Autumn bull sale tops out at 7,500gns
Dairy sales are starting to pick up as we enter the back end of the season, with stock moving through Irish and UK marts once again.
With that, dairy bulls are making their way back to market and going for strong prices despite the strong uptakes in artificial insemination (AI) and sexed semen in the last number of years.
One bull sale in the Borderway Mart in Carlisle saw prices hit as high as 7,500gns.
Autumn bull sale
The bull sale, which was was the 38th annual edition, was comprised of 43 pedigree Holstein and British Friesian bulls.
The sale which was held on behalf of the Border and Lakeland Holstein Club, with buyers travelling from all corners of the UK.
July-2025-born Warnelview R Impact was crowned the Champion Bull of the show by judge Peter Waring of the Winton Holsteins herd, which is based in Yorkshire.
Kevin and Christine Wilson's Warnelview R Impact also went on to achieve the top price of the sale, grabbing 7,500gns in the ring.
The champion bull was sired by Ri-Val-Re Rager Red, and came from Warnelview Solomon Irene 5 (EX90), a sixth generation straight EX cow.
Warnelview R Impact's third dam, Warnelview Bolivia Irene (EX93) also drew attention to the bull, as she produced over 100t of milk in her lifetime.
| Lactation | Kilos of milk | Fat % | Protein % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7,341 | 4.15 | 3.15 |
| 2 | 10,451 | 3.95 | 3.13 |
| 3 | 11,325 | 3.78 | 3.10 |
| 4 | 12,137 | 3.84 | 3.11 |
| 5 | 13,237 | 3.67 | 3.09 |
| 6 | 13,755 | 3.87 | 2.91 |
| 7 | 13,686 | 3.80 | 3.01 |
| 8 | 14,603 | 4.00 | 2.96 |
| 9 | 12,308 | 3.85 | 3.17 |
The Warnelview herd continued to clean up with its stock, selling a further 11 bulls to an average of £4,211/head.
The herd went on to claim the third, fourth, and fifth best prices of the bull sale.
Warnelview Ninja was the third best seller, going under the hammer for 5,000gns.
The October-2025-born bull was sired by Duckett Diesel, and is out of Warnelview Unix Nita 4 ET (EX92), who produced 13,167kg of milk at 4.48% fat and 3.61% protein in her fifth lactation last year.
Her grand dam, Warnelview Final Cut Nita (EX97) was considered to be the herd's icon, producing more than 170t of lifetime milk.
| Lactation | Kilos of milk | Fat % | Protein % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9,487 | 5.29 | 3.22 |
| 2 | 14,318 | 4.91 | 3.28 |
| 3 | 14,007 | 4.91 | 3.18 |
| 4 | 14,318 | 5.01 | 3.14 |
| 5 | 13,716 | 5.32 | 3.38 |
| 6 | 12,560 | 4.44 | 3.15 |
| 7 | 12,426 | 5.21 | 3.41 |
| 8 | 12,099 | 4.93 | 3.07 |
Another one of Warnelview Final Cut Nita (EX97) grand sons, Warnelview No Fear ET, went on to sell for 4,500gns.
The second best price on the day went to February-2025-born Annandale Dumbledore, who made 5,200gns on the day.
He was consigned by the Armour family from Moffat, sired by Annandale Lingarde, and out of Annandale Grafeeti Doetje (EX94).
The dam has produced over 130t of lifetime milk, peaking at 15,479kg at 4.50% fat and 2.82% protein in her fifth lactation. She also surpassed 15,000kg on a further two lactations.
British Friesians were slightly behind Holsteins in terms of money given, as Whinnow Gallant POC claimed the top price of the category at 4,200gns.
Overall, 35 bulls averaged £3,578/head; with 19 Holstein bulls averaging £3,804/head, and 10 British Friesian bulls averaging £3,192/head.
