Here are the individual breed champions from the beef classes today at the Balmoral Show where exhibitors young and old were out in force...

ABERDEEN ANGUS

The pig interbreed champion title has been awarded to a Large White gilt - Glenmarshal Dainty Lady - from Mr Trevor Shields, 112 Carginagh Road, Kilkeel, Co Down.

In reserve was a Middle White junior boar - Ginnington Captain 2 - from Rebecca Gregg, 27 Ballybollen Road, Ballymena.

Taking the title of overall beef champion of champions was Limousin heifer Millbrook Ginger Spice (pictured above) from William Smith, Millbrook Road, Oldcastle, Meath.

In reserve was Charolais heifer Cornascriebe Flo (pictured above) from Mr James A Watson, Ashfield, 87 Cornascriebe Road, Portawdown, Co Armagh.

Dimore Flirt from Mr P Dawes, Kipperknowle Farm, Dinmore, Hereford, made 7,800gns and topped the British Limousin Cattle Society's May Bull Sale held at Brecon Livestock Market with McCartneys on Saturday.

September 2010 born, Dinmore Flirt is the first son of the 20,000gns Procters Duvalier to be sold at auction.  Earlier in the day the bull had won the Junior section before moving on to win the overall championship in the pre-sale show judged by Mr Dyfan James of the noted Cowin Herd at Blaencowin, Bryn Iwan, Cynwyl Elfed, Carms.

Commenting on his champion, Mr James said: "This is a bull that we would all be delighted to breed. He has thickness, muscle and correctness all the way through.  As Limousin breeders, we are producing cattle for beef with top carcases, and this is a real smart bull that fits the bill."

Full of breeding, Dinmore Flirt is out of the Wilodge Tonka-sired Dinmore Atopia whose pedigree also includes the bull Wilodge Profit, and great grand dam Peasleyhill Melody.  Melody is one of the foundation females in the herd and arrived at Dinmore when they purchased the Peasleyhill Herd from breeder Peter Brown.  In July this year the Dinmore Herd will be holding an eagerly anticipated on-farm production sale from the herd. 

Purchasing the top price, Dinmore Flirt, was local commercial producer Gwynne Davies, Caebetran, Felinfach, Brecon.

The Brecon Sale brought to closure a run of four Society sales held in one week which have seen close on 250 bulls sold.  A solid sale at Brecon saw 30 bulls out of the 39 forward sell to average a healthy £4,021 representing an increase of almost £900 on the year.

This sale was also notable in being the first at Brecon held under the Society's health rules requiring all vendors to be members of CHeCS-licenced health schemes and selling subject to specific Johne's and BVD criteria. Ten bulls in all made 5,000gns and above in a trade underpinned by commercial buyers. 

At 6,800gns was Gronw Figaro from J & H Phillips, Esgairddaugoed, Cwmfelin Mynach, Whitland, Carms. Keeping in line with the judging, this bull had secured the Senior Male Championship before taking the Overall Reserve Championship and was described by the judge as "very long, smart and with good width." April 2010 born, Gronw Figaro is by the herd's stock bull Sarkley Voltigeur, a Broadmeadows Cannon son, and is out of the Scordale Terry-sired Gronw Almond. Gronw Almond is a full sister to the show calf producing bull Gronw Casanova. Purchaser of Gronw Figaro was D Williams, Tyfos, Llandrilo, Corwen.

Despite the drop in milk prices, demand for dairy cattle remained strong at the monthly dairy cattle sale at Exeter Livestock Centre.

In fact, auctioneers Kivells and Husseys reported an excellent trade at the sale, which included the third annual sale of 70 pedigree Ayshires on behalf of South West Ayrshire Breeders, and drew in buyers from as far afield as Cheshire and Shropshire.

A key fixture at the sale was a consignment of cows and heifers from East Church Ayshires of Honiton.

And the top price on the day was an East Church show heifer - East Church Napiers Rosette - which went under the hammer for £3,700 to Len Bartlett for his Holstein herd at Honiton.  This one is by Ardmore Crown Napier and bred from four generations of VG or EX cows going back to the renowned East Church Rose Bowl EX90.

Other leading prices from the East Church herd included £2,150 for East Church Ristourns Mary Lane.  This one is by Lagace Ristourn and out of a VG89 Woodland View Pardener dam - the buyer was Richard and Tracey Martin of Torrington.

Meanwhile, Blaise Tomlinson travelled down from Leicestershire and purchased a fresh heifer East Church Blasters Rose Bud for £2,000. Sired by East Church Blaster she also descended from the great Rose Bowl cow who was her third dam.

Two more fresh heifers sold at £1,700 apiece - first was East Church Sunshine Red by Savard Red selling to Mr W G Coles of Wellington, and second was East Church Bucaneers Nutmeg by Brocklehill Bucaneer selling to Messrs HJ Cotton of Pembrokeshire.

Fresh cows sold to £1,550 for East Church Crab Apple, a second calver by East Church Tomahawk. And dry cows sold to £1,500 twice for East Church Nelsons Destiny 2 GP83 a third calver due in June by McCornick Nelson ET and East Church Mandella Fairy VG86 by Hunnington Mandella due for her second in June. In-calf heifers from East Church sold to £1,500 for a July calving heifer by Brocklehill Bucaneer.

 East Church Averages:     
10 freshly Calved Heifers £1885   
4 Freshly Calved Cows £1358   
14 Dry cows & In calf heifers £1405

Other Vendors 

Treginegar Dairy Farms of Padstow sold a freshly calved heifer Pam Ayres Bonnie Snowball by Bonnie Brae Sakic for £1,650 and a third calver by Yellow Briar Journalist sold to £1,500. Other in-calf heifers sold to £1,500 for Trevor Howe of Truro with Gadles Tilly by Ardmore Crown Napier due in July to sexed Oblique.

Ayrshire youngstock sold well from the same vendor with bulling heifers selling to £980 for a pair of heifers by Lagace Ristourn and Jelyca Oblique - both heifers had two gens of VG and EX behind them and sold into Dorset with Messrs Venn Farm Partnership. 

Organic youngstock sold to £700 for two heifers by Green Lane Marshall and Stamford Trigger from Messrs HE and FE Allen of Boscastle.

Averages:
7 in-calf Heifers £1,175; 19 Yearling Heifers £605; 3 Crossbred calves £320

Organic British Friesians Herd Dispersal

The day finished with a complete herd dispersal of 70 Organic British Friesians from Mr TAC Grooms of Ty-Hen Farm, Ceredigion, South Wales.

And the long journey down to Exeter was very well worth it with a tremendous trade from start to finish especially considering the herd was not milk recorded, loose housed and 65% of the herd having had 5 or more calves.

The top price from this selection was 1,700gns twice for 2004 and 2007 born dry cows due in June.

Meanwhile freshly calved cows sold to 1,650gns for a 2006 born cow. And autumn calving cows saw an immense trade selling to 1,650gns four times for young cows due in August and September to the British Blue cross sire.

The British Blue cross MRI bull ,Nobby born in 2005 sold well for 1450gns.

Averages

57 organic cows and heifers £1,241 1 British Blue x MRI Bull £1522
9 3/4 and high cell count cows £694
Total: 67 Head £1155

The Annual New Fair sale of beef breeding cattle at Kirkby Stephen Mart resulted in a top call of £5,700 for a British Blue Bull.

The 25 month old bull from Messrs Tiplady, Powis House, was bought by Messrs Allinson, West Briscoe.

Meanwhile a Limousin x heifer with Limousin bull calf at foot from Messrs Taylor, Swathburn, achieved £2,480.

In all the average for cow and calves at foot was up £262.12 on this time last year, and the average price for heifers and calves was up £240.97 on the year.

Topping the cow and calves at £2480 was a shapely Limousin cross Heifer with a Limousin bull calf at foot from Messrs Taylor, Swathburn. 

The sale also included a show, and  judge Mr M Wallace awarded his first prize to a British Blue heifer with a Limousin Bull calf at foot which went on to sell for £2,200 to Messrs Hayton, Asby Grange.

(Harrison and Hetherington)

 DEXTER

Messrs Munn and Bell's Needles Hall Marianna; res, Mrs Carolann Raybould's Welland View William

HOLSTEIN

Holdcroft and Sons' Dovetrent Prom Sandra; Res, Messrs N J and L C Sercombe's Huddlesford Z Nina

JERSEY

Abi Sercombe's Southley Hotshot Dalena Design 2; Christian Shepherd's Lexington Ambassador Iben

Taking the champion pig title was Raisinhall Melody 11 a Tamworth sow shown by Stuart Roberts.

Junior Beef

Taking the junior beef title was Heald and Co with their Limousin bull who is by Bailea Ulsterman and out of Coachhouse Amy.

Commercial Beef

A D Bishop's British Blue x heifer Miss 2011

Champion Bull

 Messrs W J and M Mash's Limousin Bull Hafodas Domino; res, David Donelly's Simmental Bull Barnabus Lisglass

Champion female

Smiths of Bloxham's Limousin cow Ironstone Dumandy; res, A and C Farm's South Devon Trevassack Mayflower

Taking the beef championship title was show regulars Smiths of Bloxham with the cow and calf outfit Ironstone Dumandy. By Wilodge Vantastic and out of Bailea Umandy this four year old cow was interbreed champion at the show two years ago as a heifer and was also interbreed champion at the Royal Welsh Show last year.

This one was shown with a Teddy bull calf and will be heading to Herts County Show next.

In reserve was the South Devon cow and calf outfit from A and C Farm's, of the Langham Herd, Rutland Trevassack Mayflower was reserve to the overall champion in the female section. This one was bought in and was originally bred by Hugh Lello, Devon. The outfit was shown by Jo Rodger with animals owned by her father A Vrona.

Judge John Jeffrey  from Kelso said both females had "style and length" with both a good example of their breeds. On the South Devon he said: "It's good to get a cow looking so good when rearing a calf. Both are excellent examples of what we are looking for in the British beef industry."

BEEF

BRITISH SIMMENTAL

David Donnelly's bull  Barnabus Lisgass; res, Paul Gunther's cow Fircovert Bridget

HEREFORD

Livesey Bros cow Normanton 1 Blueleg 2^nd; res, Messrs J W and R Johnson's bull Real 1 Grange

ABERDEEN ANGUS

North Yorkshire AI Sevices' bull Haymount Willinger; res, North Yorskhire AI Services' heifer Wall Elnora

LINCOLN RED

Mr and Mrs H M and J M Needler's heifer Walmer Lobelia; res, Mr and Mrs H M and J M Needler's bull Walmer Pinton

LONGHORN

Mr and Mrs John Stanley's heifer Blackbook Verity; Res, Mr and Mrs John Stanley's heifer Blackwood U-Wood

CHAROLAIS

Mcmillan and McInnes female Mortimers Evanesce; Res, David Noton's bull Ashby Gucci

LIMOUSIN

Smiths of Bloxham's cow Ironstone Dumandy and calf; res, Messrs W J and M Mash's bull Hafodas Domino

BLONDE

Messrs Williams and Mick Seels' cow Burghwallis Cadbury; res, Hackleton Farms' Druk Elijah

BRITISH BLUES

Boomer Birch's Bringlee Fawn; Res, V and G Bowring's Bringlee Garmarni

RED POLL

Tony Barratts' bull Appleton Artorius; res, Peter Websdale's bull Woodbastwick Rocket

HIGHLANDRobert Wains' bull Hamish of the Rose; res, Robert Wains' cow Eilidh Ruadh 3^rd of Cim

ANY OTHER CONTINENTAL

Carolyn Fox's Saler heifer Manor Lane Diva; res, Beeston Hall Farm's Saler Cleuchhead Zoro  

Beechtree George (pictured above) from Humberside breeder David Burkill led a sizzling trade for Charolais bulls at the breed society's show and sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle selling for the day's top price of 20,000gns.

By the Oldstone Egbert son Gretnahouse Archangel he had a terminal sire index of +40 and stood champion on the day, Buyer was J Wilson, Alford, Aberdeen.

A 12,000gns deal produced a shared purchase of Caylers Gladiator (pictured above) from Caylers Charolais, Royston, Hertfordshire. This Balmyle Addition son goes to joint buyers R Milne, Morayshire and W and P Drysdale, Blairgowrie.

Newhouse Fourstar (pictured above), a Sackville Claudius son from R M Adam and Son, Angus made 11,000gns to R Leiper and Co, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - a bid that was matched by Westcarse Gold, a son of Kersknowe Clansman consigned by J H Christie and Son,  Stirlingshire. Buyers were Blackmuir Trading Ltd, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire.

They also paid 3300gns for the 2008-bred cow Rumsden Delta, an Okapibb daughter offered in the dispersal of the Rumsden herd owned by Rupert Taylor, Uckfield, Sussex.

Her bull calf Rumsden Gromit, by Rumsden Cruiserweight, made 4500gns to D Story, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.

Averages: 24 senior bulls £5,269; 38 intermediate bulls £5,319; 40 junior bulls; £4,911 and 15 females £3,395. Rumsden dispersal: 20 cows and calved heifers with calves at foot or in calf £4,405 and 14 heifers not yet calved and maiden heifers £3,330.

(Harrison and Hetherington).

The first sale to disperse the Newrodddige herd of pedigree Holsteins on behalf of Mallaber Partners took place at Park Farm, Drakelow, Burton-on-Trent where bidding reached 3800gns.

The top price of the day was paid for the milking heifer Newroddige Pam 63rd (VG852yr), a daughter of Windy-Knoll-View Four Aces and bred from seven generations of VG dams.

This December calved heifer was sold giving 41 kg daily to join John Allan's Leaventhorpe Herd at Tutbury, Burton-on-Trent.

John purchased four more leading  priced lots including the January calved heifer Newroddige Loader Angela (VG86-2yr) back in-calf for December and still giving 46 kg for 3300gns and the January calved second calver Newroddige Contented 136th (VG87-3yr) who was sold giving 55 kg daily for 3200gns.

Michael and Ben Haigh of Glenluce, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire were the leading volume buyers of the day purchasing 23 milkers; their leading lot was the outstanding Newroddige Dictator Rosamay (VG88-3yr & SP) who is another daughter of Overside Dictator and the fourth generation of top scored cows. She traces back to the Spring Farm Rose family and calved her second in March. She was sold giving 57 kg daily for 3650gns.

At 3400gns was another Dictator daughter Newroddige Dictator Sally (VG85-3yr), an eleventh generation

VG/EX daughter of the Styche Sally line; fresh calved with her second she was the choice of Peter Royle for his Bolshaw herd at Rugby, Warwickshire. Her dam by Mr. Sam who was carrying her fourth calf by Lavanguard sold for 2800gns to join the Castellhyfryd Herd of Simon Davies at Whitland, Carmarthenshire whilst her daughter byWindy-Knoll-View Perform was the top in-calf heifer selling for 2350gns to H T Hawksworth and Son of Shardlow Derby.

Also selling at 3400gns was one of the best animals in the sale Newroddige Duplex Sonya 2nd ET (EX91 and SP), a third calf daughter of Duplex tracing back to the imported Impala TTR Sonya EX92 (16*). She was sold milking almost 60 kg a day with her third and was one of ten great cows purchased by Colin Middleton for his Mittonvale

herd at Mitton, near Clitheroe, Lancashire. He also purchased the third calf Empire Sonya (Ex90-4yr), the Kenall daughter Newroddige Frances 54th (Ex90

-4yr) and the Hydaways Royale daughter, Newroddige Chancer 17^th (GP83 and SP) - all for 3000gns each.

Heifer calves were in great demand and sold to a top of 1100 gns for the December born Newroddige Steady Kitty by Stantons Steady purchased by S Forshaw and Sons of Longridge, Preston.

Averages: 160 cows and milking heifers (including 61 heifer calves at £692.48) £2179.86; 7 In-calf heifers £1897.50.

(Wright Manley with Norton and Brooksbank).

SUFFOLK

Champion male class 387

County Turf, Scunthorpe; res, Tina Blythe with untrimmed ram lamb, Boston

Champion female class 388

County Turf's yearling ewe; res, Tina Blythes's ewe lamb

Breed Champion class 389

County Turf's ram; res, County Turf's yearling ewe

HAMPSHIRE DOWN

Champion male

Tim Hunter's ram; res, Banks and Green's ram lamb

Champion female

James Birkwood's ewe lamb; res, Paul Rooke's yearling ewe

Breed champion

Tim Hunter's ram; res, Paul Rooke's yearling ewe

TEXEL

Champion female

Frank Rushton's yearling ewe; res, H S Ashley's yearling ewe

Champion male

H S Ashley's ram lamb; res, H S Ashley's ram

Breed champion

Frank Rushton's Freshfield yearling ewe; res, H S Ashley's yearling ewe

BRITISH CHAROLLAIS

Champion male

Cecil Thomas' aged ram; res, Coulson and sons' ram lamb

Champion female

Charles Sercombe's female; res, A J Coulson and Sons' ewe lamb

Breed champion

Charles Sercombe's female; res, Cecil Thomas' aged ram

LINCOLN LONGWOOL

Champion male

Louise Fairburn's Risby Peter Pan; res, M Parker's Parker Ram

Champion female

Sally Chapman's yearling ewe in full wool; res, Louise Fairburn's Risby Charlotte

Breed Champion

Louise Fairburn's Risby Peter Pan; res, Sally Champman's yearling ewe in full wool

LEICESTER LONGWOOL

Champion male

Simon John' ram in wool; res, Simon John's ram

Champion female

Simon Johns' yearling ewe; res, Simon Johns; aged ewe

Breed champion

Simon Johns' ram in wool; res, Simon Johns' yearling ewe

BELTEX

Champion male

Mr and Mrs Richard and Rachel Sharp's yearling ram; res, Mr and Mrs Richard and Rachel Sharp's aged ram

Champion female

Mr and Mrs Richard and Rachel Sharp's yearling ewe; res, Robert Hudson's Plumtree Susan

Breed champion

Mr and Mrs Richard and Rachel Sharp's yearling ewe; res, Robert Hudson's Plumtree Susan

SOUTHDOWN

Champion male

Basil Coopers' Cooper ram; res, Sophie Arlotts aged ram

Champion female

Sophie Arlotts aged ewe; res, Basil Coopers yearling ewe

Breed champion

Basil Coopers' Cooper ram; res, Sophie Arlotts aged ewe

JACOB

Male champion

Mr and Mrs B Stanley's Blackbrook ram lamb; res, A R Smith's Blackbrook Dancer

Female champion

Stephen Dodsworth's yearling ewe; res, Mr and Mrs B Stanley's Hope yearling ewe

Breed champion

Stephen Dodsworth's yearling ewe; res, Mr and Mrs B Stanley's Hope yearling ewe 

A good trade for bulls at the British Blonde Society fixture at Carlisle saw trade reach 9000gns and averages up just over £300 a head.

Top call came for Eilean Fergus (pictured above) from M McSporran, Peebles.By Ballygowan Noble and out of a cow by the home-bred bull Eilean Ornish, he stood supreme champion and goes to Dyfed with buyer R G Davies, Fronfedw, Cilau Aeron, Llanbedr-Pont-Steffan.

A 6200gns call from local buyers T Harrison and Sons, Shap, Penrith secured them Droit Falcon from Northern Ireland breeder Richard Mowbray. By the French sire Drop, he is out of the Elmhirst O-Aye daughter Penyghent Alison that was bought in this sale ring five years ago for 6500gns.

The reserve male championship went to Ashtonlodge Fabian from John McVeigh, Co Down - a Totteridge Omen son that realised 3700gns to W Davies, Ystradowen, Swansea

Averages: seven senior bulls £4,635; seven junior bulls £2,985.

(Harrison and Hetherington)

It was a Suffolk shearling ram that scooped the interbreed title for Sandy Frazer of Scunthorpe. Homebred and by Solway Sovereign and out of a homebred ewe this March 2011 born twin has never been shown before and made it's first outing today. Mr Frazer who keeps 35 pedigree ewes runs under the company County Turf who have supplied turf for the Olympic stadium. Mr Frazer may take his shearling ram to the Highland Show later this year.

In reserve was the Texel shearling ewe Fresh Fields from Frank Rushton. This one is by Tullagh Real Deal who is shared with Ben Vernon of the Charben Flock and is out of a homebred ewe.

Taking the dairy championship was a Jersey cow from Abi Sercombe. Southley Hotshot Dalena Design 2 is a second calver having calved in October. She was shown giving 26l a day. This one has had previous show success winning first prize heifer in milk at the Bath and West Show last year.

Fifteen year old Abi, who owns the cow chose Jersey's over having a horses, commented her fathee Mr Sercombe who milks 60 black and whites and Jerseys. This cow heads to Asby next and possibly also East of England Show.

In reserve was the Holstein cow Dovetrent Prom Sandra from Holdcroft and Sons, Burton on Trent. This one was shown by Sue Stubbs and has had previous show success winning Supreme Champion at the show last year and reserve at Staffordshire. Giving 33l this one heads to the Staffordshire Show next.

.

Commenting on his selection, the judge Mr Bancroft said: "Both cows were four year olds and second calvers, but the Jersey just had better teat placement. Part from that there wasn't a lot in it."

BLUES

Best bull born before October 2010 Class 777

K and A C Jackson and sons' Kendall Jackson

Best bull born after 1^st Nov 2010

Boomer Birch's Boomer Georgio Armani

Champion male Class 780

K and A C Jackson and sons' Kendall Jackson

Best cow or heifer Class 781

V and G Bowring's Snowy Ridge Duchess; res, Mr and Mrs J and W Laight Witham Bank Ebony

Best heifer Class 782

Boomer Birch's Bringlee Fawn; res, Beckside Blues' Solway View Fanta

Best heifer (born after nov 2010) Class 783

V and G Bowring's Bringlee Garmarni; res, Mr and Mrs J and W Laight's Witham Bank Gem

Overall best heifer Class 784

V and G Bowring's Bringlee Garmarni

Champion female 785

Boomer Birch's Bringlee Fawn; Res, V and G Bowring's Bringlee Garmarni

Breed Champion Class 786

Boomer Birch's Bringlee Fawn; Res, V and G Bowring's Bringlee Garmarni

Blonde

Blonde Bull Class 767

Hackleton Farms' Blonde bull Druk Elijah; Res, Messrs Williams and Mick Seels' Blonde bull Burghwallis Emerald Star

Best Blonde bull Class 768

Messrs Williams and Mick Seels' Blonde bull Burghwallis Gumdrop

Champion male Class 769

Hackleton Farms' Blonde bull Druk Elijah; Messrs Williams and Mick Seels' Blonde bull Burghwallis Emerald Star

Best cow Class 770

Messrs Williams and Mick Seels' Blonde cow Burghwallis Cadbury and Burghwallis Hero (calf)

Best heifer Class 771

Messrs Williams and Mick Seels' Blonde cow Burghwallis Firefly; Res, T R Craven's British Blonde heifer Beech Firelight

Best maiden heifer Class 772

Hackleton Farms' maiden heifer Hackleton Geisha Girl; Res, T R Craven's Whinberry Gipsy

Best heifer Class 773

Hackleton Farms' maiden heifer Hackleton Geisha Girl; res, T R Craven's British Blonde heifer Beech Firelight

Breed champion Class 775

Messrs Williams and Mick Seels' Blonde cow Burghwallis Cadbury and Burghwallis Hero (calf); res, Hackleton Farms' Blonde bull Druk Elijah

Best group Class 776

Messrs Willians and Mick Seels' Burghwallis group; Res, T R Craven's Craven Group