The old established Nuthurst herd of Blyth Model Dairies were sold on 25th June 2009, the herd was established in the 1930’s by Prince Littler and the herd was purchased in the 70’s by Mr Wagstaff and was passed on to his daughter and son in law Mr & Mrs Vardy.
Remarkably the herd had been milked and managed since 1955 by the Huntley family with Stan Huntley in charge for 40 years before handing the reins to grandson Matthew Eely who supervised yesterdays sale.
The first 35 cows had had more than 5 calves and whilst still sound proved difficult to sell, but Lot 19 Oatfield Serena milking in her 6th lactation was purchased by Ken Prestidge for 570 gns, who ended up with 12 animals to add to his recent purchases from Clay Hill and Webbery, his enthusiasm for the Guernsey is welcome and it will be interesting to see how his plans turn out. He has recentlly moved his cows to Norfolk from Yorkshire having been left high and dry by DFOB.
Ron Smith was also buying and purchased 9 animals including Nuthurst Snowflake Lot 37 for 620, Nuthurst Princess 603 Lot 45 for 500, Hampton Lily 492 Lot 62 for 780 and Easby Sally Anne 7th Lot 79 for 900, this Easby Rowan daughter had the most correct udder of any animal in the sale.
Mr Roff was also buying cows with frame and dairiness and purchased 5 animals to add to his Holstein herd ,including Nuthurst Princess 602 Lot 51 for 780, Hampton Leonora 263 Lot 54 for 700, and Easby Milkmaid 6 Lot 56 for 730.
Mr Rogers also bought 4 animals for his Council farm at Winchester and his grandfather had a Guernsey herd on the Isle of Wight in days of yore, so it is welcome back to the breed, he bought Easby Grizelda 2 Lot 58 for 400, Easby Floella 3 Lot 83 for 450, Easby Polyanthus 9 Lot 85 for 650 and Nuthurst Susan 20 Lot 103 for 620.
Ken Prestidge added two dauhters of Lot 19, Lot 73 Nuthurst Serena, freshly calved and giving 30 litres, she has not been scored but should go VG and she was the sale topper at 1100 gns, he also bought her 6 month old sister Nuthurst Serena 3 for 500 gns. He also bought Nuthurst Posie 2 Lot 72 for 800 gns.
The youngstock met a much stronger trade with the bulling heifers making up to 800 gns for Nuthurst Princess 610 Lot 100 bought over the phone by Duncan Vincent, he also bought Nuthurst Gleam 342 Lot 91 at 600, Nuthurst Serena 2 Lot 96 for 570 and 3 others, Rob Maiklem was also interested in the bulling heifers and bought 5 including Nuthurst Risbecq Lot 93 for 570 and Nuthurst Wilma Lot 94 for 570. These heifers were all sired by Boskenna Junes Royal Oak and were an attractive group.
The maiden heifers also sold well with Libby Smith who has Jerseys buying Nuthurst Guinevere Lot 105 for 450 and Nuthurst Mayflower 2 Lot 112 for 320, she had been the underbidder for the 800 gn heifer.
Matthew and Coral Senior from Cornwall were able to purchase 2 maidens Nuthurst Lily 3 Lot 106 for 320 and Nuthurst Precious 2 Lot 108 for 370, this is a daughter of Lot 1 Elphsmead Precious 5 who was sold carrying her 10th calf, this cow is a sister to E Precious 4 Ex 92 that was the sale topper at the Elphsmead sale and she bred 2 VG daughters at Chiltern Vale.
Ron Smith bought Nuthurst Lily 4 Lot 109 for 390 and she joins her mother in Norfolk and Ken Prestidge bought Lot 110 Nuthurst Mayblossom for 470 gns.
A difficult sale to draw conclusions from, a herd with more than half of the milkers having had 5 calves whilst reflecting well on the natural longevity of the breed were always going to be difficult to sell, but youngstock were in demand and several buyers were unable to buy what they wanted.