March 2007 Archives

Only just beating last year's top price of 6200gns, the South Devon Herd Book Society's spring show and sale at Exeter saw a total clearance of 27 bulls and 17 heifers, with a top call of 6300gns.

Taking the top price on the day was Richard Harvey's polled bull Z Sexton Poll Hermes 2, which sold to J B Fentem and Sons, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

Like many of you I've been anxiously watching the post in recent weeks waiting on this year's show schedules dropping on the doormat.

And, unusually, the one which has been missing is the Royal Show's. The RASE, normally a byword for efficiency - well pre-show anyway - have been unusually lacklustre in forwarding this year's schedules and entry forms to exhibitors, but I am assured by the those in the know that they should be arriving as I write.

More importantly, closing dates for entries have been put back to May this year to ensure everyone has plenty of time.

So, speculation of the Royal's demise is premature it seems, well for this year anyway. The only question now is can I afford the entry fees and just what am I going to take, with two breeds, Southdowns and Suffolks, its always tricky deciding which has a better chance. See you all at Stoneleigh in July, hopefully!

Now don't faint - you've had Shires and now you're getting sheep dogs, but I've got a cracking Under the Hammer section in this week's issue, so I couldn't help but post these pics on from a sheep dog sale in Clitheroe.

Enjoy.......

Tuesday's sale at Beeston Castle consisted of the Nivelle and Northernline Herds of Pedigree Holsteins, following a change in direction of the business of R & A Ryan of Forncett St. Peter, Norwich who have decided to accept a new share farming opportunity with Sir Nicholas Bacon of nearby Raveningham.

This change in business development involved them taking a proportion of their herd with them; in so doing they decided to take most of the older cows and all the young stock leaving the younger part of the milking portion of the herd for sale.

Prior to this new development in their business, last year they embarked upon on an expansion plan and part of this was the purchase of the entire Stibbard Herd from North Norfolk and it was cows carrying this prefix that dominated the leading bids of the sale.

Now I've heard about Fantasy Football, but fantasy cattle selection, not I'm interested!!

Just come across this rather cool site which lets you start your own fantasy herd up, although I'm a bit worried, a rather large warning sign comes up if you select Belgain Blue's - I'm guessing America isn't used to the likes of Wilodge Ulex or Threeways Superstar before then!!

Anyway, it's got to be worth a play - you start with a bull and four foundation cows, so let's see where it gets me!

Well the west country grass has obviously started growing because the store buyers and more importantly their cheque books were out in force at Exeter last week.

Topping the trade were a pair of Charolais cross steers at £650 apiece, while heifers of the same breed made up to £645. And I thought show cattle were making daft money this spring.

With finished prices little more than £50 above these store prices someone's got to be losing money on the steers and unless the heifers are being bought as breeders then it's futile trying to do the sums on them!

Now I know I'm normally a cow girl, but I couldn't resist posting these pics from the Shire Horse Spring weekend - these creatures are absolutely stunning!!

Apparently attendance for this event was massive with visitors coming in from across the world to see some 200 Shire horses compete in the largest Shire Horse Show in the World.

Organised by the Shire Horse Society to raise much needed funds to support this magnificent breed, visitors were able to see hundreds of Shire horses expertly presented and dressed in their traditional glory over the two-days, with a range of demonstrations and classes featuring in-hand, harness and turnout exhibits.

We may be reporting on Limousin bulls topping the 50,000gns mark, or even the odd crossbred steer topping £5000, but spare a thought for fellow farmers across the world.

A good bull is worth hundreds of pounds in The Gambia, a huge amount when the average income is under £1 a day. And when it comes to marketing their stock, farmers there have far fewer regulations to contend with than in the UK.

Maybe DEFRA could learn one or two things from their relaxed views on red tape and legislation!!

Click here to see more pictures of the west African country's red meat chain.

Breeders from far and wide came to buy bulls at the Devon Cattle Breeders Society Spring Show and Sale held at Taunton Market.

The champion bull came from G Dart and Sons' old established Champson herd, in the form of Champson Jasper, who sold to top price of the day. This 23 month old son of Primore Thorold 1st out of the Tulip family was purchased by legendary breeder Ken Farmer for his Bywood Herd at 6200 gns.

Having attracted a catalogue entry of 2537 head, Borderway Mart, Carlisle saw yet another impressive sale of store cattle at their recent Continental cross store cattle show and sale, with bids hitting £5000 for show potential stock.

The first day saw heifers sell up to £5000 or a Limousin cross consigned by Northumberland producer John smith-Jackson. This 12-month old black heifer, sired by Cloughead Titantic and out of a Limousin x Belgian Blue mother, sold to David and Mary Cormack, Thirsk.

This brings a whole new meaning to marketing sheep! Have to say this idea of farmers getting their sheep on to the big screen to sell to potential buyers sounds rather crazy, but hey it is happening in the Western Isles!!

Check out this report!

Aberdeen and Northern Marts is renowned for having a strong following of YFC memebers when it comes to exhibiting the very best of the area's overwintered cattle.

And for the third consecutive year, Belhelvie JAC member Ian Thomson of Middleton of Potterton has lifted the overall championship in a show of young farmers' overwintered cattle for the third consecutive year.

Ian's success came at the culmination of the 2006/07 competition which is run by Aberdeen & Northern Marts in conjunction with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, which aims to give young people practical experience in selecting and preparing cattle for show and sale, as well as learning the business skills needed to operate a successful beef finishing enterprise.

A show of cattle took place at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Thursday night, with a sale held on Friday morning.

The overall champion and heifer champion was picked by judge Alan Turnbull of Meadowend Farm, Clackmannan from a line-up of nearly 70 entries. It was a March 2006-born Limousin bred by Nairn's MacArthur Brothers of Mid Fleenas which tipped the scales at 452kg and sold at £1600 to James Forsyth, Mid Bishopston, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.

A new breed record of 7600gns was paid for a Lincoln Red bull at the society's spring show and sale - a fitting highlight to the breed's dramatic rise in popularity largely fired by the demand for its flavoursome beef.

Following intense competition for the record breaker Market Stainton Harvester, it was breeder Tony Mallon from Norfolk who secured him as a future pedigree sire as well as producer of prime cattle to retail through his farm-shop business.

The sale attracted a bumper crowd to Louth Livestock Centre much to the satisfaction of breed secretary Carol Martin who has been inundated with enquires for cattle in recent months.

"We're getting four or five enquiries every week for Lincoln Red females. The breed's popularity has taken off but I'm thrilled that it's being driven by real farmers who have recognised the breed's true potential," commented a delighted Miss Martin after the sale.

Market Stainton Harvester was consigned by Robert Needham and Son whose herd at Gayton-le-Wold, Louth is among the breed's most famous. This impressive March 2005-bred bull is by Fenton Challenger and on his only show outing he took the junior title and reserve overall championship at the Lincolnshire County Show last summer.

Chased hard by leading breeder Hedley Needler who wanted him for his Walmer herd at Ranby, Lincoln, he was eventually claimed my Mr Mallon who now runs 60-cows in his Westacre herd. He had stood champion on the day.

Lancaster, once a Mecca for Holstein sales, savoured some of its former glory last week when a star-studded entry and three tempting consignments produced 11 bids over 2000gns and a top price of 6000gns.

Reminiscent of this centre's hey day, the market was crammed with 200 head of cattle including 20 lots from the Smiddiehill herd that were guaranteed to entice even the most hard-pressed milk producers into some springtime spending.

The Smiddiehill cattle levelled at £2500 and not surprisingly included the day's 6000gns entry. Smiddiehill Roman Thelma couldn't fail to impress with her stature and style. At 27-months, this freshly calved daughter of Bosside Roma Roman is out of the twice 12,000kg-plus Smiddiehill Lucente Thelma.

With her place booked at the National Holstein Show, she heads for the Eola herd of Ian Harries in south Wales after being snapped up following some determined bidding from Mr Harries' son Owain who had taken time off from his studies at Harper Adams to secure the heifer.

An amazingly strong trade saw a top price of £1320 on two occasions at Kivells' recent show and sale of dairy cattle.

Messrs S R Gilbert & Son, Sheepwash realised the top price with a fresh calved pedigree heifer and Mr & Mrs D Brown of Buckland Brewer also took top price with one of their freshly calved heifers, part of a consignment of nine heifers which averaged £1107.

Tipped as the sale topper by owners David and Pam Hiles of Yockings Gate Farm, Whitchurch, as well as many ringside enthusiasts on the day, was Yockings Gate Almond Morty Avis selling for 4500gns at Beeston Castle today.

And digging deep in to his pockets to make the top bid was Southern Ireland breeder Peter Kingston.

Topping trade for calves were the two embryo heifers from the sale topper, in the form of Picston Shottle daughters Shottle Avis A and Shottle Avis B, selling for 2600gns and 2000gns (pictured with mum below) respectively, to Mr Gilman.

It seems since I put up the post about champion auctioneers selling at rapid pace - my fellow bloggers have since found some rather entertaining lyrics to go with thier selling banter!

Check this out!

Just week's after British Limousin breeders dominated SIMA show, the status of British Limousin breeders among their European counterparts has once again been confirmed, with Aled Edwards, British Limousin chairman, elected President of the EUROLIM group.

This is the first time a British breeder has been elected president of the group since its foundation in 1989. Mr Edwards believes the group has an ever growing role to play in promoting the breed into new markets in new EU member states.

I see the Beef Expo committee have got the job right in asking Hugh Dunlop to judge the suckled calf classes at this year's Beef Expo 2007, which is to be held at Skipton Auction Mart on Thursday May 17.

To anyone that has followed commercial cattle judging, you will be aware how successful Hugh and his wife Lynne have been on the show circuit having won Smithfield in 1996 with Am Your Man, 2002 with Lip Gloss and 2004 with Dancing Queen which sold for the record price of £16,000.

They've also won both champion and reserve awards at the Scottish Winter Fair and in the commercial classes at the Royal Highland Show and Ayr.

Back home the couple run 140 beef suckler cows, 45 pedigree Texel ewes and 100 Texel cross ewes at Holehouse.

As for what Hugh is likely to go for on the day, I wouldn't say he will be particularly fussed for breed choice, providing the animal is sweet, clean, have a good top and present itself well in the ring, particularly if his recent exhibits are anything to go by.

Calling all you Belgian Blue fanatics (myself included of course), anyone want to take a guess as to what the famous Wilodge Ulex will make at the major proportion sale to be held in May at Carlisle?

Having had such a tremendous show record, including wins at Beef Expo in 2004 right through to last year taking breed championships at the Royal, Royal Welsh and Great Yorkshire, no doubt breeders will be desperate to take the opportunity to secure some of his bloodlines in the sale, not to mention the big man himself. If he looks as good now, as he did all last summer, he certainly will cause a stir.

Also up for grabs will be the recently acquired Radieuse - the powerful 2002-born white cow purchased at Carlisle in 2006 for 4,500gns from Andrew Coppinger.

I'm waiting to hear from Christine Williams as to what else will be in the sale, so I will let you know - but bagsie I have first dibs on the sweet yearling heifer she had out last summer (if it's entered of course!).

Trade for dairy cows continues to be strong with the mid month sale at Beeston Castle Auction, proving no exception to the rule.

The sale received a good entry of 128 head with several animals busting the £1100 mark.

Leading trade was a Holstein heifer from Messrs J C & D Hunter, Hertfordshire. Ashlyns Iron Marina is a daughter of Boss Iron, which calved at the end of February and was giving just short of 30kg and was snapped up for £1240 by Norman Tomkinson, Gnosall.

Calling all you crazy people out there that like spending money on flash commercial cattle, the job really is beginning to get a little mad now!

Now don't get me wrong, I can raise my hand with the best of them while standing round the sale ring and on many occassions I've had to be brought back to reality on how much money I can actually afford, but £9000 for a young steer, come on surely that won't pay!

Granted the sweet little Limousin cross in question from John Richardson that took Penrith market by storm this week is a fair animal, but paying that amount for a steer doesn't stack up. I only hope he has a good show season for new owners Messrs Brooks from Worcester and end up selling for a record price at Smithfield!

Take a look at him and let me know what you think!

Overall John Richardson and Son, Ghyll House Dufton, had an excellent days trading, selling 19 head of cattle to average out at over £3149 each,a record for the market.

He also sold this cracking heifer below for £5800.

I had heard a rumour but now it's official....

As of today the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society have announced the annual National Primestock Show and Sale will change its name to the English Winter Fair Show and Sale, bringing it in line with the other main winter events - the Welsh Winter Fair and the Scottish Winter Fair.

Included in that change is a new ruling that means we might not be seeing too many more instances where a champion remians unsold to the meat trade (either taken home for breeding, or left for the handler to take their chance at the next big show).

Now the champion will automatically be entered into the show's auction of prize winners and will be sold to the highest bidder; that person will have to pay the winning bid as well as all commission charges.

Furthermore, if an exhibitor has intentionally instructed the auctioneer to set an unattainable reserve or withdraws the beast from sale, they will face suspension from showing at this event for two years.

Other changes include a move to holding most of the championships to the Sunday morning of the show, which will be held on the weekend of 17-18 November.

With only 19 bulls forward for the Carlisle Charolais sale, a depressing five only managed to sell through the ring. Caylors Angus from A B Barker sold for the days top price of 3000gns.

The Herefords do it again.........I'm reguarly mentioning demand for native genetics and the Hereford breed has come up trumps again.

Following a visit of French Hereford breeders in early December, nine bulls have been sold to France.

The consignment consisted of two bulls from Welsh breeder Dennis Jones of the Dendor herd, who following a successful show season collected the National Show Herd of the Year award last year.

Ralph Bailey of Llancillo Hall, South Herefordshire, sold the only horned bull int he consignment, April born Llancillo Hall Burin 3rd, by the Hereford Sire of the Year, Border General V85.

Glos-based breeder, Andrew Hobson of the Eldersfield prefix and Michael Clark of Lowesmoor Herefords, sold three bulls between them.

Surrey based Barry Myers of Boundless Herefords, provided the final three bulls, two sons of Boundless 1 Strike-Out and a Boundless 1 Voltage son.

One of Barry Myers bulls heading to France......

Just had some pics in from the Blonde sale at Carlisle and looks like they had a good trading day. Setting a new breed record was Blackwater Ainsley from Essex breeder Ian Calderbank, which sold for 8500gns.

Ainsley is a son of Druk genesis and out of a Yogi bred mother. He now joins the father and son team of Peter and James Weightman of Peterlee, Northumberland.

Looks like another fine trading day for suckled calf sales and show potentials at Leyburn Auction Mart. Judging by the amount of money that has already exchnaged hands so far, there should be some right beauties on the show circuit this year (I'm only jealous!!).

Taking the top price was John Smith-Jackson and his rather sweet Limouisn cross heifer, who sold for £3500 to noted showman Ewan Macpherson, Oban. Have to say this heifer would have been my pick of the day as well!

Now I regularly listen in wonder as to how fast the likes of auctioneer greats such as David Leggatt (UA), David Tomlinson (H&H) and Paul Gentry (Newark) rattle their way through sale day, but having stumbled across these clips of world champion sellers, I reckon our UK greats have some way to go!!

My personal favourite has to be 1963!!

A Turriff farmer scooped the overall championship at the recent beef carcass show held at Scotch Premier Meat Ltd's Inverurie premises as part of the 2007 Royal Northern Spring Show.

Champion steer and overall champion was a home-bred Limousin cross from Simon Roebuck, Lendrum, Turriff and it was purchased by Aberdeen butcher Jim Black who judged the entries on the hook.

Based in Aberdeen and with 30 years of experience in the trade, Jim supplies a number of the city's top hotels and restaurants as well as fishing vessels and the oil industry, sourcing all his beef, lamb and pork from Scotch Premier Meat Ltd.

I know some parts of northern England and Scotland have it rough in terms of weather - but I wouldn't be too quick to moan, compared with what beef farmers in North Dakota have to put up with.

Check out this video, these calves surely grow up tough!

What a suprise - for the 11th consecutive year, BCMS figures have confirmed British Limousin as the leading beef breed sire in Britain as well as the largest numerical cattle breed.

Recently released figures show that 687,382 Limousin sired cattle were issued with passports in 2006. This represents a massive 35% of available market share, a figure that is exactly in line with the previous year's figures.

Hexham & Northern Marts held their special March prize show and sale when they had forward an entry of 1187 store cattle and suckled calves.

Trade was particually good with buyers reaching as far afield as Kent, Northern Ireland and Angus in Scotland.

Prior to the sale the judge and noted show goer Ewen MacPherson, Oban, Argyll awarded the overall champion to Roy Coe from Tyne Green with an outstanding Limousin steer which went on to make £1000 bought by David Todd, Wragby, Lincolnshire.

The Charolais breed has certainly set a trend over many years, particualry following the most recent successful trading at Perth bull sales. However, I'm not really convinced how well this Australian one would have faired up in Scotland!!

According to a report in the Hereford Times substantial increase in the number of prime cattle sold by auctioneers McCartneys in 2006 lifted throughput to 41,150 head - a rise of more than 7000 animals compared with the previous year.

Sheep numbers sold through McCartneys' five sale centres in the west Midlands and Wales have also shown a big increase. During 2006, the company handled 535,292 head of prime sheep, compared with 497,599 in 2005.

Now here's one guy that would benefit from a lesson in understanding breeding values!!!

I'm not too sure how many Angus cows could cope with a calf birth weight of this much!!

Sauvignon continues to dominate the Limousin cattle classes here at SIMA, having clinched the senior and overall male championships.

Owner Raymond Crawford told Taking Stock the win was a monumental achievement and was more than he could have ever hoped for when he left for Paris.

Now all they need to do is convince DEFRA to let Sauvignon back into the UK and they'll have the job sussed - however, the chances of that happening are about as slim as landing a bull on the moon. But then again according to the nursery rhyme a cow did jump over the moon, so maybe DEFRA will come up trumps after all!!

History was made 20 minutes ago, when Sauvignon, the Limousin bull from the Crawford Brothers walked into the showring at Paris' SIMA show.

But that was nothing compared to the historic moment which occurred some 10 minutes later when Sauvignon clinched first place in a tremendously strong class of 15 senior bulls.

The interest in Savignon, the Crawford brothers' Limousin bull is gradually building, with many French breeders stopping by for a look at the impressive beast.

With judging now underway it won't be too long before he comes under the judges gaze. The Crawfords' expect to the be in the ring at about 12 noon, so I'll report back later with the results.

Charolais bulls met a flying trade selling to 7000gns in Dungannon on Saturday at the Northern Ireland Charolais club's official early spring show and sale. Strong demand for Charolais females was reflected in the bidding to a top of 4200gns twice.

Sale topper was the event's senior male and reserve overall champion, Solitude Aled (CH34) from John McMordie, Ballygowan who 10 days earlier had turned out the supreme Perth champion, Solitude Attaboy that sold for a 32,000gns NI record.

A Doonally New son, and out of one of best breeding females from his eight cow herd, Aled qualified for the NI Elite Beef Quality Initiative and he sold to Noel McIlwaine, Plumbridge.

A packed ring side at Friday's evening show of Belgian Blues was a taster for the huge crowds that gathered for the Saturday morning sale at Chelford. The sale quickly assumed a multi-national dimension, selling cattle to Southern and Northern Ireland, Spain, Italy, Holland, as well as parts of Scotland, England and Wales, proving one of the best the society has seen in recent years.

The day's top call of 8600gns was paid for the May 2005 born, Arcanna Alfie, a well muscled black and white bull by the renowned AI sire Twyning Ash Troy, out of a homebred cow, Arcanna Vida. One of the first bulls to be offered for sale by Messrs Deverall, he sold to Orkney-based David Eunson.

A quick tour of SIMA reveals the presence of more UK stock in the form of impressive Limousin bull Sauvignon from the Crawford brothers. Admittedly bringing a Limousin bull to Paris is a little bit like taking coal to Newcastle, but its good to see UK cattle back in Europe again.

Sauvignon takes on the might of the French Limousins tomorrow and it'll be interesting to see how he measures up.

As predicted the Holstein lines here are full to bursting with a highly impressive line up of cows to be judged later in the week.

Well that's the first part of the Paris mission completed, SIA the main livestock show is safely under my belt and a huge success it was too.

The English presence there was fantastic under the EBLEX banner, promoting not just English beef and lamb, but also English breeding stock. Disappointingly, there was no Scots or Welsh presence, a huge opportunity missed I feel, but all the better for us English that they weren't there to compete!

The main purpose of SIA is undoubtedly to promote farming to the French public and it puts every UK show to shame, explaining production from farm to fork.

Local one-day shows are the backbone of the UK show circuit and nowhere is this more true than Scotland.

But new proposals from SEERAD on pre- and post-show biosecurity have raised concerns many shows held on farm fields may have to close their doors. The proposals include a 27-day standstill both before and after the event, something show organisers suggest is unworkable.

But just how unworkable would another notifiable disease outbreak be. We all remember the devestation foot-and-mouth caused in 2001 and unless proper biosecurity precautions are taken shows could be the catalyst for just another such outbreak.

So, while it may seem like bureaucracy gone mad, everyone must take responsibility for ensuring livestock health, not disease is top of the agenda.

Breeders from Devon, West Wales, Somerset and neighbouring counties assembled at Ross Market for the sale of Eryl and Eirian Done's entire heifer crop from their first class Wyevalley herd. They were joined by five consignments from fellow breeders with connections to the herd - pics to follow soon.

Leading the bidding was the outstanding yearling heifer Wyevalley Dellia Darlene ET PI, a Shottle daughter whose sister topped the last Wyevalley sale at 3200gns in 2004. Her dam was an 88 point Duster with 11,164kg in her 3rd lactation - a grand daughter of the world renowned Snow-N Denises Dellia EX-95, the mother of Regancrest Elton Durham. She stays in the county with local breeder D J Smith of the Wennetune herd.

With pedigree bulls selling to a top price of 6000gns, trade was brisk at Aberdeen & Northern Marts' multibreed show and sale today at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

Following his spring show record price in 2006, John Wilson of Kinclune, Glenkindie, again led the way in the sale ring with his first prize-winning Charolais Kinclune Ace selling for the top price of 6000gns to W and N Milne, Milton of Edinglassie, Strathdon.

A full brother of last year's record breaking animal, this year's sale leader was a home-bred June 2005-born son of the 14000gns Caylers Solomon.

Anyone with any interest in cattle and sheep breeding would be well advised to head to Paris this weekend for France's two leading shows, SIA and SIMA.

SIMA is undoubtedly the larger of the two, but this is largely a machinery show, with some livestock tacked on. However, it does have one of the finest show's of Holsteins you're ever likely to see. SIA, meanwhile is the main livestock event and has been a happy hunting ground for UK breeders in the past, particularly those exporting into Europe.

Following on from the dizzy heights of trading at Perth and Carlisle recently, demand for Limousin bulls and females continued with a sound trade at Dungannon.

The sale was topped by Francis McAuley's senior champion, Carmorn Axle (see below), a Kype Spartacus son out of a Pelletstown Ken cow, which sold for 5000gns to J Redmond, Loughgall.