The UK’s biggest and best sale of pedigree dairy bulls is coming to Carlisle with arguably the very best line-ups of Holstein and British Friesian genetics ever gathered together in one place.

Harrison and Hetherington’s 26th Annual Bull Show & Sale on Wednesday October 8th will bring together 70 top quality bulls from outstanding cow families across England, Scotland and Wales. A total of 57 Holsteins and 13 British Friesians, including seven special Red and Whites, will be going under the hammer.

H&H auctioneer Glyn Lucas said: “We have an outstanding line up this year, milk producers and breeders have an exceptional choice from the best genetics currently available in the UK.  There are chart topping PLI sires, top type sires and outcross sires, no matter what your preference in breeding this sale has it covered”

Andrew Wilson of North Shield Holsteins will judge the pre-sale show he said “I have always wanted to judge the Bull sale at Carlisle; it is without doubt the UK premier bull sale”.  The Mr & Mrs T N Hill Perpetual Trophy will be presented to the overall champion and the British Friesian Champion will receive the W & E Bell Trophy

The Holstein sires available include sons of Snowmaster, O-Cosmopolitan, Mogul, Bradnick, Dude, Dorcy, Petrone, Numero Uno, Epic, Trigger, Lexor, Windbrook, Attitude-Red, Longview, Jeeves, Dempsey, Destry, Wyman and Fever.   They are bred from leading cow families including the Flo, Alica, Kimo, Gloriette, Enid, Papoose, Pledge, Honey, Adeen, Delight, Melody, Ruby, Roxy, Fran, Ricki, Margot, Missy, Slendor,  Raven, Mark Maui, August, Lyme, Maude & Marie Families

One of the top lots to look out for is Gerrard Mario, who is bred from the world renowned Denmire Marie cow family.  He is a grandson of Denmire Strom Marie EX94 and is a total outcross with no Goldwyn, Shottle or Oman in his pedigree. His family is amazingly productive – more than 400 ton of milk has been produced by Mario’s first four dams and his Pagewire dam gave over 13,000kg of milk at 5.66% butterfat 3.50% protein.

“The special red and white section also includes a close to perfect son of the Holstein Attitude Red, consigned by the Busby family from Watson Farm at Egrement.  He is bred from 12 generations of Excellent or Very Good cows tracing back to the Horizon Joy family and again he is a total outcross pedigree.”

The British Friesian section includes bulls from the highly-regarded Lismulligain, Winnoch, Nerewater and Fellfoot herds and are sons of Winnoch Olympian, Leesthorpe Ferneley, Nerewater Launcher and Blackisle Benloyal.

Mr Lucas added: “The entrants, consigned from across Britain, bring together bulls from the world’s most prolific Holstein and British Friesian cow families, all of which have a proven track record. If you’re looking for a bull that will sire highly-productive and profitable progeny, you cannot afford to miss this sale.”

All bulls going under the hammer have been vaccinated and tested free of BVD, and are eligible for export to Northern Ireland.