December 2009 Archives

THE Red Ladies Limousin Derby at Bordeway Mart brought the 2009 British Limousin sale season to close with a top price of 38,000gns, eight animals at 8,000gns or more, and an all-breeds record average of over £4,400 for maiden heifers.

Christmas arrived a week early for the Savage family - father Henry and his sons Henry, Benedict and Phelim, Newry, Northern Ireland, who secured the day's top price for their pre-sale show champion.

This September 2008-born maiden heifer, Trueman Duet, is an AI calf by Sympa and out of the Nenuphar-sired Trueman Acoustics. In September this year she had placed first in her class at the Northern Ireland calf spectacular.' Paying top money was Smiths of Bloxham, Banbury, Oxfordshire, who four more.

As well as the day's top price, the 38,000gns figure is a new Northern Irish record for a pedigree Limousin and is the second highest price paid for a maiden heifer in the UK.

At 28,000gns was Millington Davina from Millington Grange Estate, Millington, York, selling to Charlie Boden, Stockport, Cheshire.

Davina, a February 2008 born heifer, is by the French sire Mas Du Clo and is out of Brockhurst Option by Ronick McAinsi. In 2009 Davina picked up a host of show titles including breed champion at the Royal.

Mr Boden also purchased the in-calf Whinfellpark Clover for 9,000gns from A. Jenkinson, Penrith, Cumbria. This March 2007-born heifer is French bred being sired by Regal and out of Toison. She was sold in-calf to the 50,000gns Wilodge Cerberus.

Ringway Daphne from P.J. and E. Henshall, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, made 13,000gns. Born in April 2008 this heifer sold to Procters Farm, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Daphne is a daughter of Ringway Venetia who is by the herd's 15,000gns stock bull Cloughhead Rocket.

At 11,000gns was Glangwden Coquette consigned by C.L. and F.E. Jerman, Caersws, Powys, and knocked down to Smiths of Bloxham. This in-calf heifer is a daughter of the 43,000gns Haltcliffe Ullswater and out of the Soleil-sired Glangwden Vaquerette.

From the same home Glangwden Calex made 8,000gns selling to C. and W. Phillips, who run the Powerhouse herd, Weobley, Herefordshire. Calex is a September 2007-born daughter of Haltcliffe Ullswater.

Smiths of Bloxham bought the reserve champion, Dunnamona Davina, for 9,000gns from John D. Rainey, Co Derry, Northern Ireland. Bred by I.S. Jobb, Co Tyrone, this April 2008-born heifer is by Sauvignon.

Another from Northern Ireland, this time Melbreak Dazzle from J. and A. Callion, Dromore, Co Tyrone, made 8,000gns going to Smiths of Bloxham. This September 2008-born heifer is another by Sympa.

Rounding off the Smiths of Bloxham purchases was Mynach Diamante at 6,500gns. Consigned by E.D. Griffiths and Co, Cymfelin Mynach, Carmarthen this January 2008- born heifer is by the herd's stock sire Sable.

A new all-breeds record price for frozen embryos was also set when four Grade A embryos from Christine Williams and Paul Tippetts, Shifnal, Shropshire made 2,200gns apiece. The breeding of the embryos combined the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic with the 24,000gns Sarkley Bellola. Purchaser was D.W. and E.M.E. Armstrong, Chorley, Lancashire, who runs the Gritstone pedigree herd.

Averages: 3 cows served and/or suckling, £3,045; 10 served heifers, £5,010; 52 maiden heifers, £4,421.12.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

A top of 800gns was achieved at the show and sale of in-lamb females at Skipton.

Earning the day's call was the show champion - a shearling by Gib Farm Motorolo - from Mark and Helen Keighley, Leathley, Otley.

In-lamb to Heyworth Lodge Officer it sold to William Warren, Cleckheaton, Yorkshire.

The Keighleys also sent out the third prize shearling female, a daughter of Strathbogie Knock Out, and also in-lamb to Heyworth Lodge Officer. It sold to D. Birkill, of Harpham, Driffield, for 530gns.

Averages: 60 shearlings, £324.45 (£219 in 2008); 16 ewes, £286.13 (£246).

Auctioneers: Craven Cattle Marts.

THE first south west winter fair to be held at Sedgemoor auction centre saw the winner in the haltered section go on to sell for 370p/kg.

The title winner was an 18-month-old Limousin cross heifer weighing 581kg consigned by Michael Kingston, Catcott, Somerset. It grossed £2,147 selling to Tony Fear of Frome Vale Animal Products.

Reserve went to a 17-month-old Limousin steer from Christine Williams, Shropshire. It sold at 255p/kg (£1,692) to Court Farm Butchers.

Another Limousin steer, weighing 542kg, from the same home made 220p/kg (£1,186.69).

Claiming first prize in the regular market user class were Messrs Stuart Clatworthy and Simon David. Their 642kg Limousin steer was purchased by Bob and Ross Withers, Cornwall, at 232ppk (£1486.23).

Other cattle over 200p/kg were the champion un-haltered beast from D.E. and S.J. Cheacker, Pilning, Bristol. This was a 570kg Limousin steer that sold for 210p/kg (£1194.15) to Messrss Withers.

Auctioneers: Greenslade Taylor Hunt.

THE championship rosette went to Mark Schofield, Rossendale, Lancashire, at Gisburn auction marts' Christmas stirk show.

This seven-month-old British Blue heifer sold for £725 to W.M.S (Norfolk), Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Auctioneers: Richard Turner and Son

TAKING the overall cattle title at Colchester's primestock show and sale was a British Blue cross heifer from W.A. Ketley and Sons, Fingringhoe, Colchester.

This heifer was also one of the best pair in show and sold at 275p/kg (£1,449.25) to John Coleman, Boxted, Colchester, for this Boxted shop.

Reserve show champion and the best steer over 525 kg went to Matt Barker, Diss, Norfolk, and was purchased by the judge, Ted Neal, on behalf of Bowers Bros, Kings Lynn, at 230p kg (£1,465.10)

The trophy for best butchers beast under 525kg was awarded to Richard Thornton, Wortham, Norfolk, and purchased by John Allen of W. Allen and Son, Colchester for his shop at 235p/kg (£1,153.85).

An entry of 52 sheep were forward in the show classes and the best pair of lambs were exhibited b B. and H. Sheep, Watford. These Charollais cross lambs sold at 421p/kg (£170 a head), which was a centre record. The hammer fell to the judge Ð George Debman, Ipswich.

Auctioneers: Stanfords.

THE champion sold for £5,000 at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic show and sale at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

The title winner, a 614kg Charolais cross heifer from Mr and Mrs H. Brown, Maud, Peterhead, sold to butcher John Davidson, Inverurie.

Mr Davidson was one of the judges and he, with fellow judge Iain Mathers, selected Mr BrownÕs animal as the overall champion praising its level of fat cover and its shape.

There was more success for the Brown family with Christopher Brown, HarryÕs nephew, taking the YFC championship with the 580kg March 2008-born Limousin cross heifer, Twinkle Toes. It went on to sell for £2,100 to Harry Emslie, Mintlaw, Peterhead.

Harry Brown senior took the unhaltered championship with a 624kg November 2007-born Limousin cross heifer, which sold for £1,400 to K. Duffton, Corse, Huntly.

The butchersÕ champion came from Wilson Peters, Monzie, Crieff. This March 2008-born Limousin cross steer weighed in at 602kg and sold to Gordon Simpson butcher, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, for £1,800.

The overall reserve champion came from B.S. Paton, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir and was shown by the PatonsÕ daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Stuart Hunter. The 532kg September 2008-born Limousin cross steer was also overall steer champion and sold for £1,600 to John Kent of Direct Meats, Colchester.

The Patons also took the reserve steer and heifer awards: reserve steer was The Bard, an April 2008-born 722kg Limousin cross. It realised £1,584 (220p/kg) to Woodwards of Henfield.

Reserve heifer was Tootie Frootie, a September 2008-born 520kg Limousin cross which sold at £1,352 (260p/kg) to W. Stewart, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly.

Winner in the prime sheep category was C. Angus, Thurso, with two Texel crosses weighing 45kg. They sold to judge Tom Hutchon of J.B. Penman Butchers, Crail, Fife, for £300 per head.

Reserve went to W. and C. Ingram, Pitcaple, Inverurie, with two Charollais cross Texels weighing 44kg. They too sold to Tom Hutchon for £160 apiece.

YFC champion was Bruce Ingram, Logie Durno, Pitcaple, with a pair of Texel cross Charollais, weighing 43kg. They were knocked down to Tom Hutchon for £220 a piece.

Bidding for bulls peaked at 4,200gns twice; firstly for Shannas Duke, a March 2008-born Limousin from Mr and Mrs J. Penny, Clola, Peterhead. The buyer was I. Proctor and Son, Glenlogie, Alford.

The other was for a February 2008-born Charolais, Auchincrieve Dart, consigned by C. and E. McCombie, Rothiemay, Huntly, and selling to Messrs Glass and Smith, Muir of Fowlis, Alford.

The overall bull champion was a March 2008-born Charolais, Bonnykelly Darra, from R. Leggat, New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh. It realised 3,000gns to I. and R. Urquhart, North Kessock, Inverness.

In the pedigree sheep classes, the Texel champion was a gimmer from A.G. Howie, West Knock, Mintlaw. The hammer fell at 1,900gns to E.H. Alexander, Auchenbreddie, Insch.

Champion in the dairy section was Deveronside Dargue Pamela, a September 2007-born Holstein from S.G. Mair and Son, Turriff. The judge, W. Taylor, Tannadice, Forfar, bought the title winner at 2,000gns.

Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts.

THE entry of 131 cows and milking heifers and six maiden heifers sold to a top price of 4,000gns twice at the Western Holstein Club's final show and sale of the year.

The leading prices were dominated by entries from Roger and Pat Sutton, Congleton, Cheshire, who are selling cows as they calve over the next four months as part of the mini reduction of their Rowarton herd. They sold 13 cows and heifers this month to average £2,801.

The 4,000gns bids came in for their champion and a third prize cow. The champion,

Rowarton Stormatic Daisy, is a daughter of Stormatic out of a Juror-bred dam.

The other was Rowarton Axiom Orchid 2, a fresh second calf daughter of Canyon-Breeze Axiom which was the fifth generation of cows classified in the two. Both were both purchased by an undisclosed buyer from South Wales who also purchased three others from Rowarton. These included the second calf Rowarton Stormatic Orchid at 3,800gns, Rowarton Axiom Meg at 2,900gns and the reserve champion, Rowarton Sensation Rose, at 2,500gns.

Heifers sold to 3,300gns for a junior heifer, Dunnerdale Bolton Kim, from Wilson Boow, Millom, Cumbria. This daughter of Sandy-Valley Bolton is bred from seven generations of VG/EX dams. The hammer fell to Keith and Martin Lowry for their Halen herd, west Wales.

They also purchased the next highest priced heifer, Forte DS Baby, from A.L. and H.F. Nottage, Norwich. This daughter of Mr Sam, bred from seven generations of dams scored VG/EX, made 2,700gns.

The Lowry's also purchased the Dupasquier Carisma daughter, Rowarton Carisma Meg from the Sutton's for 2,550gns. Her older second calf sister, Rowarton Shottle Meg, earlier made 3,000gns to David and Mimi McClurg, Crossgar, Northern Ireland.

The McClurgs also purchased the Shottle heifer, Felmersham Shottle Sarah 8, from H.G. Robinson and Sons, Bedford for 2,550gns.

The only other heifer to break the 2,500gns barrier was Burlane Stormatic Fortuna consigned by Simon Powell, Burlton, Shrewsbury, and selling to N.E. and E.M. Bargh and Son, Blackburn.

Averages: 29 cows, £2,035.91; 87 heifers, £1,975.57; 116 milkers, £1,990.66; 6 maiden heifers, £964.25; 122 head overall, £1,940.17
Auctioneers: Wright Manley.