February 2010 Archives

A show and sale of pedigree bulls at Thainstone Mart's Royal Northern Spring show saw a record price of 10,000gns achieved.

This was for the overall champion, a 20-month-old Charolais bull, Kinclune Director, by Moyness Vichy, from J.A. Wilson and Sons, Glenkindie, Aberdeenshire. The buyer was G. McBain, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

Mr Wilson sold another by the same sire at 8,000gns to John Mackie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

The reserve Charolais champion, Blelack Dazzler, a two-year-old son of Solitude Amazing, from Neil Massie and Sons, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, sold for the second highest price of 9,000gns to John Gordon, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

Limousin sold to a top of 6,800gns - a centre record for the breed - for a third prize bull, Buchaam Dazzler, a 22-month-old by Burnbank Astar, from Charles and Keith Ogg, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, to J. and J. Young, Glenkindie, Alford, Aberdeenshire.

THE Scottish show season got off to a stormy start on Wednesday as snow storms swept the North-east but this did not deter showgoers attending the Royal Northern Spring Show at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

The show proved a triumph for Perthshire exhibitor, John Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, who swept the boards in the beef cattle section, taking the supreme championship and reserve, the heifer championship and reserve and the steer championship.

His supreme and heifer champion was an 18-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Thriller, bred in Northern Ireland by Dermott Small, and purchased privately at the Royal Highland Winter Fair last November. The heifer, sired by Ronick Hawk, is being retained for breeding in Mr Robertson's suckler herd.

But Mr Robertson claimed the top price when he sold his reserve champion, an eight-month-old home-bred Limousin cross heifer by Craigatoke Butch, at £3,800 to Wilson Peters, Crieff, Perthshire.

His steer champion, a nine-month-old calf by the same sire, realised the second highest price when sold at £3,000 to Bert Paton, Kirriemuir, Angus.

The Robertson stranglehold was only broken by the furthest travelled exhibitor, Drew Hislop, Girvan, Ayrshire, who took the reserve steer champion with a 13-month-old Limousin steer by Shatton Pedro. This steer was withdrawn unsold at £2,000.

Averages: 15 heifers, £1,310 (£3.22/kg) 16 steers, £1,183.75 (£2.60/kg); 31 head overall, £1,244.84 (£2.89/kg).

THE Border British Blue Club staged their eleventh annual open calf show recently at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, with over 40 entries forward for judging.

The female and overall championship was awarded to J.E. Bellas and Son, Appleby, with Croftends Emma a January 2009 daughter out of the Empire D'Ochain and Croftends Belle flush.

Carrick Primestock, Lyonpark, Maybole took the reserve female championship and reserve overall championship with Lyonpark Evelien a February 2009 daughter of the Gitan Du P'Tit Mayeur and Woodview April ET flush.

The male championship was awarded to Kevin Watret, Annan, Dumfriesshire, with Solway View Emirates a January 2009 son out of a Bringlee Blackstar and Annanwater Venice flush.

Mick Gamble and Sarah Rigg, Hownam, Kelso, took the reserve male championship with the May 2009-born Sharplaw Engineer. This ET son of Empire D'Ochain is out of Cowden Blueberry.

Carrick Primestock won the progeny group with two Gitan Du P'Tit Mayeur calves. This saw the reserve champion, Lyonpark Evelien, paired with another heifer - Lyonpark Elise.

The reserve progeny group went to two Empire D'Ochain calves shown by J.E. Bellas and Son. This pair was the overall champion, Croftends Emma, together with a bull - Croftends Eddie.

A new monthly calf show at Skipton saw prices rise to £388 for a Limousin cross bull from D. and P. Spence and Sons, Silsden Moor.

The buyer was the show judge, Tony Binns, Clint, Harrogate, who also paid £385 for another Limousin bull calf consigned by Paul and Janet Bolland.

The champion was a four-week-old British Blue bull calf from A. Sowray and Sons, Bishop Thornton. It sold at £365 to Chris Broadley, of Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon, who bought a total of seven calves at the show, among them five prize winners.

Averages: Limousin bulls £315; heifers £236. British Blue bulls £313; heifers £283. Angus bulls £48, heifers £160. Black and white bulls £108.

Auctioneers: Craven Cattle Marts.

AN entry of 12 pedigree Limousin bulling heifers from the Stagbatch herd of B.W. Speakman, Leominster, sold to 4,050gns at Llandovery market monthly cattle sale last Friday.

Earning the top call was Stagbatch Davina, an April 2008-born Objat daughter out of a Grange Pascal sired dam. The heifer was snapped up by E.J. Simcock, Preston Wynne, Hereford.

Next was 3,700gns paid by R.J. Lewis, Heyhope, Knighton, for Stagbatch Daisy an April 2008-born heifer out of a Ronick Hawk dam. Mr Lewis also bought Stagbatch Dixie, a May 2008 daughter of Liscon Volvic by a Cloughhead Lord dam at 2,700gns. The 12 heifers averaged £2,170.

Two pedigree 24-months-old Limousin bulls from the Mynach herd of E.D. Griffiths and Co averaged £2,730.

Commercial store cattle trade was buoyant with the 187 steers averaging £807 or 178p/kg and the 175 heifers on offer levelling at £706 (172p/kg). Commercial cows and calves peaked at £1,730n and averaged £1,350.

Auctioneers: Clee Tompkinson and Francis

A special show and sale of North Country Cheviot females held at Lockerbie Market attracted a good interest and saw a top price of £1,200.

The leading price of the event went to the pre-sale championship winner from the Park section, which was judged by Martin Taylor of Kelso.

Consigned by W. and J. Thomson, Kelso, their £1,200 gimmer sold to James Burton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

At £920 was the next leading price tag shown by C.R. Graham and Sons, Carruthers, Waterbeck. This Park section gimmer entry was the top lot from this consignment and was also knocked down to James Burton.

The Carruthers pen also led the Park ewe section at £850, which sold to Kelsocleugh Farming, Kelso, and another ewe from the same pen sold for £700 going to Messrs Williams, Northampton.

The Hill section classes were judged by Willie Sandilands, Hexham, and he found his champion entry in a gimmer shown by Messrs Thomson, Hownam Grange. It later sold for the top price of the Hills at £500 going to J.R. Westall, Halifax.

The sale also included the the dispersal sale of North Country Lairg type females from J. and J. Bell, Hallbankgate, Brampton. This consignment topped at £150.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

ALTHOUGH bidding did not reach the dizzy heights of last year's record breaking centenary elite sale, there was still a sound enough trade at this year's event held at Stoneleigh at the conclusion of the National All Breeds show.

Topping the sale was a rising eight-month-old calf from the Willsbro herd of Wills Bros, Wadebridge, Cornwall.

Willsbro Goldwyn F Rachel, is bred from nine successive generations of EX cows, her dam being the twice 15,000kg and 16,000gns EX92 Rockset Faber Rachel. Her maternal sister by Ladino Park Talent is the dam of the reserve champion calf at the previous day's show. Purchaser at 6,000gns was John Downing of the Wintersell herd, Edenbridge, Kent.

At 5,500gns Robert and Elaine Butterfield of the Ingleview herd, Bentham, purchased the three-month-old Huddlesford Sanchez Melody from Tom Cope, Lichfield
Staffordshire. This cow family had been highly successful in the show earlier in the day, winning the family group, and her dam was sold for 11,500gns at last year's sale.

Nev Roberts of the Dulais herd, Llanelli, South Wales, sold Dulais Goldwyn Ghost 2 at 4,800gns. This October 2009-born heifer is bred from 10 successive generations of EX or VG cows. The hammer fell to a telephone bid from Douglas Forsyth of the Baltier herd, Whithorn, Wigtownshire.

At 4,500gns was another from the Copes; this time Huddlesford Wisconsin-Red Jodie Red. This October born ET daughter of April-Day Wisconsin-Red sold to Rob Kirk for the Leedham herd, Leicestershire.

The last lot through the ring; a Dairy Shorthorn sold for a breed record price of 3,600gns.

The January 2009-born calf was consigned by G.G. Baynes and Son, Hexham, Northumberland. This heifer is by Fradon Jet-Red and out of the EX93 Marleycote Fleur. The buyer was the Dairy Shorthorn judge, Seimon Thomas of the Drisgol herd, Pembrokeshire. The heifer had impressed Mr Thomas who had awarded it the breed junior championship on the first day of judging.

The previous best price for Dairy Shorthorn stock sold at auction was 3,200gns achieved in 1995.

Averages: 13 heifer calves, £3,739.62.

Auctioneers: Norton and Brooksbank.

Top prices

6,000gns - Willsbro to Wintersell

5,500gns - Huddlesford to Ingleview

4,800gns - Dulais to Baltier

4,500gns - Huddlesford to Leedham

3,600gns - Woodmarsh to Ingleview

GOLDIE bred bulls from Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfries, dominated the Charolais bull prices realising the top of 26,000gns with others selling at 14,000gns and 11,000gns.

Earning the top call was Goldies Detour, an October 2008-born son of Goldies Banker, which was knocked down to Charlie Boden's Sportsmans herd, Stockport, Cheshire. Detour's sire, Banker made 14,000gns when sold at Perth but some semen was retained for use on 95-head Goldie herd. Hamish regards Banker's dam, Goldies Umble, as one of the best cows he has bred, breeding many good priced bulls and breeding females.

Detour's dam, Goldies Violin is out Allanfauld Gigi, which was bought as an aged cow when the Goldies herd was restocked after foot-and-mouth.

At 14,000gns was the reserve junior champion, Goldies Decider. Another October 2008 bull this one is by the 25,000gns Goldies Unbeatable and out of a Goldies Uppermost bred dam, Goldies Blossom. The buyer was W.D. Mundell and Son, Clovenfords, Galashiels.

The bull at 11,000gns was Goldies Diademe, a June 2008-born son of Balthayock Ulex out of a Blelack Rustic sired dam - Goldies Ura. The hammer fell to Mountquihanie Farms, By Cupar, Fife.

Other leading consignors included Drew and Bob Adam, Glamis, Angus, who sold bulls at 22,000gns, 15,000gns, 14,000gns and 10,000gns.

At 22,000gns was Newhouse Dingdong, which was awarded the overall and intermediate championship titles in the pre-sale judging. Dingdong, being shown for the first time, is by Sackville Adonis, which has previously bred sons to 26,000gns for the Balmyle herd. The August 2008-born Dingdong is the first bull calf out of Newhouse Vicky, a Balnuith Ringleader daughter. The buyer of this was pedigree breeder; David Fattorini for the Fairway herd, Tockwith, York.

The overall and junior champion, Auchorachan Wizard has just realised 20,000gns. Consigned by Michael Durno, Glenlivet, it was knocked down to pedigree breeder - Joe Wilson for his Ballinalare Farm herd, Newry, Co Down. This October 2008-born bull is by Saltire Talent, which was bought by Mr Durno for 4,800gns at the Perth sales two years ago. It is out of a Harestone Hercules-bred dam - Ravensworth Madie, which was bought as a bulling heifer for the foundation of the now 22-strong Auchorachan herd seven years ago.

The Simmental judging has now been concluded here at Stirling and the overall championship title has gone to the junior champion, Auchorachan Wizard, from Michael Durno.

Wizard, born in October 2008, is by Saltire Talent, which was bought from Perth two years ago for 4,800gns. It's out of Ravensworth Madie, which was bought as a bulling heifer about six years ago as one of the herd's foundation cows.

Mr Durno has 22 pedigree cows and this is the first Perth title he has won.

In reserve was the senior champion, Banwy Wonderboy, from Richard Jones and shown by his son and daughter - Dafydd and Nia. Wonderboy, by the AI sire Camus Brandy, is part of the Jones' 15-strong herd.

Holstein UK has reported record entries for the National All Breeds Show with around 500 head of dairy cattle booked from over 100 different exhibitors.

Taking part in the classes will be Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Guernseys, Holsteins, Jerseys and Shorthorns.

Here's the last few bits and pieces from Stirling.

I'm off back home now and I hope the weather holds up the further south I get as I hear there's snow about.......

British Blue

British Blue bulls sold to a top price of 3,900gns for Lyonpark Dendermonde, a March 2008-born bull from Carrick Primestock, Maybole, Ayrshire.

This Widewath Ace son was knocked down to A. and B. Kerr, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire.

At 3,500gns Jonathan Bellas, Appleby, Cumbria, sold Croftends Dan, an ET son of Hazelwood Freshman. The buyer was Terry Coghill, Birsay, Orkney.

Blonde

The only two Blonde bulls sold made 4,000gns and 3,500gns. The top price was achieved by P. Weightman and Sons, Peterlee, Co Durham, for Hallfield Demon.

This April 2008-born Blackwater Ainsley son sold to B. and S. Scrymgeour, Angus.

At 3,500gns was Ardmore Diplomat from M.C. Grant, Insch, Aberdeenshire, selling to D. and I. MacIntosh, Kirriemuir, Angus.

Salers

Trade topped at 4,700gns for Salers bulls with the sale leader being Whitebog Drew from Alister McKenzie, Fortrose.

This July 2008-born bull is by Uni and out of the Lascar sired dam - Whitebog Trixy. The final bidder was James Gillanders, Arnage, Ellon.

Another from the same home and by the same sire, Whitebog Dunc, made 4,200gns selling to Derculich Farm, Pitlochry, Perthshire.

In the female section top price was 3,300gns for a Sagitaire sired heifer, Rigel Isis, from Messrs Pye, Middleton-on-Leven, Yarm. It was snapped up by J. Morton and Son, Melrose, Roxburghshire.

Another from Rigel, this time an Amazonien sired heifer - Rigel Hosta - made 2,300gns to J. Martin and Son, Dalry, Aryshire.

BLACK bulls ahve topped the trade for Limousin bulls here today with the three top sellers coming from the same home and being by the same sire.

The bulls, from Drew and Bob Adam's Newhouse herd at Glamis, Forfar, sold at 12,000gns twice and 9,000gns. All are by Tamarvalley Boscastle, which was imported as an embryo from Canada by breeder Bill Harper, Devon, and then bought privately by the Adams'. This is the first crop of calves off Boscastle.

The first at 12,000gns was the reserve junior champion, Newhouse Black Dominator, which was out of Newhouse Teak - the dam of last October's overall champion and 16,000gns seller Newhouse Black Colorado. The July 2008-born Dominator sold to George McGregor, Glenfarg, Perth for a 200-strong commercial herd.

Dominator is homozygous black meaning it will always throw black calves.

The other at 12,000gns was Newhouse Black Denver, a heterozygous black out of Newhouse Star, a Mapleleaf Jukebox sired dam. The hammer fell to pedigree and commercial breeder Will Corrie, of Corrie Meats, Newtonwards, Co Down.

At 9,000gns was Newhouse Black Dakota, a homozygous black bull, out of Newhouse Violet. This one was snapped up by Brian Marrs, Cockermouth, Cumbria.

Another three black bulls from Newhouse and all by Boscastle sold at 6,000gns and 5,800gns twice taking the Newhouse consignment's gross to £53,130 for six sold.

At 8,500gns was the senior champion, Maraiscote Diego, from John Nimmo, Newmains, Wishaw. The rising two-year-old is by Virginia Andy, which was bought from Carlisle for 5,000gns. The buyer was Peter Alexander, Blairgowrie.

Bruce Goldie, Mouswald, Dumfries, realised 8,000gns for Goldies Black Detroit, a black bull by Normande Arapaho, which sired bulls up to 12,000gns previously. Making the final bid for this May 2008 bull was H. Macdonald, Advie, Morayshire.

Bruce Goldie also sold another 7,500gns. Goldies Dictator, a Goldies Terence son, had been rejected in the pre-sale inspection but sold outside the ring to D. and C. Davidson, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

At the same money was the intermediate and reserve overall champion, Brims Dozer, from William and Anne Oag, Thurso, Caithness, and their sons - Gary, Derek and Edmond. The 20-month-old Dozer is the first son to be offered for sale by Ballynahone Arni, which was bought for 4,800gns at Carlisle. The buyer was Keith Eunson, Deerness, Orkney.

Another at 7,500gns was Craiglands Denver consigned by K.J. Gill, Fortrose, Ross-shire, and selling to H. Mackay, Nairn, Morayshire. Denver is by Normande Banzai.

Of the 96 bulls forward 68 found new homes to achieve a clearance rate of 71 per cent.

Averages: 68 bulls, £4,376 (77 bulls, £4,217 in 2009).

All the Aberdeen-Angus bulls have now been sold and it was the reserve junior champion that sold for the top price of 28,000gns when 189 Aberdeen-Angus were offered for sale on Tuesday.

The sale topping bull was Galawater Bentley from James and Elizabeth Logan, Foutainhall, Galashiels. The May 2008-born Bentley, is by Rawburn Elysium, which was bred by John Elliot, Kelso, and bought privately for £17,000. Her dam, Galawater Bonita, is by Eyrton X20 of Blelack and is described as 'an outstanding breeder' with her only other son retained in the herd and daughters selling to 6,000gns.

The buyer was Gordon Brooke, who had been busy the previous day buying the top priced female lots for his Linton Gilbertines herd, Malton, Yorkshire.

Another from the same home and by the same sire made 9,500gns. This was the May 2008-born Galawater Lord Randolf and the buyer was Messrs Pottinger,.....

At 25,000gns was Blelack Lord Hildalgo which took the overall and intermediate championships in the pre-sale judging. This bull, born in April 2008, was brought out by Neil and Graeme Massie, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire. He is one of the first-crop of calves by Netherallan Peter Pershore, which was bough from Perth for 10,000gns. The hammer fell to Bill Bruce for the Logie herd, Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

The Massies then sold Blelack Evor, the senior champion, for 18,000gns. This rising two-year-old, again by Peter Pershore, was knocked down sold to N. Dobson, Newport, Shropshire.

Mr Brooke of Yorkshire has been in buying form again today paying 28,000gns for the reserve junior champion, Galawater Bentley, from Jim Logan. This one is by Rawbiurn Elysium.

The prize winners all sold well with the overall champion - Blelack Lord Hildalgo - from Neil and Graeme Massie making 25,000gns. This sold to M. Bruce's Logie herd.

The senior champion, Blelack Evor, made 18,000gns selling to Messrs Dodson.

The reserve senior champ, Wedderlie Tidy Baron, made 13,000gns selling to Shirvas Estates.

The junior title winner, Tonley Alonso, from Neil Wattie realised 10,000gns.

THE female champion, Lowther Melody Maker, topped the Beef Shorthorn female sale at 3,600gns.

Consigned by C. Lowther, Penrith, this roan April 2007-born heifer was knocked down to Firm of Doldy Farm, Glenisla, Blairgowrie. By Chapelton Transatlantic the heifer sold in-calf to Blelack Minstrel.

The reserve female champion, Podehole Hermione Bella, made 3,000gns for Harry Horrell, Thorney, Peterbrough. Two-year-old Bella is by Trojan of Craigassie. The hammer fell to A. and C. Ivinson, Penrith.

At the same money was Tofts Beauty from Playfair Farms, Kelso, sold to R.A. Miller and Son, Galashiels, Selkirk. This rising two-year-old is by the Perth 2007 champion, Tofts Tchaikovsky, and out of the 2007 Royal Highland female champion, Tofts Beauty Princess.

At 2,750gns Bill Landers, Newton Stewart, sold Cairnsmore Bonnie Tulip to

I. and S. Graham, Kilmcolm, Renfrewshire. This red and white rising two-year-old heifer is by Uppermill Michael.

A reduction from John Elliot's herd, Kelso, Roxburghshire, produced bids of 14,000gns, 11,000gns, 10,000gns and 9,000gns to top the Aberdeen-Angus sale of females.

The four leading priced lots were all snapped up by Gordon Brook for the Linton Gilbertines herd, Malton, Yorkshire.

Selling at 14,000gns was Lockerley Primrose E489, an Idvies Jester Eric daughter, which was bought privately from L.W. Van Geest's Lockerley herd in 2006. Primrose calved her second in April last year and is back in-calf to Rawburn Enigma.

Primrose's daughter, Elliot Primrose G763, a June 2007-born Rawburn Lord Ross daughter made 11,000gns. She sold in-calf to Elliot Trump.

At 10,000gns was the July 2007-born Elliot Rowanna, a Lord Ross heifer in-calf to Rawburn El Torro.

Elliot Rosebud, a five-year-old cow by the 2004 Canadian show bull of the year - Riverbend Powerline - realised 9,000gns. Rosebud calved her second in May last year and is back in-calf to the Moss Beautiful Man.

Mr Brook also paid 5,500gns for the pre-sale female champion, Belhaven Pole Star, consigned by J. Gilmour and Co, Macmerry, East Lothian. This rising two-year-old heifer is by Rawburn Lord Ross and out of a Rawburn Transformer sired dam - Belhaven Polly Pride.

A draft from J. and J. Campbell's Wedderlie herd, Gordon, Berwickshire, topped at 5,000gns for Wedderlie Nana selling to Jan Boomaars, Woldingham, East Sussex. This Aynho Rossiter Eric daughter sold with her first calf, a heifer by Abberton Mr Bionic, at foot. She had been running with Wedderlie Nereside prior to the sale.

Two cows with heifer calves at foot from a draft from Neil and Graeme Massie's Blelack herd, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire. The first was a Nightingale Ernie daughter, Blelack Evora, selling to G. Pirie, Banchory.

The second was a Blelack Lord Hornblower daughter, which was knocked down to D. Yates.

Taking the overall championship honours in the Aberdeen-Angus bull judging was the intermediate champion, Blelack Lord Hildalgo, from Neil and Graeme Massie, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire. This April-born bull is one of the first crops of calves by the 10,000gns Netherallan Peter Pershore, which was purchased at Perth. It is out of a Blelack Blackstock sired dam - Blelack Lady Heather.

Overall reserve went to the junior champion, Tonley Alonso, brought out by Neil Wattie, Alford, Aberdeenshire. This one, born in May 2008, is by Mosston Muir Edgar, which was bought at Perth three-years-ago for 5,000gns.

The senior title went to another from Blelack and again by Peter Pershore. Blelack Evor is out of the Blackstock sired dam - Blelack Evora.

Reserve senior was Wedderlie Tidy Baron, by the 16,000gns Aynho Rossiter Eric, from J. and J. Campbell, Gordon, Berwickshire.

Runner-up in the intermediate section was Cheeklaw Erick, an April 2008-born Tweedside Jewgal son, from David Lucas, Duns, Berwickshire.

Taking the reserve title in the junior category was Galawater Bentley from Jim Logan's Galawater herd at Galashiels. This one is by Rawburn Elysium.