The dispersal of the Wiltor and Sahara herds took place in Wales with prices peaking at 43,000gns. The property of the Jones family, the sale of prize-winning stock attracted bidders from across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Securing the top price was the first animal into the ring, Wiltor Silver Centrepiece. This VG89 classified second calver gave over 10,000kg in her first lactation of 4.48% fat and 3.44% protein. She marks the eighth consecutive generation of VG or EX cows.

Sired by Seagull-Bay Silver and out of Larcrest Centrepiece, she was eventually knocked down at 43,000gns to Nick and Louise Sercombe of the Shambles herd, Leicestershire.

This goes down as the biggest price paid for a milking cow in the UK or Ireland for a number of years.

Her full-sister Wiltor Silver Cosmopolitan later sold for a five-figure sum also. This VG88 cow had nine daughters in the sale, which sold to average £4,000. Selling at 11,500gns, she was the pick of Oliver Williams of the Rosehip herd, Cambridgeshire.

The second top price of the sale was for the red first calver Rockset Integral Rae Red, who was knocked down at 15,000gns. This March 2017-born heifer is bred from 13 generations of VG or EX cows.

Overall, the sale was an astounding success with 43 cows and calved heifers averaging £8,226.