April 2007 Archives

Who says the dairy industry is going through a struggle?

I know it appears rather depressing just how many sale dispersals I seem to be blogging on, but demand for buying the best cows and in calf heifers is exceeding all expectations I feel!

I've just been chatting with a guy in Bristol who's phone went red hot the minute word got out he had some 38 in-calf Holstein heifers for sale - there he was thinking they might hit £850, £900 perhaps at a push, but he's averaged over £1000 a head.

Mind you, he tells me he had a little help from his AI technician who seemed to be doing most of the selling for him before hand!

But it did help all the heifers were in-calf to sexed semen, something he feels has been a great selling point for him. "I've even had guys ringing from Irealnd enquiring if we have any more!".

News reaches Taking Stock that exhibitors at this year's Royal Highland Show may be faced with a tight squeeze for stock accomodation.

According to the RHASS's show director David Dunsmuir entries have been overwhelming and there could be a need to limit entries in some sections.

In the cattle section the Highland Hall is able to accomodate 960 head, while the sheep penning can hold 1400, but entries are running at about 15% above these levels.

Despite this Mr Dunsmuir has assured exhibitors that all those who have entered stock will be able to show.

For results and pictures from this summers shows check back with Taking Stock over the coming months.

Over £1m of pedigree cattle have already been shipped through the high health live export route established by P&O ferries and the NBA in October last year.

Up to 156 pedigree cattle, 39 bulls and six calves have been exported through Dover. The main destinations are France, Germany, Poland, Holland and Belgium and breeds include Limousin, Highland, Dexter, Holstein Friesian, Gallaway, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Salers, Gascon and Bazadaise.

The value of this traffic is expected to treble by the end of the year, reckons Kim Marie Haywood of the NBA.

Next month sees one of the leading suckler herds of Limousin cattle in the country go under the hammer.

The G E Robertson and Co autumn calving herd, comprising 131 autumn calving cows and heifers, as well as three stock bulls, will be sold on 19th May, at Stamford Farm, Embleton in Northumberland.

The stock are quality bred from pedigree bulls bred from the Shammas, Hartside and Scorborough herds.

The sale has arisen as a result of the restructured farming enterprise which makes the autumn calving herd surplus to the needs of the Robertson sons - Iain and David, who have decided to split the partnership and trade independtly with individual spring calving herds.

The full sale will include:
110 cows/heifers nearly all with autumn born calves at foot, majority of which are back in calf and due this October (predominatly Limousin cross, with about 35 Angus crosses)
3 heifers, PD to calf in September/October
18 in calf Angus cross heifers
3 bulls.

The sale kicks off at 11am, for further details contact George F White.

There was "good and consistent trade" at today's Welsh Black Cattle Society annual spring prize store sale at Dolgellau.

Some 187 Welsh Black cattle - consisting of 32 heifers and 155 steers - went under the hammer at Dolgellau, accounting for more than 40% of the cattle entered for the whole sale (452).

"Heavy steers sold well, producing good money for their vendors, while as always the yearling cattle excelled in the highest price pence per kilo section." said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.

Several groups of yearling steers sold close to the £1.39/kg prize winner, with WBCS Council Chairman Evan Tudor, of the Aber herd, selling two batches of steers for £1.38/kg.

Merionethshire Council member, Geraint Wynne, who is retiring from farming in October, sold a steer at £1.37/kg.

Bala breeders Messrs H P Roberts, Gyrn, Llanuwchlyn, also sold some yearling cattle for £1.36/kg, confirming the constantly high quality of the senior and junior cattle.

The next WBCS sale will be a pedigree sale on May 4 at Dolgellau.

Yet again the Annanwater herd came up trumps at this year's annual Border Belgian Blue Club open calf show at Borderway Mart.

The male championship went to the Moffat-based Ryder family's Annanwater Brock, a May 2006 son of Gitan Du P'Tit Mayeur and out of the Tamhorn Sheba flush.

The female and overall championship also went to the Ryder's with Annanwater Bina - a May 2006 full ET sister of Annanwater Brock.

Bidding peaked at 4200gns when a small entry of pedigree Limousin cattle went under the hammer during the fortnightly store cattle sale at Whitland Livestock Market, Carmarthenshire.

The sale topper came from the May 2003-born Orllwyn Upstart consigned by O J. Jones, Gower, Wales. This Gaulois son was bought by K Tanner, Neath, Glamorgan.

Other leading prices included 1950gns for Treweryll Albert, a June 2005 Ronick Hawk son, from A and D Thomas, Boncath, Dyfed, and selling to J Jenkins, Spittal, Haverfordwest.

In the female section prices peaked at 1280gns twice for August 2005-born Fleethill Amelia and September 2005-born Fleethill Alberta, both Shire Pentagon daughters from M J Gray, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, both heifers were purchased by O Llyr, Ruthin, Clwyd.

Having first registered in 1984, four generations of the Bewes family have milked dairy cattle at Suddon Farm, so the recent dispersal sale gave buyers a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase from a herd with special significance.

Kivells farm department successfully sold the farm and auctioned the entire herd as well as machinery, trade levelled across the board with an overall average for milking and dry cows coming in at £1064.

Wednesday's Skipton store cattle show and sale saw a home-bred 11-month-old Belgian Blue bullock from John Mellin, of Mill House Farm, Long Preston take the championship.

By John's own stock bull, out of a home-bred cow, the victor sold for £920 to Stephen Swales, of York. The reserve champion, a Belgian Blue heifer from Peter Fawcett, Long Preston, made £650 when bought by Jeff Burrow, Kirkby Malham.

Show judge was Robert Garth, of Keasden, and the fixture was held alongside the third annual show and sale of pedigree Belgian Blue breeding cattle, the opening fixture in Skipton's 2007 "Pedigree Beef Season," which runs until June.

Carmarthenshire buyers D and G Henry paid the day's two highest prices of 1450gns and 1420gns when the Arckel Holstein herd was dispersed for Phil and Liz Clarke at Frankley, Birmingham.

Top call came for a fresh third calver by Conant Acres C B Alonzo with the 1420gns bid securing another third calver. A heifer by a home-bred bull made 1420gns to W Beckett, Stourbridge, Worcestershire with another calved heifer by Etazon Perot selling at 1300gns to W Bennett and Son, Newent, Gloucestershire.

Autumn calving heifers peaked at 920gns twice - they were part of a wagon load of 12 claimed by L Jones, Cardigan.

Averages 83 cows £1069; 45 yearlings £831 and 17 autumn calving heifers £831 (Gwilym Richards and Co).

Testing the water with an inaugural sale at Bristol produced an encouraging result for breeders when prices reached 3500gns at the Salers Cattle Society fixture although buyers picked their way through the entries.

But a bull from noted breeders Rigel Pedigree based at Yarm, North Yorkshire won the crowd's unanimous approval. Rigel Pistol is a two-year-old polled son of Rigel Othello who has taken breed titles at both the Royal and the Great Yorkshire Shows while his dam is out of one of the herd's most successful imported cows who is expecting her 12th calf.

Improved demand for Hereford bulls at the society's spring show and sale in Hereford on Saturday led to three bulls topping 5000gns and a record average of £2705.50.

The reserve champion, 16 month old Dendor 1 Cracker, by Topgen 1 Supremo and exhibited by Denis and Doris Jones of Dendor Herefords, Newtown, Powys, which sold for 5300gns purchased by H Weston and Sons, Bounds Herefords, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

It was a day for the ladies at Newark last weekend when a sizzling trade for Limousin females pushed prices to 4100gns and lifted the average to £1320 for 112 lots.

And earning the two biggest cheques at this special Limousin day were noted breeders Peter and Ian Pitcher who consigned Cockleshell Annie and Cockleshell Amanda - both daughters of last year's Lincolnshire Show inter-breed champion Winnington Trumps.

Annie, boasting a pedigree combining Talent and Selina, and in-calf to Cockleshell Va Va Voom, made 4100gns to John and Michael Fieldson, Gainsborough.

Amanda, out of a Broadmeadows Cannon dam with Talent and Selina on the bottom line, realised 3100gns to D Walshaw, York. She had a Beef Value of 34 and was also in-calf to Va Va Voom.

The correctness and style of Daim came through in his smart grand-daughter Carlton Aimee from R A Wilson and Son. By Corridan Superman, this maiden heifer sold at 2300gns to Derbyshire breeders M and L Harris.

Messrs D A Williams' Wilodge Shera, a 2001-bred Hartside Generous daughter and heavily in-calf to Toubib, realised 2200gns to K Baxter, Nuneaton.

Who says Charolais only really sell in Perth.....not Welshpool goers that's for sure. Ok not quite the 30,000gns we have all grown to expect at Perth, but 5800gns is a pretty impressive price for Welshpool.

Solid commercial demand for bulls underpinned by the premium marketplace for Charolais cross calves set a buoyant trade at the breed society's official spring show and sale.

Bidding peaked at 5800gns, a 3800gns price both started and closed the sale, 31 lots sold to achieve a new centre record average of £2,868 and an 85% clearance was achieved.

Sale leader was the day's champion, Maerdy Amorist (CH23), a 17 month old from Flintshire based vet, Esmor Evans, Mold.

Those of you flciking through today's Farmers Weekly will see Romney Marsh Farms at Dymchurch sold off their machinery at a largely attended sale at the weekend.

Here are some of the rest of the pics from the sale.........

This Vicon LZ505 4m combination drill with power harrow sold for £2200.

I don't often get much info on organic sales, but it seems interest is exceeding expectations at Frome.

An entry of 300 organic store cattle yesterday saw buyers attend from all over the UK.

While strong demand is for the best suckler bred beef, quality dairy bred stores found a marvellous trade. Charolais steers in the region of 8-10 months old from D Newman sold to £590 while Limousin x South Devons (12-16mo) from G R White sold to £762.

Hard Aberdeen Angus 11 month old steers from Turnstone Farming sold at £595. Older cattle were wanted by all with Belgian Blue steers selling to £870 from Derek Mead with strong heifers making £710, £705 and £680.

Now I know I get accussed of being pro Limousin most of the time (don't worry Angus and Blue's I won't leave you just yet!), but I really have to pat the Lim guys on the back this time.

I've just had the email through for the Carlisle Bull Sales and you don't know how pleasing it is to see a full list of every vendor's health status.

Following the Herd Health Iniative introduced by the society in 2005, a second major health step sees the introduction of Herd Health declerations and information at collective Limousin pedigree sales, the first one being the May 2007 Carlisle sale.

Personally I think this is a great step forward for the industry in terms of monitoring and (with a little help from your vet) eradicating diseases such as IBR, BVD and Lepto.

Having looked through the list of vendor's health status, there aren't many not declaring their status, but there are one or two. However, congrats must go to the following herds that are demonstrating a huge committment to herd health planning, in terms of monitoring, accrediation, vaccination and being part of the CHeCS control scheme.........

Newhouse, Miscombe, Middledale, Tomschoice, Hudscales, Emslies, Fieldson, Ballinloan, Goldies, Gunnerfleet, Ringway, Glenrock, Homebyres, Norman, Cockleshell, Rombalds and Loosebeare.

Well that's Cheshire Show having a right old knees up this year.....well the Limmie breeders will be at any rate!!

Having reached the grand old age of 25, the North West Midlands and North Wales Limousin Breeders Club plan to stage their 25th anniversary celebrations with an exclusive show for members at this year's Cheshire Show.

The club hopes that as many past and present members as possible will go along and take part in the competitions at the show.

Graham Simms, a founding member of the club and current president, says is important to remember how far the club has come. "Unfortunately, some of our original members are no longer with us but they deserve to be remembered for the enormous contribution they made."

The good weather last week must have drawn the crowds out to pack the ringside at Holsworthy market, as Kivells auctioneers have just reported one of their best trading days since 2000.

Wednesday saw over 2500 livestock entries with just over 1000 head of cattle. Trade was excellent, with some 220 dairy cattle forward, with 45 of those fetching in excess of £1000.

Kivells head of dairy department Mark Bromell reckons this level of interest and transactions made reflects a buoyancy in the current market, a trend I'm sure the market is keen to see continue.

The champion dairy exhibit selling at Kivells......

Taking the supreme championship at the Dungannon Simmental sale was Cecil McIlwaine - Corrick Santa. Born in December 2005 he is sired by Omorga Prince and sold for top price of 3400 gns.

This season's upbeat demand for Blonde bulls continued at Bristol last week when the British Blonde Society's sale levelled 25 bulls at £2032 and saw prices reach 3500gns for yet another good sort from the Quick family in Devon.

Traditionally their best have carried the family's renowned Loosebeare prefix but this time it was the new partnership headed by Andrew Quick - and now registering stock under the Quicks herd name - that attracted the day's strongest bidding.

Quicks Albert is a 22-month-old son of Loosebeare Robert and out of a cow by Loosebeare Champion. He stood overall champion under judge Pip Rogers and stays in the West Country with M T James of Chulmleigh, Devon.

A trip to yesterday's National Holstein Show, was I have to admit one of the few things in life I felt I could really do without.

As a sheep farmer with a leaning to beef too, spending the day surrounded by hoards of black and whites never has been my idea of a fun day out. However, the dairy industry really must be congratulated on putting on tremendous show.

Assembling more than 350 cattle of one breed in one place is quite a task and one which the show organisers appeared to take in their stride.

Everything ran to time and never was a cow or handler out of place. A lesson many summer shows would do well to learn.

A good show of Simmental cattle at the society sale at Ludlow at the weekend, in conjunction with McCartneys Auctioneers, encouraged buyers to clear all of the 15 lots forward.

Top price of the day and reserve champion from the pre-sale show, judged by Rob Fitton, was Wroxall Seaman, which made 3500gns to Michael Mercer, Bowley Court Farms, Hope-Under-Dinmore, Leominster.

Sired by by the imported Vingegard Texas out of Wroxall Nice Moira, Seaman is bred and exhibited by the society president, Dan Evans, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick.

Having competed against an elite and somewhat expensive line up at this year's National Holstein Show at Stafford, the Cumbria-based Mallinson family took the top title with Carhall Lyster Elizabeth.

The August 2003-born is by Tcet Lyster and out of Wiltor Cousteau Elizabeth. The second calver is currently giving 53 litres a day at 4.58% butterfat and 2.3% protein, having just calved 35 days ago.

A smaller than usual entry at Beeston Castle's spring coloured breeds sale at Beeston, saw the Ayrshire breed make an early impact on sale proceedings with Messrs D A and P R Waring's, Patshill Cherryleaf 4 selling for 2500gns.

Sold springing to calve with her third calf, Cherryleaf has already made a substantial impression round the show rings in 2005 and 2006. Several keen bidders faught it out with the hammer finally being knocked down for Steve Oultram of Stamford.

Local sheep farmer Donald Sunderland achieved a one-two-three in the Mule class - then saw his first prize pen of 10 geld hoggs go on to be selected as champions at the Spring show and sale of Mule, Masham and horned gimmer hoggs at Skipton Auction Mart today.

The annual April sale of Limousin bulls organised by the NI Limousin Club held last week saw two bulls topping trade at Dungannon at 3200gns.

The first of these was the December 2005-born show champion, Stonecircle Anthony, a bull showing great promise, by Uchon, a Duphin son out of a Baronne daughter shown by J and A Mallon of Cookstown. Purchaser at 3200gns was E Tohill of Kilrea.

Balbithan Ammonite from Mr and Mrs Andrew White topped the trade at the south west Charolais club's spring show and sale at Holsworthy on Wednesday.

The 16 month old bull, by Inverlochy Topsire and with a terminal sire value of CH26 lead the sale at 3250gns now joins Peter Worth's Marmchurch, Bude-based suckler herd.

Next top was Moynton Ascott, an October 2005-born son of Dingle Hofmeister from Peter Old's Dorchester-based herd. Brought out by herd stockmen Mike Yeandle, Ascott has a beef value of CH39 and was bought by Peter Heard, Okehampton.

Reserve championship went to Littlebovey Aero from Henry and Emma Vooght, Bovey Tracey. Aero sold for 2600gns to J Smythe Barnstaple.

Catching up with the main news from across the pond is pretty simple these days, but how do you source specialist information, such as the latest news from the USA beef industry?

Well hopefully this site, The Beef Blog, will help all of us with an interest in beef farming across the world. Regularly updated with all the latest technical and other news, it provides a good insight into how the other half live.

Admittedly there's nothing groundbreaking there, but there's plenty to keep you interested

With 58 head entered for the Simmental Society's sale at Carlisle on April 27, there will be plenty on offer for breed enthusiasts to bid for.

With many herds looking to breed their own replacements, Simmentals are becoming increasingly popular as maternal sires, so all bodes well for a good sale.

Anyone who's anyone in the Hereford breed will be heading to Hereford Market next Saturday for the breed's spring show and sale.

With 98 head on offer, including 27 bulls and 25 show females, there's sure to be plenty of quality stock on offer and with interest in the native breeds continuing to surge its likely there will be some good prices too.

All sale entries will be TB tested and the sale also includes some consignments of organic cattle and will feature a number of cows and calves.

Bidding was steady at yesterday's dispersal of the Keldmoor Holstein herd for the Thompson family, Claxton, York, with a top price of 2300gns for lot 132, Keldmoor Jackson Lisa.

Lisa, who is rated VG-86 is by Weeton Jackson and out of homebred cow Keldmoor Leadership Lisa.

AI'd last September to Gillette Final Cut, Lisa had given 6373 litres by day 221 of her first lactation and is currently giving just over 30kg a day.

Next top bid was 1350gns, with Keldmoor Lyster Eltona following quickly behind at 1250gns.

As you know we're keen on Angus on this blog and it seems store buyers north of the border are too, with steers topping at £860 at last week's sale of Angus sired stores at Thainestone.

The steer was consigned by Messrs Craigi, Hall of Clestrain, Orkney and was bought by W Stewart, Greenfold, Bridge of Marnoch.

Champion ticket in the pre-sale show was clinched by J and J Mark, Mains of Pitlurg, Keith, with a heifer which sold for £660.

Northern Limousin breeders are going to showing their finest pure anc crossbred youngsters at Skipton Market on May 9, giving everyone a chance to assess their chances ahead of the main show season.

With £2300 in prize money up for grabs the event looks sure to draw in some top quality entries of young cattle. Classes are for pedigree Limousin heifers and bulls born in 2006 and crossbred Limousin sired steers and heifers.

Judge for the show will be William Smith of Millbrook Limousins, Ireland, one of the best known Limousin breeders in Eire.

On the same day up to 1500 pedigree and crossbred Limmys will be penned for the annual Craven Limousin Day which will feature the annual show and sale of pedigree Limousin breeding cattle.

The store cattle trade continues unabated, with Aberdeen and Northern Marts' first spring show and sale meeting a lively trade for all classes.

Leading the way was W Forbes, Dalrachie Farm, Ballindalloch with a 428kg Limousin cross steer which stood champion in the show classes and sold for £1000 to Messrs Cameron, Grange, Keith.

Reserve spot was clinched by J Stuart, Belnoe, Chapeltown with a 540kg Limousin cross bullock. This one realised £800 to show judge David Henderson.

Top spot among the heifers was Blair Duffton of Bogie Street, Huntly. This one tipped the scales at 580kg and sold to Woodhead Brothers, Turriff.

The final silverware of the day for the best beast from the Islands went to A G Flaws, Ringesta, Quendale, Shetland with their 345kg Blonde which fetched £570, selling to Thirsk Auction Mart.

Commercial cows built on strong pedigrees met a strong trade at last week's Coteswood herd dispersal for John and Ivan Tivey.

Topping the trade was Coteswood Edelrose 10, a 2002 born cow by Dado Luke Montu and in-calf to Smiddiehill Knighthawk.

Youngstock were also a strong trade with the 17 heifer calves averaging £374 and hitting 480gns twice.

Buyers flocked from far and wide to buy these well bred cows, with auctioneers Norton and Brooksbank reporting a strong contingent of west country and northern buyers.

Last Monday at Chelford, Frank Marshall and Co conducted their annual Easter Prize Show and Sale of calves.

Auctioneer Roy Waller said "It's been a long time since we've seen a pen full of so many good calves. The buyers bid furiously to try to secure the best. It's always the same, its quality that sells". The prices tell the story - 14 calves to average £227.36.

Champion prime lambs will be on sale from this Friday at Stuart Price Butchers in Crossflatts for the traditional Easter trade.

The Lime Court shop bought the title winners at the opening monthly show and sale of prime lambs at Skipton Auction Mart, on Monday.

Stuart Price Butchers often purchases Skipton "champions" and the latest 40-kilo Texel-cross twin lambs were bought by the shop's Mick Etherington, who had earlier judged the show, for £114 each (£2.85 per kilo). They were exhibited by Basil Jarvis, of Marton-cum-Grafton, York.

Basil Jarvis, left, gathers in his Skipton prime lamb champions with the aid of show judge and buyer Mick Etherington.

A vibrant buzz round the sale rings at Dungannon Farmers Mart resulted in an almost full clear out of Belgian Blue bulls and averages creeping £600 up on last year's sale for the Northern Ireland Belgian Blue Club's first export sale.

Auctioneer Trevor Wyllie commented after the sale on the lively trade with a strong demand for quality stock, with nearly half of the bulls forward being sold for export to Southern Ireland.

Now this did make me laugh! Showing and selling cattle in the States has always made me giggle, but this has to top it!

Check this report out where a 9-year old girl (with her pink showstick) caught the eye of buyers round the sale ring, where she sold her Charolais steer for $34,000 - I'm not saying a word!