September 2009 Archives

BLUEFACED Leicester sheep sold to £6,000 at Castle Douglas last week with the top price being paid for the show champion.

The title winner was a ram lamb from Stewart Park and Eunice Mills of the S.P. Dalpedder flock, Sanquhar, Dumfries. It equalled the centre record price, set last year, and sold jointly to Jimmy Bell's Cottage flock, Biggar, Lanarkshire, and Messrs Kay.

The lamb is by the 4,800gns A1 Glenane Magners and out of a ewe by Y1 Shafthill. Similar breeding was also behind bids of £5,000, £3000, £2,800 and £2,000 for the Dalpeddar flock, as well as a £4,000 bid for a lamb by Z31 Old Hemley.
The tup, Magners, is shared with Jimmy Bell who also had a flying trade with his sons topping at £2,600 for a ram out of a T2 Duhonw sired ewe.
There were two £3,000 bids for tups from the Craigskean flock, Maybole, Ayshire; firstly for a shearling by the Y29 Riddings, and secondly for a ram lamb the same way bred.

Auctioneers: Wallets Marts

BIDDING peaked at 10,000gns at the dispersal sale of the Balmaud Simmental herd sold at Stirling Agricultural Centre on behalf of Wilson and Gerardine Strachan, Banff.

Leading the trade was the herd's stock bull, Woodhall Volcano. This son of Corrick Kentucky Kid sold jointly to Messrs Hamilton and Messrs MacAskill both of Innerwick, Dunbar.

There were two cows with calved at foot which realised 4,500gns. The first was paid by A.G. Stephen and Co, Burnside of Idoch, Turriff, for an eight-year-old Austrian-bred cow, which was sold with a Woodhall Vocano heifer calf at foot.

The other was a home-bred heifer, Balmaud Tracy, which was sold with a Innerwick Renown heifer calf at foot. The buyer was A. and I. McInnes, Ruaig, Isle of Tiree.

Three sold at 4,000gns; firstly for a home-bred cow, Balmaud Shannon, with a bull calf selling to S. Mackie, Balquhindachy, Methlick.

At the same price Mr and Mrs Field, Blunsdon, Swindon, purchased Balmaud Topaz a home-bred heifer with an Innerwick Renown heifer calf at foot.

Senior stock bull, Strathisla Nuggat, also sold at 4,000gns to S. Allardyce, Tarland, Aberdeenshire.

In-calf heifers topped at 3,000gns for Balmaud Vogue, a daughter of Innerwick Renown. The hammer fell to Messrs Moffat, Dunbar.

Averages: 29 cows and heifers with calves at foot, £2,454.82; 29 in-calf cows and heifers and maiden heifers, £1,420.03; 11 stock and production bulls, £3,102.27

Auctioneers: United Auctions.

AVERAGES were up at Borderway Mart's autumn show and sale of suckled calves with an entry of 1,579 forward.

The overall sale average for steers and heifers was £828.36, with steers levelling out at £846.73 (up £76.88) and heifers at £800.98 (up £92.81).

The show championship went to Messrs Trafford, Keswick, Cumbria, with a seven-month-old red and white Limousin cross steer. The title winner was sired by one of the Trafford's French imported stock bulls, Valoin, and bred from a three quarter British Blue cow. The steer went on to sell for the top price of £2,500 to the judge Anita Padfield, Norfolk.

At £2,400 was a Limousin cross heifer consigned by J.H. Emerson, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. This black heifer, a daughter of Salomon and bred from a British Blue cross Limousin mother, sold to Gavin Scott, Linlithgow, West Lothian.

The reserve champion ticket went to a four-month-old black heifer from Messrs Lee of Agars Hill, Whitfield. This heifer is sired by an Ainstablehall registered Limousin bull and out of a British Blue cross Limousin cow. She later sold for £1,000 to Messrs Lyon, Thurley.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

AN entry of 102 cows and fresh calved heifers were forward for the Western Holstein Club's monthly show and sale at Beeston and bidding peaked at 2,600gns.

Leading the bidding was the reserve champion, a second calf cow - Tameside Ella 120 - a daughter of Sterndale Fanatic from Ellis and Tom Summerscales, Stalybridge, Cheshire.

The buyer was Ted Fearon, Cartmel, Cumbria, who also paid 2,200gns for the champion, a heifer by R-E-W Buckeye consigned by Enchanted Holsteins,

Robert Bell, Knutsford, Cheshire, paid 2,300gns for Alandrew Gibson Melissa 2, a heifer by Silky Gibson bred from four generations of VG/EX dams and consigned by Alan Smith, Garstang.

The same buyer also paid 2,200gns for Chelton Lady 296, a daughter of Ricecrest Lindsay from John Lomas, Gawsworth, Cheshire.
Hywel and Sheila Evans, Llansilin, Shropshire, purchased two heifers from Wilson Boow, Millom, Cumbria. They were Dunnerdale Lou Maud, a Jenny-Lou Marshall daughter at 2,200gns and Dunnerdale FC Aldina, a Gillette Final Cut daughter at 2,150gns.
Mark Bowden, Malpas, Cheshire, sold a team of heifers to a top of 2,100gns for Starcross Samuelo Ivy 4, a daughter of Regancrest-Mr Samuelo. The buyer was A. and R. Needham, Congleton, Cheshire, who purchased a total 18 head and were the day's volume buyers.
A small selection of embryos topped at 400gns for four by Poos Stadel Classic from a VG88 Talent from the Laurie Sheik family.
 
Averages: 12 cows, £1,528.63; 67 heifers, £1,807.72; 79 head overall, £1,765.33; 25 embryos, £250.32.

Auctioneers: Wright Manley.

THE championship title at a Clitheroe's show and sale of British Blue sired cattle went to an eight-month-old British Blue steer from J.A. Gardener, Treales, Lancashire.

It went on to sell for £865 to the show judge, Chris Longton, Warrington.

Reserve champion was an eight-month-old heifer from J.C. Walker and Son, Dunsop Bridge, Clitheroe. It later realised £690 to A.A. Critchley and Son, Hutton, Preston.

The 300 head of cattle on offer met with a brisk trade throughout. A British Blue cow with heifer calf at foot from S. and H. Beattie, Newton, Preston, sold at £1,360. 

Auctioneers: Clitheroe Auction Mart.

TRADE for Blue Texel sheep peaked at 1,500gns last week's Society sale at Carlisle.

Top seller was a March 2007-born ram from D.G. and M.H. Jones, Llangammarch Wells, Powys. The ram took the overall show championship before being knocked down to G.A. and H.M. Francis, Abergorlech, Carmarthen.

David Alexander, Galston, Ayrshire, sold a shearling ram for 900gns to Messrs Paterson, Wigton, Cumbria.

Mr Alexander also sold the reserve champion, a shearling gimmer, for 1,200gns to top the female section. This one was sold to J.O. and J.G. Jones, Newtown, Powys.

Averages: 7 aged and shearling rams, £697.50; 3 ram lambs, £378; 5 shearling gimmers, £829.50; 1 ewe lamb, £630.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

THE annual Thainstone ram shows and sales saw increases across the board with some breed averages increasing by over £200 on the year and the sale leader realising1,600gns.

The top price of the day went to R. Neill, Dunning, Perth for his champion Bluefaced Leicester shearling, which sold for 1,600gns to A. McHardy and Sons, Auchnarrow, Ballindalloch. Mr Neill also sold another animal for 1,000gns to R. and G. Cahoon, New Byth, Turriff.

Champion Suffolk was a ram lamb from George and Melvin Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon and it went onto sell for 1,000gns to J.D. Lyon, Lower Wanford, Banff. Messrs Stuart's Suffolk flock average was £413.25 for 28 sold, up some £199.89 on the year.

At the same price was another Suffolk from C.A. Proctor and Son, Mains of Tollo, Turriff, going to I. and D. Robertson, Longhope, Orkney. The Proctors' flock average was £491 for 19 sold, up £176 compared to the same sale in 2008.

Top priced Texel was a ram lamb from Angus Sutherland, Crosskirk, Forss. It sold for 1,500gns to K. Ingram, Grange, Keith. Mr Sutherland's flock average was £778.75 for six sold, up £577.75 on the year.

The Texel title went to a shearling ram from Brian Buchan, New Aberdour Fraserburgh. It sold to James Gammel, Forter, Glenisla, Blairgowrie for 900gns. Mr Buchan's flock average was £640.50 for five sold, up £194.25 on the year.

Reserve champion was a ram lamb from Margaret Lyon, Ardmiddle, Turriff. It sold for 1,100gns to C.L. Sclater, Shapinsay, Orkney. Ms Lyon's flock average was up £401.10 on the year for six sold.

In the Border Leicester category a ram from K.W. Hourston, Orphir, Stromness, took the title and went on to sell for 400gns to I.M. Duncan, Oyne, Insch.

Champion Charollais was a ram lamb from H.E.G. Davies, Hillhead of Cannahars, Whitecairns. It sold for 700gns to G Yarr, Witton, Edzell. Mr Davies' top price of the day was 800gns for a ram lamb selling to Mackenzie, Whitebog, Fortrose.

The champion Beltex was the ram lamb from D. Mair, Aviemore, Turriff, which sold for 550gns to A. Johnstone and son, Tannachie, Stonehaven.

Averages: 23 Suffolk shearling rams, £395.34 (+£191); 271 Suffolk ram lambs, £399.43 (+£151); 85 Texel shearling rams, £473 (+£167); 120 Texel ram lambs, £450.25 (+£207); 16 Charollais shearling rams, £402 (+£101); 23 Charollais ram lambs, £406 (+£67); 20 Border Leicester ram lambs, £220.50 (-£12.97); 3 Rouge de l'ouest ram lambs, £248.50 (+£196); 10 Beltex shearling rams, £348.60 (+£202); 24 Bluefaced Leicester shearling rams, £545 (+£235).

Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts.

HEIFERS from J. Burrow and Sons Stardale herd, Barton, Preston were in demand at the September Lancaster Dairy Sale, where a small but select entry met a ready trade.

Top price of 2,650gns was paid by S. Robinson and Son, Burton-in-Lonsdale, Lancashire, for Stardale Arthur Duchess, a daughter of the home-bred Stardale King Arthur out of a VG87 Outside daughter, giving over 40 kg daily.

The Burrows' other entry, Stardale Toystory Vaakje made, 2,500gs to Ted Fearon, Cartmel.

At the same price the same buyer bought Witherslack Andre Honey from David and Wayne Inman, Grange-over-Sands.

The championship went to Tom Cowell, Kirkham, with Whitecarr Sahara Lester, a Riverdane Sahara daughter, which sold to James and Anne Rogerson's Avenham herd for 2,400gns.

The reserve champion, Kirkwood Gibson Emblem 3, from H. and S.D. Cornthwaite, Kirkland, sold for 1,600gs to Ted Fearon.

Averages: 4 cows, £1,792.88; 22 calved heifers, £1,896.68; 26 head overall, £1,880.71.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank with North West Auctions.

THE championship pen at the NEMSA show and sale at Skipton on Tuesday was from Ashley Caton, Otterburn, near Settle.

The title winners went on to sell for £115 per head to class co-judge Anthony Hewetson, Bank Newton, Skipton, who also purchased the first prize pen of 20 at £118 each from Alan Lodge, Malham Moor, Settle.

 
Patrick Walker, of W.P. and B. Walker, Appletreewick, Skipton, achieved top price of the day when his fourth prize pen of 10 sold for £120 per head to Margaret Watkinson, Sessay, Thirsk.  Mr Walker, who also sent out the second prize pen of 20, was top of the flocks when selling a total of 105 lambs at an overall average of £84.51.

The 6,116 Mule gimmer lambs forward averaged £72 each, compared to £52.48 per head at the corresponding fixture last year, maintaining the recent improvement in sheep trade.

Auctioneers: Craven Cattle Marts.

CATTLE at a show and sale of show potential cattle and sheep peaked at £1,850 for te overall champion.

The title winner was a black Limousin heifer from P.J. and T.A. Jones, Builth Wells.

Weighing 390kg it sold to Emily Jones, Lampeter.

The reserve champion was a 425kg steer from D.S. and D.A Brute, Brecon, Powys. It later sold for £1550 to G. Brook, Worcester.

The Championship in the sheep section went to H.C. Edwards, Breconn, with a pair of Beltex cross ewe lambs, which won the cross-bred section then topped the sale at £152 to average £148 each for the six lambs Mr Edwards had forward.

Averages: 10 steers, £954; 7 heifers, £1,327.

Auctioneers: McCartneys.

THE dispersal of the Adrian and Julie Hinton's Wentwood herd of Holsteins and their son Rhys' Sky herd at Raglan, Monmouthshire, last week saw 15 make over 2,000gns and 77 per cent sell to fellow Welsh breeders.

The top price of 8,000gns was, however, achieved for one from a guest consignment of nine from Bev and Teresa Baker's BB herd of Holsteins farmed nearby. Top seller was BB Dolman Candice, a Regancrest Dolman daughter, bred from three generations of EX cows descended from Harvdale Charles Candice. It sold fresh and giving 36kg to the Eola herd of I.L. Harries and the Bryn herd of I.L. Thomas.

The BB consignment also featured an 11-month-old Talent heifer from the Vixan family. She travels to Newport, Shropshire to join S.M. Gilman and Partners' Lilleshall herd at 3,000gns.

The Wentwood section topped at 3,800gns for Indianhead Mandelin Rachel Red. This VG89 third calf cow sold to Lloyd Thomas, Carmarthen.

Indianhead Dundee Raquel made 3,600gns selling to Kevin Thomas of Allstar Holsteins.

The Shottle calf at foot, born in June, was top priced calf at 2,600gns, selling to Alan Reece for his Tedoak herd, Shropshire.

Bidding for milking heifers peaked at 3,200gns for Wentwood Bambam Rita selling to Lloyd Thomas and heifer calves averaged £785.

Averages: Wentwood and Sky - 36 cows and calved heifers, £1,943; 4 served heifers, £1,562; 8 maiden heifers, £1,252; 48 head overall, £1,796. BB - 6 calved heifers, £3,176; 2 maiden heifers, £2,887; 8 head overall, £3,104.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank.

TRADE at Chelford auction's show and sale of rare and minority breeds peaked at 1,300gns for a pedigree Longhorn bull.

The bull, Bollin Ivor, by Blackbrook Mayhem was born in June 2008 and was consigned by Bollin Valley Partnership, Wilmslow, Cheshire. The hammer fell to E. Lilley, Saddleworth. A single Gloucester entry from J.D. Silverwood's Trentside herd of sold for 1,020gns. Trentside Jasmine, a February 2006 cow with her steer calf at foot and running with the bull again sold to C. Carney, Stafford.

Red Polls sold to 820gns for Beasthorpe Katie from the Home Farm at Tatton, Knutsford, Cheshire. This 2004-born daughter of Hinwick Nelson was snapped up by W. Bickerton and Partners, Middlewich, Cheshire.

The overall reserve prize went to an 18-month-old British White heifer from Messrs. Turner, Powys, which went onto sell for 750gns to L. Turner and Son, Wetley Rocks.

Just over 220 sheep met a lively trade and a top of 190gns was paid for a three-year-old Leicester Longwool ram from Cheshire East Council's Tatton Home Farm. The hammer fell to S. Johns, Llanymyneclh, Powys.

There was a 100 per cent clearance in the pig section with prices topping at 280gns for the champion - an in-pig pedigree Saddleback gilt from David Brock.

A six-month-old Gloucester Old Spot boar realised 250gns.

Auctioneers: Marshalls.

PRICES peaked at 6,000gns and four lots made over 4,000gns at the autumn dairy bull show and sale at Borderway mart recently.

Top price was paid for the 20-month-old Warnelview Impress from K.J. and C.S. Wilson, Thursby, Carlisle, and selling to T. Forsyth, Whithorn. Sired by Ladino Park Talent the bull is bred from a VG87 young Irene cow by Comestar Outside and took the show championship.

At 5,800gns was a slightly younger son of Stardale Roberto out of a Gelpro cow from William Armour, Moffat, Dumfriesshire. The buyer was M. and J. Howat, Stevenston, Ochiltree.

Leading the trade for British Friesian at 5,700gns was Langley Boxer from John Carnell, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. This bull is bred from the Cinderella family and is by Darleymoor Bruno.

A clearance rate of 70 per cent was realised.

Averages: 17 senior bulls, £3,248.82; 12 intermediate bulls £2,563.75; 9 junior bulls £1,866.66; 38 head overall, £2,705.12.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

IMPROVED trade, higher entry numbers and a top of 4,200gns were the highlights of the Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders' Association two-day sale at Skipton auction mart.

The sale topper was a shearling ram by David Towell, Glusburn Moor, Keighley. This March 2008-born home-bred shearling ram, Moor Top Ozone, and sold jointly to John Mellin, Hellifield, and John Wood, Trawden.

The ram is by Moor Top Nero and out of a daughter of Tophill Jerusalem.

A shearling ewe from the same flock and by the same sire topped the female trade at 2,400gns. The April 2008-born ewe also sold jointly this time to Peter and Trish Benson, Hellifield and Linda Mellin.

Mr Towell sold a total of eight shearling rams at an average of £1,297. This included Moor Top Orion, a March-born son of Moor Top Mustang, which made 1,350gns when knocked down to E. and K Bland, Tebay, Cumbria.

The male and overall champion was the February-born Parkholme Omaha from Graham and Sarah Taylor, Thirsk.

This Woolney Mosquito son sold to Carl Fawcett's Kissthorn flock, Sand Hutton, York, for 1,100gns.

The Taylors also sold a second shearling ram for 1,000gns to J.L. Miles and Son, Ellerbeck, Northallerton.

Averages: gimmer shearlings £309.75 (£226.77 in 2008), ewe lambs £145, shearling rams £570.31 (£421.16), ram lambs £344.73 (£262) and aged rams £567 (£384).

Auctioneers: Craven Cattle Marts.

THE milking section of the multi-breed dairy sale at Sedgemoor auction centre topped at 2,000gns for a Holstein second calver, Lilylane Lheros Nora 15, consigned by A.J. Bennett and Sons, Templecombe, Somerset.

This was matched by R.J. Goss and Sons with a freshly calved Holstein heifer - Posh Leader Clover.

Jersey milking cows from S.E. Lane and Partners, Kent, sold to 700gns for a February calved fourth calver that had given over 9,000kg in her third lactation.

Pedigree Ayrshire heifers were top of the in-calf heifer section peaking at 1,500gns.

Commercial Holstein in-calf heifers sold to 1,420gns and Jersey in-calf heifers sold to 650gns.

A large selection of youngstock sold to 900gns for D.C. Lewis who consigned 26 heifers from his Hartlandview herd in Barnstaple. The yearling heifer by Picston Shottle and out of three generations of VG or EX from the Huntlodge Bella family.

Averages: Holsteins - calved cows £1,907; calved heifers £1,854.30; in-calf heifers £1,365; served heifers £1,141.87; yearling heifers £631.33; heifer calves £351.75. Jerseys - calved cows £662.81; in-calf heifers £682.50; served heifers £483; bulling heifers £406. Ayrshires - in-calf heifers £1,464.75.

Auctioneers: Greenslade Taylor Hunt.

A new record price for a Bluefaced Leicester shearling ram was set on Saturday when a top price of £20,000 was achieved at Bentham auction.

Top seller was the champion ram, from Gordon Rawsthorne, Nether Kellet, Lancashire, and was knocked down to R. and P.E. Hargreaves and Sons, Barley, Burnley. The ram was a son of Keer T006 out of a Star Green M001 dam.

Other prices achieved for rams from Mr Rawsthorne included £7,500, £7,000 and £4,200.

A breed record price for a female was also set when Mr Rawsthorne's gimmer shearling sold for £5,800 to G.W. Whitwell, Settle, Yorkshire. The gimmer shearling was sired by the Swathburn Z001 ram.

Auctioneers: Richard Turner and Son.

THE South Western Shorthorn Breeders' Association's show and sale at Sedgemoor auction centre this weekend produced a top price of 1,680gns.

Top money was paid for the show champion; a freshly calved dark roan heifer, Ablington Digitalis 25, which was one of eight, consigned by W.H. and S.J. Rawlins and averaged over £1,400 each. Also at 1,680gns was the August calved heifer, Ablington Eaves Fairy 4th.

The top price cow at 1,600gns and a second calver, Wawcott Clemancy 46, consigned by R.F. Collins.

The reserve champion came from the suckler section and was the in-calf beef registered heifer Stonmour Barrington Petal, consigned by T.C. Blake, which went on to sell for 910gns.

The suckler section also included the Holden herd dispersal for the late Henry Doggrell and his wife Karen. Cows with spring born calves topped at 1,280gns for Holden Beauty and her heifer calf. The March 2008-born heifer, Holden Rose 6, sold for 760gns.

Averages: calved cows £1,347.50; calved heifers £1,434; in-calf heifers £833.33; heifer calves £279.13.

Auctioneers: Greenslade Taylor Hunt.

HOLSTEIN enthusiasts from across the country were out in force at Beeston auction on Tuesday for the 'sale for the century' - which was held as part of the celebrations for the black and white breed's centenary year.

The top price of 18,500gns came early in the sale for Sterndale Ashlyns Gold, an October 2007-born ET daughter of Braedale Goldwyn bred from Smiddiehill Durm Ashlyn.

From Bill Nadin's Peak herd at Buxton, Derbyshire, the successful buyer was Richard Thomas.

The heifer, bred from four successive generations of cows classified in the top two grades, sold in-calf and was due in March next year to Sterndale Mecury Red. Her dam, classified VG88 as a two-year-old, is full sister to the 12,000kg heifer - EK Oseeana Ashlyns Allure - which sold for $25,000 in 2001.

Just one lot earlier Bill Nadin sold another - Sterndale Ruby Tuesday - a two-year-old heifer by KHW Kite Advent Red. Tuesday, a red carrier, is in-calf to Scientific Debonair Red for January. The hammer fell to J. and A. Jamieson and Son.

It was towards the end of the sale that 12,000gns was realised for another Goldwyn daughter - Holmland A Goldwyn Pledge - from S.L. and P.S. Bell and G. Kirby, Penrith, Cumbria. Born in February this year this heifer is out of Alh Polly and has a sire stack including Shoremar James, Hartline Titanic and Comestar Outside. The buyer was Messrs Hesketh.

There were two at 9,000gns. The first was Picston Shottle Shula 58 from James Pickford, Spotacre Farms, Stone, Staffordshire. This 14-month-old ET calf by Shottle and out of Picston Silky Shula, is bred from nine generations of cows classified VG or EX. Her full sister, Shula 59, sold for 4,500gns earlier this year. This one heads to the Wilsbro herd with Anthony Wills and family, Wadebridge, Cornwall.

The other at 9,000gns was a red seven-month-old calf, Aintree Advent Rae Red, from Aintree Holsteins, Hope, Wrexham.

The heifer is out of Scientific Déjà vu Rae, which has 12 VG sisters. The buyer was Richard Atkin, Middlewich, Cheshire.

More details to follow......

THERE was plenty of demand for strong bulls ready to work, and for youngsters showing exceptional potential with prices peaking at 5,500gns at the British Blue Society's show and sale at Chelford last Saturday.

Earning the day's top call was Balzer Casanova; a November 2007-born Flash D'Izier son of the Baron Du Bois sired Balzer Waterlily. The bull was consigned by I.V. Phillips, Llandysul, Ceredigion, and bought by Messrs MacInnes, Isle of Tiree, Argyll.

At 5,000gns was the best of a pen of bulls from Mike Scott's Besthorpe herd, Newark, Nottinghamshire. Besthorpe Commander, an August 2007-born bull by Azur D'Ochain and out of the Hooton Omega sired Besthorpe Velexis sold to Wright Brothers, Boston, Lincolnshire.

The reserve overall and male championship prizes went to the January 2008-born, Betws Diggar, from Gill and Rhys Bellis, Landysul, Ceredigion. This Osborn Van Terbeck son out of the Urbi Du Bois sired Currarie Primrose, was knocked down to Messrs Parkinson, Atherstone, Warwickshire, for 4,200gns.

Stephen and Gill Potter, Thirsk, Yorkshire, sold their September 2007-born bull, Brookfield Columbo, for 3,700gns. Sired by Brookfield Thurso out of Brookfield Patrice, he went home with S. Bennett, Keighley, Yorkshire.

The show judge - Andy Ryder, Moffat Dumfriesshire, tapped out Tamhorn Daffodil as his overall and female champion. This January 2008-born Sumo sired heifer from Jane and Danny Wyllie, Edingale, Stafford went on to make 4,300gns. The hammer fell to Andrew Vince, Lutterworth, Leicestershire.

Leading the female trade was the 5,000gns bid for Hawthorne Dotty Com from John Mawer, Spilsby, Lincolnshire. This heifer had already been shown successfully at a number of shows this summer. By Dafydd D'Ochain she is an ET daughter of Immediate ET 2840 De Mehogne. The buyer was Messrs Taylor, Belper, Derbyshire.

Of the younger heifers, Alan Bromyard, New Sawley, Nottinghamshire, sold his Gitan daughter, Inishfree Delilah, for 3,700gns to Alan Wheelwright, Cragg Vale, Halifax. Anita Padfield sold her successful show heifer, Piggots Candyfloss, for 3,000gns. Candyfloss is by Serum D'Anloy and out of their Ridge Dean Navette daughter, Ridge Dean Wren. She was snapped up by David and Gail Ellis, St Ives, Cornwall.

A small offering of British Blue cross-bred Cattle met with spirited bidding. In the halter led section Frank Page, Elkington, Northamptonshire, was awarded the championship with a November-born steer. It was knocked down at £1,500 to Sara Duffin, Melton Mowbray.

The same buyer also paid £1,550 for the top priced heifer from A.G. Kirton and Sons, Bewdley, Worcestershire.

A top price of £1,650 was realised for a seven-month-old steer from Nigel Pritchard, Norton Canon, Herefordshire. The steer took the reserve championship before selling to Messrs Lyon, Bourne, Lincolnshire.

Averages: 43 pedigree bulls, £2,700.83; 23 pedigree females, £2,638.13; cross-bred steers £1,049; cross-bred heifers £1,255.

Auctioneers: Frank Marshall and Co.

THE first Lleyn Sheep Society sale of 2009 got off to a flying start with a new centre record set at Ross on Wye, when a yearling ram sold for 8,250gns.

The top seller, bred by Emrys and Dylan Jones, Lluest Wen, Machynlleth, sold to Derek and Cindy Steen, Whitcastles, Lockerbie.

The yearling is by a Wynne Davies ram, which took the Royal Show breed championship in 2007. His dam was one of the first crop of lambs by Ballylinney Action Man, bought by the Jones family in 2006 at the Carlisle Lleyn Sheep Society Ssale, from Derek and Cindy Steen. Action Man also sired the top price ram at Ross in 2008. Females from Lluest Wen had a strong performance, with 71 yearling ewes averaging £137, and the top pen reaching £152.

A pen of five yearling ewes from the Lleyn Sheep Society chairman and his wife, John and Gill Adams, topped the females at £154 per head. Originating from Truro in Cornwall, these ewes are now headed for Measham Lodge Farm, hosts of the Ashby Agricultural Show in Leicestershire.

The show before the sale proved highly successful for South Wales breeders, Dai and Cynthia Morris, whose shearling ram and pen of ewe lambs both took first prize. The pen of five ewe lambs went on to top their section, selling at £100 to K.A. and E.A. James Evans, Ty Helyg, Lampeter, and the yearling ram sold for 820gns to A.W. Neish, Warminster.

The quality of sheep offered was high and trade lively, with 1,303 MV accredited yearling ewes sold on the day to average £112.64. Overall averages for yearling ewes were up £29.19 on the year.

Averages: non-MV females - 10 three-year-olds, £80; 19 two-year-olds, £75; 85 yearlings, £93.71; 84 ewe lambs, £57.44. MV females - 17 five-year-olds, £74.71; 134 four-year-olds, £76.98; 20 three-year-olds, £80.80; 29 two-year-olds, £83.03; 1,303 yearlings, £112.64; 415 ewe lambs, £74.26; 92 MV rams, £587.89.

Auctioneers: Williams and Watkins.

A sale of Wagyu cattle at Sedgemoor auction centre on Saturday 12 September will provide potential buyers with an unique opportunity to purchase unique cattle.

The Wagyu cattle are being sold by Lord Roborough, Taunton, and will be included in Sedgemoor's monthly sale of suckler cows and calves.

Wagyu are renowned for the production of Kobe beef, which is known for its intense marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavour, tenderness and juiciness.

Originally imported into Japan in the second century to provide power for the cultivation of rice, the herd was closed from 1635 to 1868 by mandate of the Shogun. After the late 1800's the national Japanese herd has remained closed to this day.

Through the history of the breed, Japan's rugged terrain created isolated pockets in which different breeding and feeding techniques were used. This resulted in distinctly different characteristics, which over the years, led to cattle from the Kobe region becoming a standard for the world in terms of flavour and tenderness.

Beer was fed to cattle during the humid summer months to encourage food intake. Another practice still common amongst Japanese Wagyu cattle breeders, is the brushing of their cattle's coats with Sake and producers in Japan believe that hair coat and softness of skin are related to meat quality.

Additionally Japanese breeders are known to massage their cattle to relieve stress and muscle stiffness in the cattle. It is thought that the eating quality of the meat is affected positively by keeping the cattle calm and content.

Auctioneers: Greenslade Taylor Hunt 

A new show and sale of multi-breed pedigree bulls and females will be held at Thainstone Centre on Friday September 25.

This new date on the calendar has been designed to meet the wishes of breeders across the region for a stronger sale of this type in the north east.

With the changes in the Scottish livestock auction sector, the sale aims to offer a more local service for both breeders and buyers, easing associated sale costs and the pressures on farms of the ever-tightening labour situation.

John Gregor, Aberdeen and Northern Marts' general manager said: "There is a desire from north east breeders to have a strong outlet for pedigree stock at Thainstone so with this in mind we have scheduled a sale for Friday September 25. This should allow breeders a good local offering of bulls, timed ahead of the autumn breeding period.

"We chose the date carefully and this sale will take place in the afternoon on the same day as one of the major show and sales of weaned calves so we anticipate a large audience of commercial breeders will be in attendance."

A top of 3,500gns was realised at the Western Holstein Club's show and sale held at Beeston and sponsored by Farmers Guardian.

Auctioneers reported trade was 'up and down' with strong heifers and young cows finding the best prices.

Sale topper was the female champion, Bilsrowan Jasper Jade, from Peter Tomlinson, Singleton, Blackpool. This daughter of Wilcoxview Jasper bred from the Robthom Ivory Mark family sold to J.A. and N.M. Jones and Sons for their Emeraldgrove herd, Boncath, Ceredigion.

They also paid 3,000gns for an Oseeana Astronomical daughter, Fordswood Astro Rhapsody, bred from 11 generations of EX dams and consigned by Howard Walmsley, Garstang.

At the same price was a red and white heifer, Whinchat Rampage Molli Red, jointly owned by Andrew Birkle and Keith Gibbs, Loughborough. The hammer fell to Kevin Thomas, Whitland, Carmarthenshire.
Bulls were a 'hit and miss trade' toppings at 1,650gns for the champion, Carldanton Advent Contender, from Anthony Grimshaw, Bolton. It sold to W.T. Bunting, Parwich, Ashbourne.

His full ET brother sold for 1,450gns to J.G. and C.A. Bayley, Nuneaton.   
         
Averages: 14 cows, £1,606.50; 63 milking heifers, £1,890.83; 11 bulls, £1,145.45; 88 head overall, £1,752.43.

Auctioneers: Wright Manley.