AROUND 375 cows from the Prospect Dairy Herd from Aspatria are to come under the hammer at Borderway Mart in Carlisle.

The decision by the Mounsey family to sell their dairy herd along with all the young stock follows the loss of their son, Richard, in April 2018.

Richard was a keen dairy farmer and had introduced Swedish Red and Montbeliarde genetics to the herd to form part of a successful breeding policy, known more commonly as Procross. The foundation of the herd was a strong Holstein Friesian herd with the first-cross Swedish Red followed by Montbeliarde and the third-cross returns to the Holstein sire.

Following the sale of the livestock John and Jacqueline Mounsey plan to rent the farm,which boasts stunning views across the Solway, and its buildings.

In general the herd consists of strong, robust, functional cows that thrive on grazing grass and good-quality grass silage.

From milk-sold figures, the herd is currently averaging 7,000kg, 4.29 per cent 3.41 per cent with a somatic cell count of 175 on a low input system.

The milking herd comprises 46 heifers in milk, 44 cows in their second lactation, 39 in their third, 34 fourth lactation, and 27 having had five or more calves.

Fertility is excellent, the herd has two stock bulls, and the remaining animals are covered with top AI sires, and the vet PDs twice a month (all the cows have been scanned for the sale).

The herd is all-year-round calving.

There are 66 in-calf heifers that are in calf to the Holstein sire and are due from November to May. These animals are strong Procross heifers suitable for grazing or housed systems.

The sale takes place next Friday, October 25, at 10.30am.