The dispersal sale of the Bluebell herd of Holsteins on behalf of Winston and Jo Jones drew a massive crowd of buyers to The Ditches Farm, Church Stoke, Montgomeryt.

Buyers travelled from the surrounding counties including Powys, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Brecon and as far afield as Devon to attend this highly anticipated sale.

The sale topper was the cover girl, Bluebell Tiger Mary VG86. Mary, a daughter of Tiger-lily Ladd P-red had just been dried off on July 24 being due to calf on September 24 to stock bull Woodmarsh Zanif.

This upstanding balance cow was full of style, and after spirited bidding from all around the ringside she sold for 3100gns to RC & JE Owen of Llansantffraid.

Her nine-month-old heifer calf by Comestar Lineman. showing all the potential to be better than her dam. sold for a superb 1500gns.

Fresh milk and cows guaranteed in calf were the order of the day with buyers very much after milk in the tank and the extra longevity.

At 2400gns was Bluebell Impression Irina GP82 who had just calf in fresh for her second lactation having given 9300kgs as a heifer, she was secured by DE & MR Davies of Sarnau.

Selling for 2200gns was Bluebell Impression Princess VG85, bred for four generations of VG dams and due to calf in November to Zanif, she was picked out by Messrs Sevenoaks of Brecon.

Dry cows were a flying trade from the off, cows with balance and condition sold from 1600gns to 2000gns.

Notable at 2000gns was Bluebell Douglas Meg VG86 due with her third calf at the end of August and snapped up by G Thomasson of Whitchurch.

Fresh heifers sold regularly in excess of 2000gns with the top being 2200gns for Bluebell Even Quest VG85, a heifer which had calved in early July and was giving an impressive 41kgs of milk. She made the short journey to Minsterley with Phil Manning.

Incalf heifers sold at very favourable rates with the close to calving heifers topping at 1750gns for Bluebell Mogul Laura, who was due to Hawksmoor Challenge in early September. She was purchased by Sevenside Milkers Ltd. Recently served heifers sold for 1000gns or more.

Bulling heifers were a strong trade, topped by the Mary at 1500gns other bulling heifers sold to 880gns for the 14-month-old Bluebell Uno Apple 2, all sold in excess of 600gns.

Dairy heifer calves born in 2019 were sold after their dams. Six-month calves sold for 400gns regularly while four-week-old calves sold to 300gns on two occasions. The two-year-old stock bull Hawksmoor Challenge VG86 sold for 2450gns.

Averages: Cows and heifers in milk and dry (inc faults) £1488.48

Incalf heifers £1234.42

Bulling heifers £714

Dairy calves £302.48

Halls, Shrewsbury Auction Centre were the auctioneers.