Taking Stock

The Jersey champion, Les Ormes Milky Chris, from the Ravensfield herd of the Heath family took the dairy interbreed award this morning at Newark, ahead of the Holstein champion.

Fourth calver, Milky Chris, was imported from Jersey two years ago and is currently giving 32 litres a day.

Beaten into second place here was the Holstein champion from J and S Arrowsmith, Pastures New Golden Rose. She is currently giving 47 litres a day and is one of 130 Holsteisn milked by the family.

In a repeat of last year's cattle interbreed result, Limousin bull Greenhill Viper has just clinched the championship title, having pipped Jonathan and Valerie Webb's Charolais bull into reserve.

Viper, by Nenuphar and out of Nana, was shown this year under the ownership of the Comack McDowell partnership, having won last year when owned by David and Mary Cormack.

The Webb's bull, Newrodoige Bruno, is by Burradon Talisman, who has bred many top priced bulls for the Thrunton herd and out of Clinerty Stephanie.

Pictures to follow......

Show favourite and everyone's friend Brian Upchurch set off too winning ways this season with the overall championship at Newark. Taking the title was his sow, Greenway Harmony.

Standing reserve to Brian was the Brown family with their Large White gilt, Calderbrook Primrose.

Pictures to follow.....

A Suffolk shearling ewe from David and Julie Inman clinched the interbreed sheep championship yesterday under judge Chris Holmes, Worcester.

The ewe is a daughter of a ewe gifted by the Inman's to their grandson Tom on his birth three years ago and is by a Santon sire and out of a ewe by Solwaybank Ranger. She previously stood breed champion at last week's Leicester Show.

Standing reserve to the Suffolk was the Charollais champion a ewe lamb from Percy Tait. This one is homebred and by Dogtanion a tup bought from Debbie Marwood.

Jennifer Atkinson and David Smith's team of three Hampshire Downs took the interbreed group award, with Mr Tait again taking second spot with the Charollais.

A crisp, bright and warm morning has greeted the second day of the Newark and Nottinghamshire Show, with all the main interbreed awards to be decided this morning its set to be a busy day for all concerned.

Looking throuugh the breed results from yesterday makes interesting reading. There were no Suffolk Sheep classes, with the breed included in the any other native section, with the same fate befalling the Lincoln Red cattle.

Among the beef lines my eye has been already been drawn to the Limousin results. Greenhill Viper, last year's interbreed winner here has already take his first breed championship of the season, check back later to see if he can the double and take the interbreed here again.

Well, summer it seems has arrived and with it comes the start of the main summer show season. Kicking off with Newark this weekend, the Taking Stock team will be travelling the length and breadth of the country to report from the major shows, bringing you live reporting from many and of course plenty of pictures and the inside line where we can get it.

And this year for our sins, both myself and Chrissie have picked up a plethora of judging jobs at various shows. For me it is of the sheep sections where you'll be able to find me, my first outing was due to be Hertfordshire County, but a lack of entries due to bluetongue means my first stint will now be the interbreed group championship at Royal Bath and West.

From Shepton Mallet, next stop is Aberystwyth where I revert to my own breed and place the Southdowns. Next up is Lincolnshire County, where its the interbreed championship.

Following that will be a stint selecting young handlers at the Royal and then to wrap up the season I'm back to Southdowns again at Moreton-in-Marsh.

Chrissie, meanwhile, sticks to what she knows - beef cattle. Her first engagement will be Alyth Show, Perth, where she has the task of placing the interbreed line-up. Then the next day is fast trip south to do the heifer sweepstake and young handlers at East of England. Her final outing for the year will be Border Union, where its the interbreed once again.

Of course, we'll also be on the other end of a halter at some point over the summer - it wouldn't be a show season otherwise!

So, if you're out and about at the shows this summer be sure to stop us and say hello and if you happen to come under us as judges be sure to remember that when it comes to drinks mine's a whisky and Chrissie's is a gin - strictly after judging of course!!

The overall champion outfit and winner of the East Coast Viners Perpetual Trophy and £100 at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' show and sale of commercial beef breeding cattle on Wednesday was a Limousin heifer with Limousin heifer calf at foot from Sheep Park Farms, Bridge of Marnoch, Huntly.

The event was held by Aberdeen & Northern Marts and sponsored by East Coast Viners Animal Nutrition. Judging the entries was Craig Hamilton of Fetterletter, Fyvie.

The champion, owned by Angus Greenlaw sold for the joint top price of the day at £2400 to Mr O Llyr, Ruthin, North Wales.

The reserve champion from K Stewart and Sons, Greenhaugh, Huntly, was a Limousin heifer with Limousin bull calf at foot which went on to sell for £1900 to Bill Mackie, Whiteside, Tullynessle, Alford.

Also presented on the day was the Scottish Simmental Club Perpetual Trophy for the best Simmental cross heifer with calf and this was presented by secretary Richard Pettit to John Troup of Southbank, Skene. The winner was a home-bred heifer with Limousin heifer calf at foot and they fetched £2000 to J Gordon, Whiteside, Forbes, Alford.

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In glorious sunshine the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Breeders Associaton kicked off the pedigree sheep sale season with their May sale in Exeter Livestock Market on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bluetongue restrictions had already prevented a number of breeders from attending-but with no movements being possible for Irish and Welsh purchasers, many feared for the trade.

However, as show day unfolded, the quality of the sheep was soon evident with some stylish rams and females on display.The female championship was won by Jim Dufosee with his ewe lamb Blackhill Kayleigh. This lamb was sired by Blackhill Houdini, later being resposible for the winning progeny group also from Blackhill.

The first placed shearling ewe was Charlton Jill-This Charlton H35 daughter later sold for 300gns. Pick of the females through the sale ring was undoubtedly the strong Ballytaggart Joy.The Huish Fred daughter made the day's top female price of 500gns, selling to A Palk for his Stantor flock in Paignton,Devon.

The Ballytaggart flock of Thomas Wright was also resposible for the overall champion exhibit. The decision to travel all the way from County Antrim proved the right one when the smart pair of ram lambs Ballytaggart King and Klass were given the event's top prize by judge Francis Fooks.

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Lancashire Limousin cattle breeder Paul Fletcher secured the Limousin championship honours at Skipton yesterday with his home-bred March, 2006, bull Siddall Barney, by the Neuphar son Sarkley Viking, out of Siddall Tanya, who is herself a product of Paul’s main stock bull Wintles Oak.

The title-winner went on to sell for the day’s top price of 2900gns to D and S Hollings, Hebden Bridge.

Continue reading "Limousin champ sells for 2900gns at Skipton " »

A full market was seen at Colchester this week with an entry of 171 prime cattle, 21 stores and 10 over 30 month's cattle.

Competitive trade saw prime cattle making more than £1000 on several occasions, topping at £1047.51 and averaging 141.2p/kg. Top price was paid for a heavy steer consigned by R Partridge and Son to Mick Barber.

Heifers averaged 138.63p/kg with top price of £882.77 for a heavy heifer from G H Blythe to C Humphreys and Sons.

Bulls averaged 188.52p/kg with top price of £761.72 paid for a medium bull sold by K W and A C Benson to M Newman.

Sheep also saw an excellent entry and trade, with new season lambs making top price of £94 for a heavy well finished lamb, consigned by The Little Farming Co.

Older season lambs averaged 139.37p/kg with top price of £74 paid for a heavy lamb sold by W A Ketley and Sons.

Harrison and Hetherington held their annual special prize show and sale of store cattle at Kirkby Stephen Mart on Monday where an entry of 1315 head was forward. Trade for quality stores was exceptionally strong resulting in an overall average of £638.76 up £75.63 on the year.

Judged by Andrew Geary, the champion went to D and C E Marston, Easegill Head, whose British Blue cross heifer later sold for £2300 to I Pickup.

Exceeding all expected proceedings is how Newark Livestock Market auctioneer Paul Gentry described last weekend’s dispersal of pedigree and commercial Bazadaise cows and calves.

Topping the dispersal from Richard and Julie Chantler was a March 2004 born cow with her bull calf at foot. Wreake Valley Vivien is by Wreake Valley Rebel and out of a Western green dam. Vivien sold having run with Edmarc Apollo for £2600 to R H and R G James, Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Second highest from this herd was Wreake Valley Tamsin, a 2002 born cow with heifer calf at foot. This time by Edmarc Merchant, she sold to Messrs P T and T Akers, Charlton, Wiltshire for £2500.

Of the commercial cattle offered from the Chantler’s a top call of £1850 secured a British Blue cross cow with her Blue cross heifer calf at foot. The outfit went to Messrs R W Barker and Son, Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Buckinghamshire-based Mike Hayter offered £1800 for a Bazadaise cross cow with a Blue cross calf at foot, while Angela Tarry-Smith secured another for £1650.

Continue reading "Bazadaise dispersal at Newark hits £2600 " »

A pen of three 45kg Charollais lambs took Skipton Auction marts prime lamb title as well as making a top price of £102 a head.

The lambs exhibited by Martin Preston, Bingley based Robston partnership, sold to Mick Etherington on behalf of Dan Woodend, Woodened Butchers, Leeds.

Mr Etherington also bought reserve champions for £100 a head, the first prize pens of 42kg Suffolk lambs, shown by Graham Fort, Steeton, for West Yorkshire butchers Mark and Darren Spauls.

Graham Fort was also third in the Suffolk class for his 38kg charges selling for £84 a head to show judge Richard Binns, RC and B Binns Butchers, Saltaire. The 43kg runners up from Mark Evan, Steeton, sold for £90 each to Stuart Price Butchers, Keighley.

Young Farmers shined at Skipton Auction Mart, with the opening show of mule hoggs with lambs at foot.

First winner was 28 year old Robert Johnson, Summerfield farm, Harrogate, with runner-up slot being awarded to Claire Gratton, 25, of Warshill Hall Farm, Ripon. Third place was local man Sam Berry, 26, New Hall farm, Bradley.

Regular Skipton sheep buyer Les Thackray bought all three prize-winning pens, paying £150 a outfit and top price for champions, £130 for the runners up and £114 for third place.

Record prices were seen at Midlands South Devon Cattle Breeders annual sale, with Juniper Geronimo, a two year-old bull topping at 5800gns. Sired by Welland Valley Grazier, out of Juniper Zaraffa, he sold to R and ML Drew, Cornwall from A and P Rickett.

Champion bull and breed champion was Goffe Cave Sturdy 6 a homebred bull by Trevassack Trusty 4. He sold for 5500gns to a Norfolk buyer from Mr Richard Ford, Leicestershire.

Female Champion making top female price of 1800gns went to a two-year old heifer by Sexton Centurion, out of Upper Norton Elderflower. Consigned by M and S Kettlewell, Oxfordshire she went to Miss C Hanton, Norfolk.

Charolais and Simmental bulls dominated sale bids at Perth's multi breed event on Monday, with both breeds selling to 5000gns.

Topping the Charolais entries was Thrunton Bluechip, a 21 month old from the Campbell family, Alnick.

Out of a homebred dam, Bluechip is by Burradon Talisman, sire of the 55,000gns Perth intermediate champion Thrunton Voldermort.

Buyer was K M fraser, Fife.

Continue reading "Perth multi breed tops 5000gns twice" »

Here are the champion honours from Perth multi-breed event today......

CHAROLAIS

Champion - B Leggat's Bonnykelly Bertie (by Ravensworth Osbert and out of Lendor Nicola).

Reserve Charolais champion - D F W H walter's Balthayock Bedlam (by dingle Hofmeister and out of Balthayock Virtue).

SIMMENTAL

Champion - Messrs J Telford and A Rawcliffe's Halenook Topper (by Starline Klassik out of Halenook Mindy).

Reserve champion - Iain Green's Corskie Theo (by Ballinlare Farm Nightrider out of Corskie Wren).

Continue reading "Perth champion line up " »

As we near the end of the Haltcliffe run, Haltcliffe Chico has just been snapped up by Elgin Jones. By Umpire and out of a homebred cow, Elgin finally went away happy as he was an underbidder on the 25,000gns bull from Haltcliffe.

Just after that Procters Farm sold their first Vermount son for 8000gns. By the 100,000gns bull he is out of Procters Tiara.

First prize bull Carntogether Carlos from Laurence McEldowney (lot 281) has just gone at 12,000gns to J and P Kearney, Co Derry.

The last bull of the day from George and Pat Long Millbrow Challenger has completed Limousin proceedings by going un sold at 2100gns.

I'm away now to chase some pictures for you and tidy up some buyers details......so bare with me!

Continue reading "Haltcliffe Chico heads to Wales at 15,000gns" »

We've had a bit of a quiet run, but A and G roberts have sold Hafodlas Caio (lot 257) for 6500gns. This Garnedd Vance son is out of Holly Fool and carries a breed value of +25.

John Logan's fourth prize bull Homebyres Charles (lot 262) has gone after a slow challenge between two bidders for 4500gns.

Another from Haltcliffe, Cracker (lot 264) has gone at the same money.

At 6000gns Ballyrickard Colin (lot 273) has sold. He is by Neuf and out of a homebred cow.

Taking a call of 10,500gns, Messrs K and I Jones have sold an Omer son Garnedd Bonheddwr (lot 230) to J Ward Farming, Lincoln.

Just before that Derek Hume sold a Cloughhead Umpire son Culnagechan Bandit (lot 229) for 7000gns to T and B Williams, Shropshire.

Another from Derek, this time Culnagechan Bombastic again by Umpire (lot 232) went at 4200gns.

The second prize Craigatoke Butch (lot 239) from Martin conway has gone at 5800gns. By Haltcliffe Underwriter he is out of a homebred dam.

Continue reading "Omer son at 10,500gns " »