THE reserve champion at the Dalesbred sheep breeders' association show and sale of in-lamb females at Bentham mart sold for £900.
The title winner was a mature ewe from Michael Carr, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Settle, and sold to Richard Close, Upper Wharfedale.
Mr Close was also exhibiting and took the overall championship with a shearling gimmer, which went on to sell for £650 to M. Thorpe, West Burton.
ANOTHER good entry of excellent dairy cattle saw heifers average over £2,000 and cows over £1,600 at Carmarthen mart this week.
A consignment of nine heifers from Richard and Bethan Thomas' Churchvale herd, Llancwm, averaged £2,063, and included the top price of the day at £3,600.
Earning the top call was Churchvale Sam Starmaiden, a heifer by Regancrest M Drham Sam and out of Tremenyn Aero Promo Starmaiden, which gave 8,379kg in her third lactation. With four generations of VG and EX cows behind her she calved at the beginning of the year and sold giving 30kg of milk. She joined the Rhydygors herd, Talog.
Another heifer to make over £3,000 was Lyganlan Erica 96, which realised £3,050. This Comestar Stormatic daughter is out of two generations of EX Ericas. The hammer fell toy E. Rees, Whitland.
Churchvale kept the trade up with £2,420 for a home-bred heifer - Churchvale Jackson Rosina - selling to Messrs Rees, RHos, Efailwen. This December calver sold giving 28kg and was a Weeton Jackson daughter.
Also making a telling contribution to the trade was the Gest herd from R. Maskell and Partners, with two heifers, Gest Fanella 298 and Gest Dewdrop159 selling at £2,250 and £2,200.
Averages: 2 dairy cows, £1,755; 8 dairy heifers, £1,520; 9 recorded cows, £1,615; 21 recorded heifers, £2,013; 1 in-calf heifer, £800; 3 bulling heifers, £797.
The draft sale from a 600 strong commercial herd in Sussex, was held at the Sedgemoor Auction Centre on Tuesday.
The offering was selected due to a change in farming policy as the traditional Friesian type of cows, as well as cross-breeds that were better suited to a grazing system of management, rather than a TMR, were sold off.
The top price was 1,600gns for a June calver milking in her fourth lactation. Buyers were Messrs Grove Partners, Oldbury-On-Severn, who also claimed another June calver to the Belgian Blue, carrying her fourth calf at 1,460gns. Gordon Davis, Tiverton was in good form, buying young cows well in-calf and purchased an April calving 2nd calver incalf to the Belgian Blue at 1,400gns.
All of the cows were sold as seen without any milk records, but this did not prevent a packed ringside chasing cows that were mostly due from April to August to Black and White, Aberdeen Angus and Belgian Blue service sires.
The sale was enhanced by the inclusion of 28 Friesian type in-calf heifers from Coombe Lodge Estate. All in-calf to Aberdeen Angus they sold to a cracking trade to eight different purchasers topping at 1,610gns and averaging £1,416. The top priced in-calf heifer was 1,630gns for an entry consigned by R.J. and J. .Tulley, Brixham, Devon.
Auctioneers: Greenslade Taylor Hunt with Norton and Brooksbank
The Walker farming family of Dunsop Bridge, Clitheroe were triumphant at Gisburn auction marts annual show and sale of prime Swaledale hoggs last Thursday picking up both the first and second prize rosettes.
Weighing 45kg the first prize pen of ten hoggs sold for £65 or 145p/kg to Harvey Kaye, Brindle. The second prize pen weighed 41kg and made £54 or 132p/kg.
George Rawcliffe, Houghton, Preston picked up the third prize rosette, with his hoggs, which weighing 39kg. They sold for £49.20 or 133p/kg. Taking home both fourth and fifth rosettes was another Hodder Valley farming family, the firm of T Robinson and Sons, Slaidburn, Clitheroe.
Average price: Swaledale prime hoggs 146p/kg;
Auctioneers Richard Turner and Son
Father-and-son farmers George and Robin Jennings have been named the Craven Cattle Marts dairy farmer of the year.
The Jennings family, whose 140-strong Stainbank pedigree Holstein Friesian herd is based at South Stainley, between Harrogate and Ripon, have been participating in monthly Craven Dairy Auctions for the past two years, securing the overall championship on several occasions.
In addition, at the February, 2008 show, the Jennings set a new Craven Dairy Auction top price record, when a newly calven Stainbank heifer sold for £2,650. The selling price remains to be beaten.
The Border British Blue Club staged their tenth annual open calf show on last Wednesday at Borderway Mart, Carlisle when nearly all of the 51 catalogued entries were forward for judging. This was made up of 21 males and 30 females all UK born pedigree registered calves born on or after 1st January 2008.
The male championship and reserve overall championship was awarded to Kevin Watret, Annan, Dumfriesshire with Solway View Dynamite, an April 2008 son out of a Baron Du Bois Bauloye and Bringlee Sandy flush.
The female and overall championship was awarded to Alan and Deirdre Wilkinson, Out Rawcliffe, Preston with Springfield Darcy, an August 2008 daughter out of the Blak Du Baty D'Eprave and Springfield Vichy flush.
Alan and Deirdre Wilkinson also took the reserve male championship with Springfield Dusty, a February 2008 son out of the Dafydd D'Ochain and Woodview Universe flush.
Mark and Elaine Hartley, Roughlee, Nelson, Lancashire took the reserve female championship with Pendle Dazzle an April 2008 daughter of Blue Stone Union Jack and out of their home-bred cow Pendle Witch.
There were some very promising entrants in the young handler class. The judge awarded Josh Bellas the championship award leading Croftends Dan. Isabella Hartley was runner up leading Pendle DJ.
An entry of 736 store cattle and well over 1,000 sheep were forward at Bakewell market's February store sale and auctioneers - Bagshaws - reported a flying trade for all stock.
A total of 694 cattle were forward on the day, which included 67 breeding cattle, 148 young feeding bulls and 479 steers and heifers.
The day started with the Cows and Calves, with many of the better outfits easily crossing the £1,000 barrier.
Young feeding bulls averaged £712.72, steers at £733.67 and heifers at £681.76.
A show of 1,186 store sheep included 746 hoggs. Texel ewe hoggs sold to £73.50 and feeding hoggs to £69 again for Texels.
Bidding peaked at 5,600gns at this month's Lancaster dairy sale.
Leading the trade was the October 2007-born Cramar L Missy Misty consigned by Roger and Dianne Steeples and Sam Wake, Kettering, Northamptonshire.
The hammer fell to James Tomlinson for the Bilsrow herd, Preston.
Misty had been the champion calf at the central counties calf show last year and was following in a family tradition as her dam the EX93 Bromstead Jed Missy was also in the sale and took the championship before selling at 3,800gns to Crystalclear Holsteins, Northampton.
The first prize heifer was Dunnerdale FBI Pretzel, from W.W. and D. Boow, Bootle, Cumbria. This Gillette Brilea daughter calved in January and sold at 3,100gns to A. and B. Bargh, Skelton, Penrith.
A further three animals made 3,000gns, emphasising the current demand for quality cattle.
The sale also included a major reduction from David and Sara Berry's Boggart herd, Barton, Preston, and these sold to 2,300gns for a second calver by Startmore Rudolph.
Averages: 15 females, £2,828; 39 Boggart cows and calved heifers, £1,348.85.
Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank with North West Auctions.
A packed ringside of bidders saw prices rise to £6,800 at the sale of show potential cattle at Ruthin mart on Saturday.
Just under 100 lots passed through the ring with very few making anything less than £700.
Topping the trade was a smart August 2008-born British Blue cross heifer from Trefor Jones, Llanllynfni.
The heifer was by Mr Jones' stock bull - Netherwood Umpire and was out of a pedigree Limousin cow - one of 35 Mr Jones runs in his Trefid herd. The heifer was earlier tapped forward by show judge, Tudor Edwards, as the heifer and overall reserve show champion.
It was steer from Allen and Janet Powell, Ceredigion, that took the overall championship title. The steer - a Limousin - was born in June 2008 and is by a home-bred bull. It later sold at £5,900.
That's all the action from the Perth bull sales, look out for a full report and pictures in Fridays paper and also see the blog for a report from a sale of show potential cattle at Ruthin on Saturday.
Bidding has finished and on the final day of trading at the last ever bull sale at Perth Charolais bulls peaked at 55,000gns, an all-breeds record average of £6,062 was realised, and the sale grossed £1.15 million.
Earning the top call was Sportsmans Columbo from Charlie Boden's 60 cow Sportsmans herd at Stockport, Cheshire. Columbo, born in July 2007, is by the 55,000gns Thrunton Voldermort and his dam, Sportsmans Regal, is by the 26,000gns Ugie Legend. Mr Boden (trading as Boden and Davies), also has a wood recycling business and has been in the breed for 12 years. The Sportsmans previous best at Perth was 9,000gns.
Columbo went to joint buyers - Gilbert Crawford who runs the 70 cow Coolnaslee herd at Maghera, Co Londonderry, and Joe Wilson, Newry, Co Down, who has been breeding Charolais for three years and runs his herd of 40 Charolais cows alongside Simmentals under the Ballinlare prefix. Mr Crawford said they picked the bull out for his 'sheer style, appearance and substance'.
Esmor Evans sold a string of bulls to 28,000gns paid for Maerdy Championlad.
This Vald'or-ra son is from Mr Evans' 200 cow herd at Mold, Flintshire. The bull is out of a Maerdy Grimaldi dam - Maerdy Remark. The hammer fell to the Swalesmoor herd of Danny Sawrij, Lockerbie, Dumfries.
Sportsmans Columbo has just sold for 55,000gns. Columbo, by the 55,000gns Thrunton Columbo, was consigned by Charlie Boden, Stockport, Cheshire. The hammer fell to Gilbert Crawford and Joe Watson of Northern Ireland.
The overall show champion, Thrunton Crownprince, has sold at 20,000gns. This July 2007-borb bull was consigned by the Campbell family - John and his sons - Ian and John. The bull is by Burradon Talisman and out of a dam by the 25,000gns Mowbraypark Orlando. The buyer was J.A. Wilson and Sons, Alfrod, Aberdeenshire.
Making 8,500gns was Inverlochy Colonel from J. Irvine and Son, Ballindalock, Banffshire. Colonel, the reserve senior champion, is by Gower Versace.
At 9,000gns was Edenhurst Colorado, a Doonally New son from P. Vasey, Wetheral, Carlisle. The buyer was Nether Barfield Farms.
The senior champion - Moelfre Chicago - from K. Thomas, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn, has realised 8,500gns. Chicago, born in April 2007, is by Major.
The crowds are building for the last day of the Perth bull sales. While many people will have come to see the last bull pass through the ring before United Auctions moves its operations to Stirling there will be some serious bidders here and the talk is there could well be some big prices and averages.
Hot favourites so far include the show champion - Thrunton Crownprince - a Burradon Talisman son from J.H.C. Campbell and Sons, Alnwick.
Auctioneer David Leggat will start the sale at 11am and I'll be updating the blog with the top prices as they happen.
For the sixth time the Thrunton herd has taken the show championshionship in the Charolais judging. Their winner this time was Thrunton Crownprince, a Burradon Talisman son out of Thrunton Tranquility.
In reserve was Gwenog Captain from J.S. Howells, Llanybrydder, Ceredigion. The June 2007-born bull is by Blelack Tycoon and out of Gwenog.
Taking the senior championship was Moelfre Chicago brought out by K.J. Thomas, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn. Chicago is a son of semen only bull -Major.
Reserve senior was J. Irvine and Son, Ballindalloch, Banffshire, with Inverlochy Colonel, a Gower Versace son.
Woodpark Caesar, a Corrie Alan son from W. Short, Omagh, Co Tyrone, took the junior championship.
Reserve in this section was Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfries, with Goldies Crackerjack - a Goldies Vicechancellor son.
The Charolais sale starts at 11am tomorrow morning.
TOP price for Simmental bulls was 16,000gns on a day when many of the top priced lots went to commercial beef producers and an average of £4,554 was achieved.
Earning the day's top call was Blackford Viceroy consigned by father and daughter team - Billy and Anne MacPherson, Cory, Inverness.
Viceroy is an August 2007-born bull and is the MacPherson's first calf by Kilbride Farm Strabane, which they bought jointly with Delfur Farms at Perth in 2007 for 10,000gns. Calves from the bull's dam - Blackford Gloria - have sold up to 6,000gns before. This marks the best price achieved for stock from the 55-cow Blackford herd and comes ahead of a herd dispersal sale next year. The hammer fell to the Mackenzie Brothers, who run a commercial herd at Thurso, Caithness.
David Leggat, speaking after the sale said the sale had been 'under-pinned by commercial buyers' and also commented on the centre record clearance rate of 89 per cent for 129 sold of the 144 forward. Mr Leggat added the sale was 'one of the most successful Simmental breed sales to date'.
Next best was 14,000gns realised for the reserve senior champion - Dressogue Victorious - from Seamus O'Kane, Omagh, Co Tyrone, and selling to commercial and pedigree farmer - Adrian Ivory of Strathisla Farms, Moolies, Meigle. Victorious, an AI son of Kilbride Farm Newry, is a maternal brother to Samark Superman, which sold for 10,000gns at Perth in 2007. Mr O'Kane, a vehicle driving examiner, has six cows and this was the first bull he has ever sold.
Similar breeding was behind the overall champion, Shanehill Victor, another AI son of Kilbride Farm Newry, which sold at 11,000gns. Consigned by Barry Chambers, who runs a herd of 12 cows at Craigavon, Co Armagh, this bull sold to pedigree breeder - Clive Houldey, Lauder, Berwickshire. Victor, an August 2007-born bull, is out of Samark Bluebell - a Hockenhull Geronimo daughter.
Commercial breeder - James Ellis, Alford, Aberdeenshire, paid 11,000gns for Stralongford Viking, the junior champion, from J.J. Hanna, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh. Viking is one of the first calves sired by Dripsey Super King and is out of an Omorga Murray sired dam - Stralongford Sinead.
Slimero Victory 2, a Wroxall Field Marshall son, brought out by Howard Stubbs and Leslie Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, sold at 10,000gns. This July 2007-born bull was knocked down to a commercial breeders - Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin. The bull was bred by R.N, Weatherup, and was bought by the Stubbs/Weatherup partnership at a club sale at Dungannon four months ago.
Billy Robson and Sons, Ballyclare, Co Antrim sold a Seaview Prince Charming son, Kilbride Farm Vernon, for 10,000gns to C. and M. Bruce, Udny, Ellon. Kilbride bulls by Prince Charming sold to 10,000gns and 9,000gns last year.
Glenturk Viera, a Omorga Prince son, from B.G. and L. Allan, Newton Stewart, Wigtown, realised 7,800gns selling to Gordon Nicolson, Nairn.
This bull, which was a class winner, is a heifer's calf out of Glenturk Rene.
The senior champion, Dirnanean Valour, a Halenook Pananche son from Finlay McGowan, Blairgowrie, has just realised 8,500gns. The buyer was N. and A. Hunter, Knitsley Consett, Co Durham.
Other leading prices so far included 5,500gns for Straline Vagabond from Henry Widdicombe, Totnes, Devon. Vagabond is a Blackford Northern Light son.
The sale of Simmental bulls is about to start and a total of 144 lots will go under the hammer...
Finlay McGowan, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, sold to a top of 5,200gns for a draft of heifers from the Dirnanean herd. Earning the top call was Dirnanean Vaila, a Starline Nelso daughter. The hammer fell to Jimmy and Vickie Wood, Preston, Lancashire.
A draft from J. Green's Corskie herd, Fochabers, Moray, sold to 4,500gns for a Strathisla Nugget daughter. In-calf to Islavale Sabre it sold to Leslie Weatherup, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.
The sale for Simmental females has produced a top price of 6,000gns for the first lot through the ring - Sterling Petras Tracey - from S.R. Hitchins, Boddington, Cheltenham, and selling to C.R. Fovargue, Coleorton, Leicestershire. This 2006-born daughter of Sterling Parliament is in-calf to Viscount.
Next best for the Sterling herd was 5,000gns; this time for the female champion, Sterling Roxanne's Verona. This AI daughter of Sterling Parliamentarian sold to Sandy Stephen, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.
The first lot of judging results are in and it's been a good day for Northern Irish exhibitors, who have taken five of the six top prizes in the Simmental judging.
The championship went to Shanehill Victor from Barry Chambers, Craigavon, Co Amargh. This August-born bull is an AI son of Kilbride Farm Newry and out of Samark Bluebell. The bull is part of Mr Chambers' 12-strong herd.
In reserve was Slimero Victory 2, a Wroxall Field Marshall son, from Leslie Weatherup and Howard Stubbs, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. Victory 2, born in July 2007 and bred by R.N. Weatherup, was bought by the Messrs Weatherup and Stubbs from a club sale at Dungannon four-months ago.
Junior champion was a November 2007 bull, Stralongford Viking, brought out by J. Hanna, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh. Viking is a Dripsey Super King son out of an Omorga Murray sired dam.
Reserve in this section was Hiltonstown Valentino from Robert and Richard Rodgers, Ballymena, Co Antrim. This October 2007-born bull is by Woodhall Premier.
Finlay McGowan, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, took the senior championship rosette with Dirnanean Valour, a Halenook Panache son.
Reserve was another Northern Irish bull, Dressogue Victorious, from Seamus O'Kane, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Got by AI, this bull is by Kilbride Farm Newry.
The Simmental females will be sold later this afternoon.
Welcome to Farmers Guardian's latest blog - Lomas Talks Livestock - where I'll be providing regular updates from shows, sales and livestock events around the country.
To keep up-to-date with all the latest stock and sales news keep checking my blog and feel free to leave a comment.
It's Perth bull sales this week - Charolais and Simmentals go under the hammer - and I'll be providing regular updates on the show winners and top prices. Keep checking the blog for all the latest news.
