September 2007 Archives

At the second show and sale of Co. Wexford Sheepbreeders’ Association at Enniscorthy Mart, Pat Rossiter of Newtown, Wellingtonbridge, received €960 for his Suffolk champion ram.

Ann Murphy of Gorey had the winning Texel, while the Charollais champion was bred by Wm. Sweetman of Bannow.

Wexford breeders took it as a compliment that buyers came such long distances to purchase their sheep.

Eight rams went to Co. Kerry, three to Newtownmountkennedy in Wicklow, as well as more to the other neighbouring counties.

A good clearance of stock was reported, with quality on most buyers’ minds, the majority of rams selling at between €300 and €400.

Padraig Murphy from Castledermot, Co Kildare, judged the Suffolk and Texels, and Sarah O’Neill from Camolin was the Charollais judge.

Members of the Sheepbreeders’ Association are now looking forward to their next big outing, their evening sale on Monday October 1 (6.30 p.m.) also at Enniscorthy Mart.

Finally some hope for the industry.......foot and mouth movement rules have been relaxed to allow markets to resume in the low risk area from next Thursday, 4 October.

The announcement was made late yesterday by DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn at the same time as he confirmed a fifth case of Bluetongue had been discovered on a farm in Suffolk.

The resumption of markets will be subject to stringent biosecurity measures and the current control measures in the FMD Risk Area remain in place.

DEFRA have always taken a risk-based and staged approach to movement restrictions, explained Mr Benn. "The decision to announce today that livestock markets will be allowed from next Thursday follows extensive discussion with stakeholders, and I know will be of great benefit to the farming and food chain industry in easing economic and welfare pressures.

"It will also allow time for preparations for markets to take place and for the required biosecurity measures to be applied."

In addition, following negative laboratory results the Foot and Mouth disease Temporary Control Zone in the Maidenhead area has now lifted. Laboratory tests also show that the strain of FMD found on the seventh infected premises is the same strain as that found on the other premises in Surrey.

DEFRA has also today received positive test results for bluetongue for a fifth animal on a fourth premises near Burstall, Suffolk. This animal will be culled.

Organisers of Europe’s biggest ram sale, which movement regulations prevented from taking place on September 24, are planning two smaller events next month.

“We are ready to be quick off the mark as soon as we get the go ahead from Government vets,” says George Hughes, chairman of the NSA sale’s organising committee.

“We will use the permanent buildings at the Royal Welsh showground and give priority to shearlings, as they take up most of the space available. About a week later we will have another sale for ram lambs.”

He rejected the idea of staging a video or photograph-based auction as unacceptable to buyers who wanted to see and handle rams and, with 7500 sheep entered for the postponed sale, a logistical nightmare.

The recent sale of agricultural machinery at ADAS' Rosemaund unit saw a large gathering of the rural community from Herefordshire and further a field.

Rosemaund had been an integral part of the agricultural world for over 40 years and had accumulated a huge array of agricultural machinery.

This reflected in the following prices received culminating in a bid of £23,500 for a 2004 Manitou MLT 634 loader.

A total of 10 tractors on sale were headed by a ‘Same Silver 130’ selling for £20,700. A Massey Ferguson 6180 (N Reg) £9,650, M/F 240 (J Reg) £5450, M/F 3085 (L Reg) £5200, a Ford 5610 (D Reg) £5050, with others from £3000 - £4,500. The Combine, a TC54 New Holland (M Reg) reached £13,200.

Other farm machinery sold to £3850 for an A/W 13 tonne trailer. Teagle Tomahawk 80/80 Bale Shreader £3200, Spaldings, Flat Lift 90/150 £3050, McConnell hedge trimmer £2400, Amazone D39 scuffle £2350, Collins 8 tonne £2100, Star 1300 tanker £2050, Warwick dump trailer £2000, Opico grass harrows £1950.

The auction of the 800 sheep will now take place on the farm when foot and mouth regulations allow (Auctioneers John Amos and Co).

Perth-based United Auctions, which was earleir this year subject to a management buy-out, has now secured its first freehold market site, Dalmally.

The market site, formerly owned by the Elphinstone Group, which bought the United Auctions gorup last year, was advertised for sale last week along with a number of other land holdings.

While not the largest or most modern faciltiy in Scotland, Dalmally is one of the most important seasonal markets in the country, particularly when it comes to hosting the annual Blackface tup sale in October.

Richard Duff from the Irish Republic plans to judge the only British Blue Cattle Society show and sale likely to take place this October.

The Society’s Northern Ireland show and sale is planned for Saturday, Oct 27 in Dungannon Farmers’ Mart, Co Tyrone with a strong entry expected for this export status event. Judging commences at 10.30am with auctioneer Trevor Wylie in action from 1pm.

For catalogues and directions to this easy access mart tel; (028) 8772 2727.

Well what a weekend, as Jonathan said in his post we didn't think we'd be talking about Bluetongue Disease so soon.

But the sad fact is that it has now arrived in the UK and having caught a glimpse of some news headlines this morning a farm next door to the Suffolk Rare Breeds farm which has sadly lost Debbie the Highland cow, is having tests carried out on two animals supposidly showing signs of Bluetongue disease.

As always we'll endeavour to keep you up to date with the latest news and developments, but as well as www.fwi.co.uk, DEFRA have most of the information ion the disease, as well as a handy PDF leaflet detailing Bluetonge symptoms.

Top price at the Ballymena BFL sale which went on, despite the foot-and-mouth movement restrictions on the homeland, was 2500gns for a shearling from Robert Loughbridge.

Overall trade was strong, as buyers who normally traveled to Castle Douglas and other sales on the mainland were obviously restricted in what they could buy.

I can't believe what I'm seeing on Sky News at the moment....Bluetongue has now arrived in the UK, having been found in a cow in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Although it's been a matter of time before we see it, let's hope it is an isolated case!

We may not have had much of a summer, I'm now keeping everything crossed for a cold, harsh winter to stamp this midge out.

Click here for a list of what to look for in terms of Bluetonge symptoms.

DEFRA have tonight announced the culling of another group of cattle on suspicion of foot and mouth disease. Numbers and location are unknown, but it is within the current protection zone.

"The decision has been taken to slaughter cattle on suspicion of Foot and Mouth Disease on a farm in Surrey. This follows a veterinary inspection of the affected cattle on a parcel of land in the existing Protection Zone. There is no timetable for when laboratory results from these premises will be received," said DEFRA

Sadly, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society - organisers of Countryside Live - have today announced their decision to cancel all beef and sheep classes at the event due to the recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Surrey. However, the Show will definitely still go ahead.

Countryside Live takes place on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of October at the Great Yorkshire Showground and has rapidly grown into an important autumn agricultural event. Now in its fifth year, Countryside Live aims to bring together the best of the countryside to families and children in the comfort of an exhibition centre.

Countryside Live features a range of hands-on activities for children, from a tree identification trail, bread making, cheese tasting, sausage making and Bee keeping.

The Young Limousin Breeders of Northern Ireland hosted their annual Calf Spectacular and Young Handlers Competition at Moira Pedigree Sales Arena last Saturday. This year there was a fantastic display of more than 80 pedigree and commercial Limousins, shown by breeders from across the province.

The Young Handlers Competition kick started the day’s proceedings with 19 competitors split into three groups - Junior, Intermediate and Senior. The Young Handlers competition was split into two sections - the preparation of the calves for exhibition and the handling of the calves in the show ring.

Sarah-Jayne Jessop of the renowned Springsett Herd, Stirling, Scotland judged the preparation of the calves whilst her partner Dougie McBeath judged the handling. This year’s competition was exceptionally tight with only a few points separating each prize winner, in many cases.

View the show report for class winners

With much talk surrounding how long foot and mouth movement restrictions will go on for, regular winter primestock show goers are already starting to wonder whether some shows will happen or not.

One event confident they will be holding a show in late November is the South East Prime Stock Winter Fayre, a personal favourite of mine, which is due to go ahead on 20 November at Ardingly showground, West Sussex.

Schedules are out and the judges have been announced with Mike Dickens, Milton Keynes taking on the beef classes and Hawkhurst-based buther Andy Clark judging sheep.

Mike's wife Jean will also be judging the tied up section as well as the Young Farmers classes which will see young exhibitors up to the age of 26 going head to head.

For anyone wanting to get hold of a schedule contact the event secretary Mary Masters on 01273 517 824 or email mary.m@btclick.com

The temporary foot and mouth control zone established at Solihull yesterday has been revoked this evening. Hopefully, this will aid DEFRA's risk assesment for the easing of movement restrictions across the UK.

More details will appear here and on our forum and news pages as we get it

Following the cancellation of Kelso tup sales earlier this month Hexham and Northern Marts have decided to hold a virtual sale, enabling buyers to view pictures of the tups on a screen at the Mart.

Entries include a large selection of Suffolks and Bluefaced Leicesters, all of which will be availble to buyers as soon as movement restrictions are eased.

Having been involved with organising similar sales of cattle in south west England in 2001 I wish them the best of luck with this venture. Its fair to say these will never rival live markets, but they do provide the best option in the current circumstances.

Skipton Auction Mart is to stage a slaughter-only sale of prime beef and lambs on Monday (Sept 24).

While all non-slaughter stock shows and sales remain suspended, DEFRA is currently allowing animals to move through collection centres, red markets and direct from farm to slaughter.

Auction mart general manager Jeremy Eaton explained that Skipton has adopted the slaughter-only route as it allows some of the backlog of stock to be moved for hard-pressed farmers.

“However, this situation remains far from ideal as the continuing ban on carcass exports will cause very depressed prices.”

Mr Eaton stressed that limited numbers of entries in each class would be accepted for Monday’s sale, with a requirement that all stock must be pre-entered by contacting the mart on 01756 792375.

Regarding future arrangements, there is no option but to take things a day at a time at the moment, though we will do our best to reschedule shows and sales once we are in a position to do so.

“In the interim, we are urging farmers to continue to make their entries for future sales, as any further cancellations will be confirmed nearer the time of each fixture.

“We are also compiling a register of all prime, store and breeding sheep, including breeding rams, and are making provision to enable farm-to-farm transfer of these animals if the easing of restrictions allows this type of movement instead of gatherings of livestock.

“We are still appealing to farmers to contact us with details of any stock to sell and enquiries for purchasing.”

One of the biggest Holstein shows in Europe took place last month in Spain. The provincial show in Astutias in the North is one of Spain’s most prestigious agricultural events and attracts breeders from all over Europe.

Junior champion was a Holstein heifer bred by Drointon Holsteins from Staffordshire owned by Andrew McKellar. Drointon Journalist Sara she also had an impressive win at this year‘s UK National Holstein Show at Bingley Hall winning the Autumn Calf class.

Sara’s dam is a sister to Copywood Integrity Sara Red EX90 National Champion 2005. She was sold to Quim Serabbassa and Casa Regalao through the World Wide Sires EX Factor sale held in Borderway with Harrison and Hetherington.

It is a case of ‘like father like son’ as Dancoed Cymro 13th follows in his sire’s footsteps to take the title Welsh Black Cattle Society Bull of the Year 2007.
Accompanying him in the honours is Crymlyn June 3rd, the WBCS Female of the Year 2007.

The annual competition was cut short because of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Surrey, but the Society’s Council decided the competition’s outcome could be decided based on the six shows which had already taken place.

“The six shows did include the two Royal shows, both of which carry double points,” said WBCS Chief Executive, Andrew James.

“Therefore front runners have been identified and rewarded for their loyalty and eagerness to compete in the early shows which started in North Wales with Nefyn on the May Day Bank Holiday.”

Twenty-seven month-old Dancoed Cymro 13th (born 2/04/05) is no stranger to awards having won the bull championships in the breed’s classes at this summer’s Royal and Royal Welsh Shows.

His show ring prowess also earned him maximum points at the Cothi Bridge and Aberystwyth Shows, which gave him an overall show season total of 54 points. He also receives the NatWest bronze bull for the animal with the highest overall points.

Sired by Seisiog Cymro 61st – who won the Bull of the Year title in 2003 and 2004 – the young bull was bred and exhibited by Gwynfryn and Marian Phillips, Dancoed, Cwm Gwaen, Fishguard who established their Dancoed herd of pedigree Welsh Blacks in 1992.

But Dancoed Cymro 13th won’t be staying at home for long as he is to be sold at the WBCS sale at Llandovery on October 11th. He is being sold as his siblings in the herd are due for breeding.

The 20 month old Charolais bull, Lowerffrydd Benhurr has been sold in a private deal for £15,000 to Welsh commercial suckled calf producer, Andrew Powell of Knighton, Powys.

Bred by John Evans, Powys, Benhurr is within the breed’s top 1% with a Beef Value of CH35. He is by Doonally New and out of Lowerffrydd Penny, a Moyness Lincoln daughter and claimed to be the top breeding female in his six cow herd.

Benhurr is the highest price bull sold since the herd was established 12 years ago, explains Mr Evans. “We focus on selecting for growth and conformation together with accompanying estimated breeding values, and this bull reflects everything we attempt to achieve.”

Even in these times of complete unpredictability no one could ever have imagined that this year’s premier UK sale of Texel sheep at Lanark would have seen breeders buying rams in the early hours of the morning with a police cordon around the market.

But that was how the Texel Sheep Society was forced to cope with last week’s sale where, despite the unreal circumstances, bidding reached a top price of 40,000gns.

Auctioneer Brian Ross was almost understated in his comments, describing the day as “totally unreal”. It was a day that saw Texel rams gather at Lanark for the breed’s main autumn fixture –albeit almost a month late – and as well as being plunged into the implications of Wednesday morning’s foot-and-mouth movement clampdown, had to cope with the added panic caused by a vet’s suspicion that a shearling ewe was showing mouth lesions.

The ewe, finally given a clear bill of health after hours of uncertainty, then left breeders and auctioneers waiting for DEFRA’s instructions on what was to happen next. Finally the sale was allowed to proceed and trading began at 7.00pm on Wednesday evening with the gavel falling on the final lot at just after 1.20am on Thursday.

“Not the sort of day you ever want to experience again. Very traumatic for everyone involved but at least we eventually got sheep in the ring and there were buyers there until the end,” said Brian Ross.

For part of the day there was a “lock-in” imposed on the market as police sealed the building, but fortunately potential buyers were already on the premises inspecting stock prior to the sale.

Trade was remarkably strong for the best tups considering the circumstances and eventually bidding went into top gear off for the ram lamb from Jim Clark’s pen that had caught everyone’s eye.

Garngour Nirvana, a powerful son of Hexel Lexus, with superior carcass shape, skin and character, was one of two big money entries from the Clark family’s flock at Lesmahagow. Nirvana (ARR/ARH) is out a dam by the good producer Clynnog Joe Tex. He heads for Malcolm Reid’s flock at Kelso for 40,000gns.

This weekend marks the end of an era for the East Anglian sheep industry. It has, in the death of noted Texel breeder Chris Lewis, lost one of its true characters.

Chris, known to many as commentator at both the Royal Norfolk and East of England shows, was a true great of the sheep world. With a ready stockman's eye which often carried a michievious glint, he helped shape the Texel breed into the world renowned force it now is.

Indeed, his Edingthorpe flock was the 87th registered in the UK. But, having known Chris for most if not all my life, I know his sheep farming abilities were just a small part of the man who lived at Windmill Farm.

The most memorable part of Chris was of course his sense of humour, who else would have picked the prefix Moulin for his flock of Rouge de L'Ouest? To own Moulin Rouge sheep was the ultimate demonstration of a man who never failed to inject his own brand of humour and wit into any situation.

Beyond the sheep industry Chris was a knowledgeable and skilled cricketer and sailor and above all else a true gentleman.

His loss at the age of just 65 will take many people some time to comprehend, particularly those of us fortunate enough to spend any time in his company at this year's Royal Norfolk Show.

I was lucky enough to be asked to judge at this year's show on Chris' recommendation. For me there can be no greater compliment.

Next week's Dairy Event, Stoneleigh, has been cancelled due to this week's outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Surrey.

RABDF chairman Lyndon Edwards said it was with great regret that he had to announce the cancellation of the event due to take place at Stoneleigh Park Coventry on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 September.

“The Council Members of RABDF, organisers of the event, have taken specialist veterinary and professional advice and concluded that following the resurgence of the Foot and Mouth outbreak, it would be seriously unwise and irresponsible to hold a meeting of 10,000 farmers in one place, particularly as they will have travelled from all parts of the UK.

“We are still unsure that the virus has not spread outside the Surrey surveillance zone and a decision had to be made today as contractors and stand holders were planning to build the event over the weekend.”

The 3rd August foot and mouth outbreak was damaging enough to the industry with the loss of export and saturation of the home market, auctioneer Richard Turner has said. "Coupled with having to concentrate two month’s of store markets and breeding sales into one month further restricted by the six day movement stranglehold imposed by DEFRA, we now have to cope with this."

He says the industry now faces a bleak autumn and a large percentage of the farming industry will be on the poverty line before Christmas. "Even when this outbreak is contained, primestock will not move to slaughter for over a week, slaughter markets will not operate for another three weeks and it will be well into October before store markets and breeding sales can operate."

Talking to a few people this morning, beef and lamb processors believe licences could be granted tomorrow for movement to slaughter in England and Wales.

The announcement last night from NFU Scotland that they will be slaughtering will be making processors in England and Wales think they can't be too far behind.

We'll keep you updated with the altest news on fwi.co.uk.

The resumption of sales this week should have been a reason for sheep farmers to rejoice, instead it is now causing logistical nightmares for stock trapped at markets and sales.

Pat Greaney, stock manager for Eire-based Tom Bailey's Suffolk and Texel flocks was yesterday afternoon stuck in Kelso with more than 30 ram lambs he'd been due to sell tomorrow.

Others, meanwhile, were trapped at Lanark market where the Scottish region of the Texel Sheep Society was due to hold its premier sale.

Reports are circulating that farmers in Scotland will be able to send stock to slaughter again tomorrow after the Scottish Executive decided this evening to relax the movement rules imposed in reaction to today's outbreak of foot and mouth in Surrey.

I don't have the full details yet, but we'll keep you updated as we here more.

Skipton Auction Mart has cancelled all future livestock shows and sales until further notice in response to the re-occurence of foot and mouth.

The mart acted quickly today after the latest confirmed outbreak in Surrey and the government re-imposing the national ban on the movement of livestock.

General manager Jeremy Eaton said the majority of the 500 store cattle sold at Skipton on Wednesday had been moved from the mart as normal ahead of the ban, and those that remained after the ban came into place were inspected by a vet before being moved on under licence.

Didn't think I would be writing this again so soon, but we're back where we started.

Taking Stock promises to keep you updated with what's happening. All I know at the moment is that BBC News 24 have run a story saying it has been confirmed, yet DEFRA have just announced it hasn't and that statement won't be due until later today.

In the mean time go to Farmers Weekly main site for the latest news as it happens.

It was certainly a case of “like father like son” last weekend as Texel breeders quickly moved into top gear at Carlisle and produced a top bid of 14,000gns for a son of Cowal Maverick who last year made the same price at the breed’s main Scottish fixture.

The Solway and Tyne Texel Breeders Club’s show and sale at Borderway Mart was a great pipe-opener to the belated start of the main tup buying season and put good sires from leading flocks up for grabs – despite being ahead of the premier gathering at Lanark.

Willie Knox, from those great sheep breeding acres of Aberdeenshire, came south with a smart pen of ram lambs including the eventual sale topper Haddo Neptune.

His sire achieved a flock-best last year for brothers Keith, Allan and Roy Campbell when he was snapped up at 14,000gns by Mr Knox; his first son on offer here at Carlisle sufficiently impressed judge Steve Smith from Welshpool to take the reserve championship.

Out of a ewe by Craighead Hercules, Neptune goes to the Doncaster-based Heyworth Lodge flock owned by Jennifer Lodge.

A surge in demand for Lleyn sheep in Eire brought sheep buyers north to Ballymena last weekend and created a strong demand for yearling ewes at the Lleyn Sheep Society’s sale where they averaged nearly £111 a head. But it was a shearling tup that topped the sale at 550gns – and he went south to Eire too.

Paying the top price was Robin Darker from Blessington, Co Wicklow who runs 100 breeding ewes in his Darker flock set-up five years ago.

“The Lleyn is well established in Northern Ireland and now things are really taking off in Eire. There could be more than 25 flocks in Eire by the end of the year compared with just six flocks last year,” commented Robin Darker.

His purchase, consigned by R E and I Edwards, Newtownards, Co Down, was by a tup bred in the Wraycastle flock of the Geldard family, Levens, Cumbria.

The Ballymena ringside was swelled with Eire-based breeders from Donegal, Wicklow, Kildare and Wexford with most looking for females.

Texel buyers were ready to spend on the best on offer at the breed’s English National show and sale at Worcester this week and paid a top price of 7800gns – but the trade was selective with around 50% of rams sold.

Two well known names from the north and south joined forces to secure the most fancied shearling ram when Bill Quick and Sons from Devon and Jim Goldie from Dumfries paid 7800gns for Peacehay Masterpiece.

Consigned by Frank Henry Chave and Son, Wellington, Somerset he was breed champion and stood reserve for the inter-breed title at this year’s Royal Show. His sire, Lyonshall King of Clubs, was champion at the Royal Show in 2006. Masterpiece – an ARR/ARR tup – is out of a Douganhill Ferrari sired ewe.

Masterpiece was way ahead on price in the shearling section – the next highest was 1650gns paid by R Fitton, Bolton, Lancashire for a tup from Mrs A Nairey’s Meinspride flock at Blackburn that was champion at the Cheshire Show.

A prolonged bidding war between two determined breeders saw the record for a long legged Dexter bull reach 2300gns – almost 1000gns more than the previous record – at the Traditional Native Breeds National Show and Sale, held at Melton Mowbray Market.

In the end the polled back bull – the May 2006 born Watercress Wriggler from Shelagh Davis, Powys – was bought by Jan and Susan Stanek, Oxfordshire and will join the five other lots they bought on the day in the now 40-strong herd.

A Charolais cross heifer more than lived up to her name after becoming the most expensive sold in Scotland so far this year.

"She's The One" from father and son Willie and Alan Brewster, of Wester Borland, Thornhill, Stirling, made £6100 at the Caledonian Marts' premier calf show and sale in Stirling on Friday.

The Brewster's had earlier taken the show's supreme championship with their sale leader.
By Corrie Priceless and out of Limousin cross cow, the 430kg 10-month- old heifer stood Charolais and spring-born champion at the sale which attracted buyers from England and Wales.

The buyer was Lanarkshire livestock agent Billy Glazebrook, although he declined to say who the heifer had been bought for.

Ever wondered what an American cattle sale look's like, well now Taking Stock can bring you the answer with this range of pictures from our intrepid photographer.

With seats round the sale ring and stock moved on horseback it look's vastly different to sales here, until you see the buyers. Change the check shirts and stetsons for barbours and flat caps and it could easily be Carlisle or any other market in the UK.

It was showtime again at Skipton Auction Mart yesterday when 34 dairy cattle returned to the ring to signal the longed for resumption of normal trading in the wake of foot and mouth.

It proved a glorious homecoming for father-and-son farmers Raymond and Robert Johnson, of Summerfield Farm, Felliscliffe, Harrogate, who landed the Craven Dairy Auction championship for a record fifth time.

The Johnsons also set a new record price in modern times when their newly-calven pedigree Holstein Friesian heifer, giving seven gallons, sold for £1600 to HA Bradley & Son, Booth House, Salterforth. The Bradleys also received a £60 cash prize from Farmers & Mercantile Insurance Brokers, Boroughbridge.

Hexham and Northern Marts held their opening sale of the season for Mule ewe lambs with a catalogued entry of 4629 head.

This was the first sale of breeding sheep following the closure of markets due to foot and mouth. The first and second sale were amalgamated together this year for the first time and the sale was for both members and non-members of the North of England Mule sheep association.

Prior to the sale the prize show which was kindly sponsored by Robson & Cowan, Scots Gap and Yorkshire Bank was expertly judged by Richard Williams, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell, Shropshire.

The Robson & Cowan trophy was presented by Frank Cowan and the prize money was presented by Jane Gibson and David Sinden of Yorkshire Bank to David and Marion Hope, Albierigg, Canonbie for an outstanding pen which realised £85 and were purchased by Mr D Carr, Highwood, Hexham.

British Lop breeders converged on Melton Mowbray last weekend for their first annual pig of the year show since being excluded from the BPA pig of the year competition.

With thirty pigs present, there was a tremendous potential to spread bloodlines and help invigorate breeding programmes.

The show element was the pinnacle of the summer with the champion pigs from all the major shows coming together to be judged for the British Lop Pig of the Year. The judge, William Gregory, travelled down from North Yorkshire and was presented with seven top gilts from which to select the female champion.

Top spot went to Mark & Emma Edgar from Wareside, Hertfordshire, with their July-born gilt, Bakers Harmony 19. The Edgars won the inaugural Young Pig of the Year championship organised by the British Pig Association in 2005 and followed up a year later with the Female Young Pig of the Year in 2006, after which British Lops were excluded from that competition thus leading to this new championship dedicated exclusively to the Lop breed.

The reserve female champion was awarded to Brian Upchurch from Royston with Greenway Harmony 117, a January-born gilt.

Then it was the turn of the boars and again seven were forward. The male championship went to Mr Upchurch with Greenway Ben 6 and the Runner-Up was Malcolm Hicks from Coventry with Windmill Charles 4, both born in February this year.

As Caithness Livestock Centre celebrated its 15th anniversary on Monday (September 10th), Aberdeen & Northern Marts reiterated its commitment to the future of livestock auctions in the north of Scotland.

Following the closure of Thurso mart, last year’s anniversary show and sale saw the launch of the company’s consultation with farmers in the north to ensure best possible provision of livestock sales in Caithness.

Responses were then used when devising the 2007 sales calendar, which has been well received by buyers and sellers and has attracted increased numbers.

Skipton market look's set to be busy in the next few weeks with a range of specialist sheep sales set to draw the buyers from far and wide.

Leading the way will be Texel sheep enthusiasts with the 26th Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders Association two-day show and sale of pedigree rams and females on Thursday and Friday, September 20 & 21.

Association secretary Audrey Taylor, of Huddersfield, reports that a robust 567 entries will be turning out for the show, to be judged by association committee member and well-known Texel breeder Philip Hughes, Angram, York.

Leading Texel and Limousin breeder Richard Oates takes another step towards retirement from pedigree sheep breeding on Saturday, with the dispersal of the adult portion of his Lumbylaw flock, at Billerwell Farm, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick.

The flock, which has been performance recorded for 25 years, came out top on performance across all UK Texel flocks last year.

The on-farm sale is being conducted by Carlisle auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington in conjunction with George F White, Alnwick, where Richard and his wife Marion’s middle son Tom is a partner and land agent and auctioneer.

Kent's Ashford market is certainly pulling out all the stops to help farmers get back trading again, with auctioneers Hobbs Parker announcing a raft of sale dates to help clear a backlog of stock.

Estimates suggest the market will handle about 80,000 head of sheep in the next three months in store and breeding sales, alongside the firm's weekly primestock sales.

Best of luck to all and with that many stock to shift, the drovers will certainly be kept fit in the weeks to come!

Sale dates include the following, but for full listings and online catalogues see the Hobbs Parker website.

An Aberdeenshire farmer emerged the victor in a bidding battle for a yearling heifer at Scotland's premier calf show – The Spectacular at Inverurie's Thainstone
Centre.

But Harry Emslie, Kinknockie, Mintlaw, had to go to £6,000 to win Miss Unique, a daughter of Linarn Unique, the first Limousin bull he bred from his now 50-cow pedigree herd.

The 454kg heifer, out of a Belgian Blue cross, was from Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, Elgin, Morayshire and had earlier stood reserve heifer champion.

Mr Emslie was determined to get the heifer from Mr Anderson who had bought Linarn Unique for 4600gn two years ago. She had over the summer show season stood reserve at Sutherland County and reserve female at Nairn.

"She is a tremendous heifer and well balanced. I can see potential in her and I hope she will do as well as the bull calves I have from the bull," said Mr Emslie, who will be taking his purchase out on the winter show circuit.

Caithness Livestock Centre will continue its busy run of autumn events with a show and sale of 1600 store cattle next Monday (10th September).

The event – which is again sponsored by Harbro – was originally due to take place on Monday, September 3rd but was postponed due to rescheduled sales as a result of foot-and-mouth restrictions.

Classes for singles, pairs, pens of four and pens of eight will be contested, with the Perpetual Trophy and £100 to be presented to the exhibitor of the champion animal. The consignor of the reserve champion will receive £50.

The show – to be judged by Bill and David Henderson, Hillbrae Farm, Bourtie, Inverurie – will begin at 8am and the sale will begin at 9am.

Next Monday evening 917th) will see the greatest consignment of Elite black-and-white Holstein Friesian Bulls ever brought together on British soil for sale at the Borderway Sales Centre, Carlisle.

Many bulls will sell all bred from generations of elite dams renowned for strength, high fertility, longevity and high quality production.

Logan Roxstar is one such elite sire with unlimited breeding potential. Roxstar is sired by Mr Sam and comes from the international Roxy cow family. Currently the dam is in her sixth lactation, she has an impressive production career giving 11,636 305 4.04% 3.42% in her last. She is classified VG85 and to date has breed one Excellent and three Very Good daughters.

Logan Roxstar's pedigree shows consistent traits for strength, fertility, longevity, high fat and protein and tremendous production.

Scottish auctioneers United Auctions has recruited four new trainee livestock auctioneers.

Bryan Noble (27), Lorne Colthart (17), Richard Close (25) and Ross Fotheringham (17) will trainin-house through distance learning as livestock auctioneers.

Based at Huntly, Oban, Stirling and Perth, the trainees will each be assigned an experienced auctioneer as a mentor to provide training and support as they work towards a BA qualification in Livestock Auctioneering from the University of Central Lancashire.

Appointed from 40 candidates they will gain experience in a liveweight and deadweight sales environment through auction-based and direct marketing activities.

As Taking Stock readers will be aware this year’s Royal Show was something of an organisational disaster. Sodden judging rings, waterlogged car parks and missing rosettes and prize cards did little to endear the show to exhibitors and visitors alike.

Now though the RASE has stooped to new lows. As an exhibitor who enjoyed some success at this year’s show I have been keeping an eye on the post for the last few weeks for a prize money cheque. With it now being some two months since the show, I have to say I was becoming a little concerned it may have been lost in the post.

Now don’t get me wrong this cheque isn’t going to make or break me financially, but having laid out a not inconsiderable sum in entry fees and accommodation costs before the show it will help balance the books a little.

Just signed up to this really interesting blog in America and thought it might be worth a look.

The beef blog has everything you need to know about beef production in the States from feeding, vaccinating, DNA testing, cow ID and cow health and disease. There's some great articles on there, definately worth checking out.

Sheep auctions resumed at Winslow Livestock Market on Monday, September 3, after a five-week absence following the Surrey foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Some 600 lambs and ewes were sold - a slightly lower number than usual, which head auctioneer Simon Draper said could be due to the pressures of harvest-time.

Mr Draper, of Winslow Livestock Market operators Thame Farmers Auction Mart Ltd, said farmers were pleased to see the market back open.

Sales are expected to return to normal next week.

Good news for Melton Mowbray Market as they have the go ahead that all will be fine for their show and sale of Rare Breeds to be held at the market this weekend.

Strict biosecurity measures will obvioulsy be in place, but the timetable will go ahead as planned with showing on the Friday and selling on the Saturday.

For more information go to the market's website.

Now livestock showing is pretty high up on the agenda for some breeders, but now you can show with a different dimension - live on the web.

This weekend sees the launch of Bonnysheep.com's virtual interactive sheep show. The website designed for farmers to put photographs of their sheep on the internet is free to view and free to submit photos to.

The show iteslf has been developed in light of foot and mouth, where most shows were cancelled.

Showing dates for different breeds will be posted on the webiste throughout the year with Mule Gimmer lambs and Zwartbles starting the season off.

Some of the country’s best rare livestock breeds will be on show at the 5th National Show and Sale of Traditional Native Breeds, which is being staged at Melton Mowbray Livestock Market on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th September 2007.

But the final format of the two-day event has yet to be confirmed, as organisers still have not received final clarification from DEFRA of the rules that might apply to the event in the wake of the recent foot and mouth disease outbreak in Surrey.

Confirmation that the event could go ahead at all was only received on Thursday 29th August, and organisers still do not know whether the event needs to be concluded within a 24-hour period to meet current livestock trading/movement rules.

The tenth anniversary of the NI National Charolais Show at Ecclesville Equestrian Centre, Fintona saw Co.Fermanagh breeders walk off with the major titles when Adrian Richardson from Maguiresbridge took the supreme female of the show title and Stewart and David Bothwell from Ballinamallard were awarded the supreme male title.

Judge, Alaisdair Houston from the Gretnahouse herd first selected his supreme female champion, Hillviewfarm Bonnie, an Allanfauld Vagabond daughter out of Coolnaslee Regina.

Adrian Richardson purchased the dam from Gilbert Crawford’s herd at Maghera and her first calf took the female championship at a club show and sale in Dungannon, while a bull calf from this dam took the junior championship at the NI Charolais Club sale in Dungannon in May of this year and sold for 4200gns.

Standing in reserve female champion place was the reserve junior female champion, Burnside Bimp from Brian and William McAllister’s herd at Kells. This Mowbraypark Paramount daughter is out of Burnside Timp which took the supreme female title at Fintona for two years in succession, the only female to achieve this in the 10 years history of the show.

Auctioneers Ward & Chowen at Tavistock Livestock Centre have been busy through the summer months making improvements to the marketing of their livestock in anticipation of a busy autumn now that livestock sales have resumed.

A brand new sheep sale ring has been specially built for their forthcoming West of England Scotch Blackface Ram Sale in October. The ring has been bought through a special donation from Wessex Animal Health based in Hampshire who have been excellent supporters of livestock sales at Tavistock.

The new ring is proposed to be first used at the Dartmoor and District Mule Ewe Lamb Show and Sale where it is anticipated 2000 Mule females will be sold when hopefully livestock markets resume normal activity in early September.

Foot-and-mouth may have made sheep marketing difficult, but that hasn’t prevented a shearling ram which was one half of this year’s Royal Show interbreed pairs champions setting a new Southdown breed record price of £2250.

The tup, Chailebybrook 060002, bred by Farmers Weekly livestock editor and Taking Stock contributor Jonathan Long, was sold to John Aisbitt for his newly founded Lunce’s Hall flock, Wyviesfield, Haywards Heath, Sussex.