 91 - 3800 - B Danforth, Walton Lodge Farm, Wighill Lane, Tadcaster, West Yorkshire
  • 36A - 3700 - J Young, West Spittal Farm, Stewarton, Ayrshire
  • 193 - 3700 - G Benson, 20 The Paddock, Tarporley, Cheshire
  • 83 - 3300 - J & M Hunter, 35 Loughview Road, Crumlin, Northern Ireland
  • 192 - 3200 - A & S Lawrie, Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, Kinross
  • 15 - 3000 - R McNeil, Cairnpat, Lochans, Stranraer, Wigtownshire
  • 37 - 3000 - C & S Brassington & Son, 2 New Farm, Roden Lane, Roden, Telford
  • 74 - 3000 - G Benson, 20 The Paddock, Tarporley, Cheshire

Averages

  • 140 Cows & Heifers in milk/ in calf £2493.74 (including Heifer Calves)
  • 31 In Calf Heifers £1115.71, 51 Bulling & Maiden Heifers £1175.79,
  • 60 Heifer Calves £886.38, 4 Bull Calves £630.00, 286 Overall £1521.58