March 2009 Archives

Limousin trade at Dungannon yesterday saw a wealth of breeders and commercial cattlemen pack the sale ring to secure new herd sires and with the sale gaining export status it was no surprise a number of cattle headed to buyers from mainland UK.

Topping the sale was the pre-sale show champion Carmon Cantona from Francis McAuley, Toomebridge, Co Antrim. By the great breeding sire Wilodge Vantastic and out of Jockey daughter Carmorn Rosie, Cantona sold to local farmer and butcher Derek Frew for his Frewstown pedigree herd.

Northern Irish British Blue breeders were rewarded for their continued investment in top quality genetics at Dungannon last weekend when 32 bulls averaged £3000 and 93% of the entire entry forward sold to new homes.

Heading up the trade at 4700gns was Mountjoy Cannon a Gitan Du P'Tit Mayeur son from Desmond McAskie out of homebred Twyning Ash Nimrod daughter Mountjoy Willow. October 2007-born Cannon stood second in his class in the pre-sale show and sold to Alan Hawkes, Co Tyrone.

Next best at 4600gns was Littlederry Challenger from Simon Loughery which had stood first in the same class as Cannon and is by Dafydd D'Ochain and out of Ballymacvea Drum Tillie, a Savant de Pierrecome daughter. This one sold to Liz McEnery, Co Kerry.

At 4100gns was Ballylucas Captain from the Cleland family. Captain is another Dafydd D'Ochain son out of Ballylucas Whisper, a Fadar Des Freres daughter and sold to John McDonnell, Co Roscommon.

In the females top price was a 4200gns bid for female and overall champion Annaghone Charm from Norman Hammond. She is by Blak Du Baty D'Eprave and out of Annaghone Winnie. Buying this one was Jo Doyle, Kilkeel.

At 3200gns was Droit Candy, a Gitan Du P'Tit Mayeur daughter out of Annanwater Verona, a Visconti de St Fontaine daughter out of Ridge Dean Totty. She sold to J Collins, Ballymoney.

Averages; 32 bulls £3000, 20 females £2220.75

Cockermouth market in the Lake District is the latest to receive its share of the cash being liberally spent this spring by commercial cattle exhibitors with Alistair and Liz Vance digging deep to secure the reserve champion from last Friday's show and sale of store cattle at £4000.

The heifer, a black Limousin cross entry from Andrew and Karen Nicholson, Swinside End, had stood second in the Limousin heifer class behind the overall champion, another one from the Nicholsons, under judge Willie Seels, Doncaster.

The champion went on to sell for £1650 to the judge and like the reserve champion will no doubt be making an appearance on the show circuit later in the year.

And the Nicholsons also enjoyed success in the steer class when they collected the red ticket in the Limousin bullocks with one which later sold for £1000 to J J Chrichton, Loughrigg. But the top call in this section went to R J and A Y Armstrong, Terrace Farm, when they traded one at £1040.

Also at this money was a British Blue steer from Seatoller Farm and close behind at £1030 was a Blonde steer from Beckside.

With health status becoming an increasingly important selling tool for many breeders, it's not surprise to see the Aberdeen Angus Society breaking new ground and increasing the criteria for stock offered at breed society show and sales.

Top of the requirements will be an insistence that all cattle entered for breed sales will have to come from herds undertaking annual testing for Johne's disease in a CHeCs approved health scheme or a Johne's accredited herd.

Alongside this all cattle at sales will have to come from BVD accredited herds. Where herds are not accredited then animals entered for sale will have to be tested negative for the BVD antigen and vaccinated against BVD within three months prior to the sale.

Both moves are designed to give buyers increased confidence in the Angus cattle forward at breed society sales, explains AACS chief executive Ron McHattie. "Johne's disease is perhaps the most difficult to diagnose and control, this move will give buyers the assurance that all herds are monitoring and improving their Johne's health status. Additionally, the BVD move will ensure no persistently infected cattle are sold at society sales."

Vendors will also have the chance to have a herd health declaration included in future sale catalogues detailing their herd's status in a range of diseases and easing buyers' quests for high health status stock.

Bentham's first 'Spring Lims' Show and Sale for Limousin sired rearing calves saw the Champion set a new auction record.

Champion was awarded to a 34 day old bull from Mason Gardner, Greenside, Tatham out of a Limousin x cow and sired by Yelland Riley who is a son of the great Greenson's Gigolo.

The calf made a show stopping £490 to Peter Fawcett of Mearbeck, Long Preston. judge, Mr Chris Broadley, Ripon, bought the second and third placed bulls, both from M W Hodgson, Cartmell Fell, realising £370 & £300 respectively. British Blue bulls topped at £370 and Black and White bulls £148.

Milk lambs met  a firm demand at Exeter yesterday when the market held its annual Easter show and sale.

Topping the show and the subsequent sale were a pair of Charollais sired lambs from Kings Nympton-based Carol Irwin at 44kg and £91.50.

Next best call of £90 came for a pair from the class for Other Continental sires, which tipped the scales at 42.4kg.

In the class for Suffolk sired lambs the red ticket and top price went to A Slater, Broadclyst, Exeter with a brace of £41kg lambs at £88.

Commercial heifers and calves sold to a top of £2700 at Carlisle on Friday when Messrs McAllister, West Thomaston, Banknock, traded a British Blue heifer and calf at that value.

The seven  forward from the McAllisters levelled at £2300, including Limousin heifers and calves at £2600, £2500 and £2250 and another British Blue at £2300.

Other highlights included Bazadaise heifers and calves selling to £2100 twice for Gelt Hall Farm, while cows and calves peaked at £1950 for a Limousin from Howgill Foot.

Following the formal confirmation of Smithfield's move to Stoneleigh, plans have been announced for a new South West Winter Fair at Sedegmoor Auction Centre, Bridgewater.

And with £1000 up for grabs in the cattle championship there's certain to be interest from a number of exhibitors.

However, I'm a little baffled by the apparent reasoning for this initiative - with the organisers stating it has been started to fill the void left by Smithfield and citing Stoneleigh as difficult to get to for farmers from Cornwall, Devon or Dorset.

I'll not dispute the fact that its further than Shepton Mallet was, but surely its a good deal easier to get to from the south west than central London was? Having made journeys from Devon to both Stoneleigh and Earls Court myself I know which one I'd rather do with stock.

Nonetheless, I hope the event is a success for all concerned, but am now wondering if the winter show circuit is starting to get a little cramped with everyone trying to have a piece of the action.

No date has yet been announced for the South West Winter Fair.....

Following the discovery of last Friday's extreme shepherding video, I spent a few minutes earlier seeing what I could dig out for a bit of light relief this week.

Now I've seen some wild cattle in my time (of many different breeds too, before anyone starts blaming Lims), but if any of them had been quite as violent as the one in this video its safe to say I think we'd all be in trouble.

Enjoy.....

Virtually half the cattle travelled to Wales following the very well attended sale for Thomas R Hawkins (Farms) at Ledbury, Herefordshire, of their Autumn calving loose housed herd of chiefly non registered Holstein Friesians and Jersey crossbreds.

However, the top price of 1800gns was paid by English milk producers S H & C M Brewer of Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire for Bosbury Jester Mary, a second calver sired by Walters Jaster off a 10,809kg Moet Genies Double dam.  She had calved in mid October and was giving 28kgs daily.

A W Lewis of Longhope, Gloucestershire, paid 1500gns for the December calved second calver Bosbury Royal Hugo.  She was a Collins Royal Hugo daughter off a Painley Knightingale dam and was giving 27kgs when sold.

Served heifers due in August onwards sold to 950gns for a Moet Almira Grosvenor daughter.

Jersey crossbred bulling heifers sold to 700gns and purebred Holstein Friesian bullers sold to 800gns.

Heifer calves sold to 700gns for Holstein Friesians and 500gns for Jersey crossbreds.

The sale also included dairy equipment and machinery.  Leading prices included the re-conditioned Keenan 100 feeder wagon made £6800, the Kuhn Primor straw chopper £5600, and the 8000L Fabdec Milk Tank £6200.

Averages: 53 milking cows and heifers £1086.65, 8 unwarranted cows £536.81, 17 served/bulling heifers £772.05, 24 maiden heifers £600.02, 1 Hereford stock bull £1323.00 (Gwilym Richards & Co).

The small selection of Continental bulls on offer at Ashford on Tuesday saw Limousins trade at £1550 and £1300 and the single Charolais on offer make £1300 too.

The Limousins were forward from Doug Mash's Brockhurst herd and were both by homebred sires, the first being by Brockhurst Venture, a Brockhurst Premier son and the second was by Brockhurst Stroke, a Ronick Hawk son.

Jan Boomaars was the vendor of the Charolais and this one was by Gretnahouse Umpire, a Doonally New son.

Among the females offered on the same day top price of £1500 went to a British Blue cow with an Aberdeen Angus sired calf at foot from Kingswood Farmers. This one, Entrepenant Tabitha, is by Visconti De Fontaine and out of Bringlee Freerman sired dam Entreprenant Mariana.

Its rare for me to praise individual auction companies, but in this instance I feel some comment is valid on the excellent initiative shown by Hobbs Parker in including photographs of all the bulls in the catalogue for next month's show and sale of Sussex cattle at Ashford.

While the entry is only a limited one it does show great foresight to add photographs to the catalogue and enables buyers to get some idea of the quality of the cattle on offer before heading to the sale.

Congratulations to all concerned, a big step forward in helping buyers and hopefully encouraging attendance at the sale.

South Devon bulls met a solid demand at the breed's spring show and sale at Exeter on Wednesday when they sold to a top price of £6200.

Taking this leading call was Treguddick Poll Progression 5 from D J Thomas and Son. This polled son of Bedford Poll Lancelot is out of Treguddick Poll Polly 8 and sold with a quality beef index of +14.

Second top call came for the pre-sale show reserve champion, Wenfork Trusty 5 from J and S Collings, Launcestone. This one is by Trevassack Trusty and out of Tregotha Daisy 107 and sold for 5800gns.

Full report to folllow...

Anyone with an interest in Charolais cattle breeding will know of Peter Old's Moynton herd. Managed for many years by Mike Yeandle, the herd has enjoyed show and sale success across the country and produced many top quality animals.

Due to Mike's impending retirement the herd's owner Peter Old has decided to reduce numbers and as such will be offering a total of 42 head for sale on Saturday 4 April at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Bridgewater. On offer will be 19 cows (five with calves at foot), nine maiden heifers and nine bulls.

Looking at market reports from sales centres across the UK in recent days and weeks its clear there has been no let up in store cattle trade and there's not event a lot of grass about in many parts yet.

Bakewell Market on Monday this week saw 135 steers offered with auctioneer Norman Tweddle reporting all cattle well bid for regardless of age, size of shape. Topping the trade was a £1050 bid for British Blue steers from Mrs M Renshaw, Butterton, with Blondes from J T Cantrell, Macclesfield making up to £950. Among the heifers at the same venue the top call was £965 for Limousin sired entries from J Channer, Selston.

Topping the trade at Exeter last Friday were Limousin steers at £1090 from G R Vallance, Ashburton with more Limousins from M and J Hoskin reaching £1040 and South Devons not far behind at £1005 and British Blues making up to £900. Heifers were also a flyer in the south west with a top call of £902 paid for Aberdeen Angus crosses from R and R Retter, Honiton.

And the £1000 barrier was broken at Melton Mowbray on Tuesday too when Mr Sherratt, Swadlincote sold 24 month old Charolais steers at exactly that figure. Also selling well were Bazadais cross heifers at £865.

Finally, at Hexham last Friday the top price was a £1250 sale for a 3/4 Limousin cross steer from Lowfield Farm, Willington and at £1190 were Charolais cross steers from Barharrow, Castle Douglas.

It's only to be hoped the prime trade keeps pace with these exceptional store prices and finishers are rewarded for the confidence they're showing in the cattle sector. 

Hogget prices bounced back above £100 at several centres earlier this week with a top price of £109.50 achieved at Carlisle on Monday for Suffolks from Messrs Hetherington, Old Hall Farm, while others from the same vendor made £106.50 and £104.50. Best among the Texel crosses offered on the same day was £107.50 from the same vendors.

A top of £100 was recorded at St Boswells yesterday too, when Anne Cranston, Broomhill, Selkirk made that money for Texels.

Meanwhile, at Exeter on the same day an entry of 494 new season lambs met a firm demand, selling to a top of £84/head and returning an average up 8p/kg at £80.70/head.

Here's hoping this sort of trade can be maintained and hopefully improved on later in the season once the bulk of new season lambs hit the market.

A Holstein Fresian heifer from father and son team, Malcolm and Robert Swires, sold for the joint top price of £2350 at this month's Skipton Auction Mart Craven Dairy Sale.

Giving 26.5 litres, this champion of the pre-sale show, sold to show judge, Martyn Jennings of Lane End Farm, Cowling, who also bought the Swire's February champion.

This top price was shared by a heifer from Peter Baul, Bishop Thornton, Harrogate which sold to John Whittaker, Laneshawbridge.

Mr Baul sold another of his heifers for the next best price of £2050 to Frank Wrathall, Gisburn.

The Swires later sold a freshly calved cow, giving 42 litres for £2000 to Wick Williams, Nantwich, Cheshire.

Averages; Heifers £1582, Cows £1538.

Following on swiftly from news about the new Smithfield event for this year is news of an extra bonus for last year's champions, Alistair and Liz Vance.

Having bought their Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair champion, Divine Diva, from Harrison and Hetherington's Borderway Mart, Carlisle, in September last year for £3000, the Vances were awarded a £1000 cash prize by Brian Richardson (left) and David Pritchard of H and H last week.

The relocation of the Royal Smithfield Club's primestock competitions to Stoneleigh Park has been confirmed with a new event, AgriLIVE Smithfield, launched as a host to them.

The event, co-organised by RASE and the Royal Smithfield Club will, claims a press release from RASE ".....provide a new and exciting platform for the traditional Smithfield primestock classes and will have a very strong technical and commercial focus on husbandry, management and machinery."

With a focus on meeting the needs of the red meat industry, the event is aiming to bring together producers, processors and retailers to better understand the supply chain.

The event will take place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December 2009, with provisional dates of 3 and 4 December set for 2010.

As readers will be well aware I've long been a staunch advocate of Smithfield in all its many guises and while the concept of this event is worthwhile, the name is far from catchy!

Admittedly there are issues with using the traditional "Royal Smithfield Show" brand, but I thought the "Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair" name was working well and said it like it was. The new name is a touch too ambigious for me.

But, that aside, here's to the future of the Royal Smithfield Club's competitions in their new home and lets all get behind the event to make it the success it deserves to be. 

Trade at last week's show and sale of young farmers rearing cattle at Thainestone hit a record high when 20 year old Paul Wilson sold his Charolais cross British Blue x Limousin heifer, Lady Gaga, for £4000.

The heifer, bred by Smallburn Farms, Elgin, was bought by Mr Wilson last October and reared over the winter as part of the North Region Young Farmers overwintered cattle competition. She sold for the record price to James and Audrey Forsyth, Mid Bishopton, Whithorn, who are previous winners of the Royal Highland Show's interbreed award with a commercial heifer.

Second top was a  £3000 call for a homebred Limousin cross steer Oscar from Aileen Ritchie, Burnside, Whitecairns. This one sold to Angus Cumming, Ellon.

At £1700 was the homebred champion Pixie Dust also from Miss Ritchie. This Limousin cross joined Oscar on the ride home with Mr Cumming.

Trade for the remaining entry was equally well contested with no fewer than 28 topping the £1000 mark.

Lincoln Red breeders enjoyed a strong trade for bulls at Newark last weekend, where bidding peaked at a new UK record price of 9000gns.

Leading the trade was the junior champion Market Stainton King from Robert Needham's herd at Market Stainton, Louth. By homebred sire George, this one is an April 2007-born son of Market Stainton Connie 5 who bred the spring show and sale champion in 2005. He was bought by Tony Mallon, Little Fransham, Norfolk for pedigree and commercial use.

Topping Saturday's sale of show potential steers at Carlisle at £3200 was a Limousin cross shown by brothers Robert and Michael Scott of Thirlwall Castle, Greenhead. Their red steer sired by their registered Limousin stock sire, Cloughhead Titanic, and bred from a Limousin cross dam was knocked down to Donald MacPherson of Oban.

Meanwhile, the Trafford family, Bassenthwaite Hall Farm, Keswick, celebrated a double win  when they lifted the Supreme Championship award for their Limousin cross steer. 

Their eyecatching entry, a black steer by the Trafford's imported French Limousin stock sire Vallion is bred from a 7/8 British Blue mother which is the same combination of breeding as Messrs Trafford's reserve champion at this event in 2008.  He sold for £3000 to Messrs Naylor, Derby.

The reserve championship ticket was presented to Helen Claxton of Newton High House, Stocksfield, for her black Limousin cross which later sold for £1800 to I Pickup of Blackburn.

The sale saw the overall average for the event take a rise of nearly £105 on the year to come out at £826.

Full report to follow.

The first day of the Carlisle noted two day suckled calf show and sale got off to a brisk start, with the Champion and Reserve Champion entries both selling for £4500 each and the overall sale average seeing a rise of nearly £60 up on the year to level out at £778.

The pre-sale judging was carried out by Julie Sedgewick of Bishop Auckland , Co.Durham and she awarded the Championship ticket and sash to Messrs Trafford of Bassenthwaite Hall Farm, Keswick, who claimed the Royal Bank of Scotland Quaish for the second year in succession. 

Their greatly admired heifer was a black Limousin cross nine month old daughter of the registered Limousin bull Waindale Potential and was bred from a pure British Blue cow. She sold for £4500 to Messrs C Birrell and Co of Barnboard Farm, Castle Douglas.

After a hectic week in the sales rings across the UK, I thought you might all like a bit of light relief this Friday afternoon. Its an unusual departure from our usual offering of sale reports, but this video is well worth watching if only to wonder how much of it is real and how much is clever editing. Enjoy.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

The dispersal of Wellington, Hereford, based Richard and Lyn Langford's loose housed pedigree Auberrow herd of Holstein Friesians which took place at Ross Market attracted buyers from as far afield as West Wales and Cheshire.

Their calved heifers sold to 2520gns paid by C M Pugh, Kempley, Gloucester, for Auberrow Louson Dora, a Beverlake Louson daughter off a 8939kg 4.42%F 3.52%P dam, which had been calved 8 weeks and giving 29.2kgs daily.

The same buyer paid 2450gns for the Newfailand Mr Frosty sired Auberrow Frosty Fairy.  This 9 week calved heifer was off a 9236kg Keystone Clietus Valvano cow.

For 2100gns, the same buyer purchased the 10 week calved heifer Auberrow Frosty Jane which was giving 32kgs daily.  She was also sired by Mr Frosty and the daughter of a 9469kg Valbas Arpagone dam.

Another Mr Frosty calved heifer sold for 2100gns to the same buyer - Auberrow Frosty Clara was the daughter of a 9959kg Arpagone dam and had been calved 4 months.

Cows sold to 1650gns on three occasions including a 6 calver making 1550gns.

Served heifers sold to 1600gns.

Averages: 30 milking cows and heifers £1496.95, seven unwarranted cows £675, two in-calf heifers £1653.75 (Gwilym Richards).

After the extraordinary prices at Leyburn and more particularly Penrith last weekend, today and tomorrow will see the legions of commercial show cattle buyers descend on Carlisle's Borderway Mart for that centre's sale of crossbred heifers and steers.

However, like many things they do Harrison and Hetherington are doing a tad bigger than most, with more than 2600 cattle catalogued for the two day extravaganza.

Of course not all 2600 of these entries will be potential show winners, but I'd be quietly confident there will be a fair few top quality entries among those forward.

Sadly, I can't be there, but I hope to bring you a few details later in the day as the sale progresses.

A Picston Shottle son, Annandale Scintilate, from the Annandale herd of W J Armour, Moffat sold for the top price at yesterday's show and sale of Holstein bulls at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

Out of a dam from the Ada family first developed in the Gornal herd, Scintilate sold with a PLI of +168 to M J Wilson, Uldale, Wigton.

At 3000gns was the best of the day from Messrs K J and C S Wilson, Wood Farm Thursby. This one was Warnelview Casper, a September 2007-born son of Benner Jebadiah out of an EX94 ranked dam, Cewilpool Collona 5. He sold to W Meredith, Stichen, Aberdeen.

At 2900gns was British Friesian Blackisle Radiance from W R Mann and Sons, Avoch, Rossshire. This one is by Marshside Rocket 3 and out of Blackisle Bertha 11 and sold to J J Baxter, Beaumont, Carlisle.

Then just 100gns lower at 2800gns was Annandale Saturn from William Armour. By Sandy-Valley Bolton and out of Sterndale Convincer Miss America, a VG89 rated dam, Saturn sold to A Thom, Goosehill, Ayrshire.

And at 2500gns the reserve champion from the pre-sale show Evening Spice from Evening Hill Farm, Thursby sold to R and J Mitton, Whinney Mire Hall, Clap. This one is by Emerald-Acr-sa T-Derek and out of Warnelview Judge Sadie, an Ex90 dam.

Averages; 22 Holstein bulls £2002.12, 10 British Friesian bulls £1732.25

The pre-sale champion from yesterday's show and sale of Holsteins at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, also stole the top price, selling for 3000gns.

Taking this bid was Petteril Iron Carol 2 from Steven and Anne Morley's Petteril herd, Southwaite, Carlisle. By Boss Iron, this Valentine's Day calved heifer has a PLI of +101 and is out of Petteril Lheros Carol a VG85 ranked dam. She sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Next best at 2200gns was Littlecoop Moonbeam 160a Donelea Instinct daughter out of Littleccop Moonbeam 114, a Richese Stoneham daughter. This one calved on 21 February and sold to I D Houston Farming, Dalbeattie.

Also at this money was Stowbeck Freeman Mavis 3 a January 2007-born daughter of Braedale Freeman which calved on 17 February from Stowbeck farms. She sold to Brettobreck Farms, Stromness, Orkney. 

Red Ruby Devons enjoyed a solid trade at Sedgemoor last week when trade topped at 5500gns for the pre-sale champion Forde Abbey Gulliver from Lisa Roper. Described by judge Colin Hutchings, better known for his Aberdeen-Angus and Limousin exploits, as an excellent example of the modern Devon, Gulliver is by Cutcombe Pippin and out of Forde Abbey Beauty 26 and sold to Simon and Grania Phillips for their Collaton herd at Chulmleigh, Devon, with a beef value of +28.

Next best call was a 5000gns bid for David Barker's Efford Down Grenadier. This one is by Challenge Grenadier 3 and out of Efford Down Rowena and is a full brother to Efford Down Churchill a previous sale champion. He was bought by G Dart and Sons for their Champson herd, Molland, Devon.

Third top price of the day was achieved when the reserve overall champion, John Gilson's Challenge Buttons, sold to J M Williams for his Werrington herd, Launceston, at 4500gns. Buttons is by Bywood Buttons 4 and out of Challenge Ribecca 11.

At 3100gns Mr and Mrs P Gay sold Bagnell Glorious, a Thorndale Assirati son out of Colleton Dora.

Among the females the best bid was a 1400gns sale for a brace of heifers, the first being David and Tracey Andrews' Ashbrittle Gloriosa which sold to G Summerhayes and the second Messrs Heywood and Hurd's Whitefield Bridesmaid 42 which sold to Sophie Simmons.

Averages; 29 bulls £2546, seven cows £920, eight in-calf heifers £1370, 25 maiden heifers £1132. 

Having just sold off his dairy herd it seems Jim McLaren the president of the Scottish NFU is keen to keep cattle grazing at his unit at Dargill, Crieff, and has bought most of the Blackford herd of Simmentals from Billy MacPherson and daughter Anne in a private deal.

There had, I believe, been plans afoot for a sale of the herd later in the year, but it seems Mr McLaren came up with an offer too good to refuse to secure 51 head of the herd for his new enterprise.

Meeting a more modest trade compared to that at Penrith on Sunday, Saturday's sale of show potential cattle at Leyburn sold to a top price of £6100 for the pre-sale show champion a Limousin cross heifer from John Smith Jackson, Haltwhistle, Northumberland.

This one, Mamma Mia, had picked up a number of tickets last year, including being champion baby beef at Countryside Live, Harrogate, and earning the same award at the East of England Livestock Festival, Peterborough. She sold to noted young showwoman Jennifer Hyslop, Barrhill, Ayrshire.

By stock sire Shire Apollo this one caught the eye of judge Kevin Ludgate again having been placed by him at Countryside Live last year.

After a long day's trading at Carlisle yesterday here are a few more high prices from the Knockenjig Ayrshire dispersal.

Selling at 3500gns was Knockenjig Tilda 13 a Meikle Laught Triple Crown daughter out of 9000+litre dam Knockenjig Tilda 6.

Then at 1900gns Knockenjig Ice Cream 23 sold with a back pedigree including dam Knockenjig Ice Cream 12 who has given more than 9000 litres twice before.

And at 1800gns was Knockenjig Tilda 16 a Mark Samsson daughter.

A revised lamb carcass competition at this year's Royal Show is aiming to encourage farmers to exhibit lambs suited for high volume markets.

The competition is for groups of six lambs which must be representative of the type of lambs produced by the farm's commercial flock. Carcasses must weigh 18-21kg and one of the carcasses will be butchered according to a set specification and priced as if being sold on the High Street, giving a saleable meat yield for the carcass.

"The inclusion of the saleable meat yield should make it a more meaningful competition from a commercial point of view, as well as attracting more contestants," adds Sarah Deeming, Royal Show livestock manager.

Buyers are still putting their hands in their pockets to buy at today's Knockerjig Ayrshire dispersal at Carlisle, although I have to say bearing in mind the depth of pedigree among the cows on offer and the historic performance of the herd the prices being paid are resoundingly commercial. Although, according to sources at Carlisle the cattle aren't in prime condition to be sold.

Selling at 2900gns was Knockerjig Wren 15 a first lactation heifer by Shady Walnut Conn which is predicted to give 7983 by the end of her first.

Then at 2700gns was Knockerjig Snowbell 41 another McCornick Nelson daughter. Snowbell 41 gave 7046 in her second and is predicted at 9230 for her third having given 5356 in 143 days so far.

At 2300gns Knockerjig Linda 18 a February calved daughter of Changue Fiord found a new home with a prediction of 8430 in her fourth lactation.

Among the stock bulls on offer the top price of the day was 3200gns for Knowe Brown Patrick. Bred from two generations of Excellent rated cows, Patrick was bred by the Templetons and has a PLI of +82 and a PIN of +16 and is by Blackadder MM Patrick.

Making 2600gns was Knockerjig Snowbell 47, a Changue Tryst daughter out of Knockerjig Snowbell 26 a dam which has recorded more than 7500 litres in two of her three previous lactations.

Quality in quantity was the mark of this week's mid-month sale at Beeston on Tuesday when Wright Manley achieved a complete clearance for all 340 head offered.

Leading the trade was a £2600 sale for another from Jack and Barclay Taylor's staggered herd disperal for their Burnbrae herd. Their sale leader was fresh calved third calver Burnbrae Tugolo Mars a daughter of Italian sire Olmo Prelude Tugolo who was giving 42kg a day at the point of sale. Buying this one was John Minshull, Tean, Staffordshire.

Second best call of £2450 was taken by G H Griffiths and Co, Pwllheli, for the best from the their entry, Carnguwch Jordan Janett a Roylane Jordan daughter which calved in January. This one was snapped up by Messrs Stone, Staffs.

And the same vendor and buyer combination was responsible for the third highest sale of the day when Carnguwch Gibbon Janett, a fresh calved fourth lactation cow giving 55kg a day sold for £2350.

On the same day Richard and Cath Alkrigg of Silloth, Cumbria, dispersed their noted Fornside herd to a top price of £2500 twice. First to sell at this money was Bromstead Marker Mitzy Red a red and white daughter of Indianhead Red Marker due with her sixth calf. This one sold to Rob Swain of Shavington Park, Market Drayton.

The other transaction at this price was Mitzy Red's daughter, Fornside Kite Mitzy Red 2 which is due in September to Rose Royce. She was bought by Ledgers Farm, Deal, Kent.

Averages; 172 cows and milking heifers £1529.01, 10 served heifers £1386, 34 maiden heifers 851.76, 10 heifer calves £276; Fornside dispersal, 52 cows and milking heifers £1439.61, 1 served heifer £2500, 48 maiden heifers £1007.71 (Wright Manley).

Selling is continuing well at Carlisle for today's Knockenjig Ayrshire dispersal with Meikle Laught Myra, a Meikle Laught Super Trooper daughter bred by Messrs Parker, selling for 2100gns. This one is predicted to give 6471 in her first lactation.

A few lots later and Knockenjig Snowbell 32 sold for 2500gns. She is by Kellcrest Ice Man and gave 9280 litres in her second with a prediction of 9964 for her third.

Knockenjig Heather Bloom 9, a Plum Bottom Trident's Lot daughter which has given more than 9000 litres in two of her four lactations, sold for 2400gns.

Then, her daughter Knockenjig Heather Bloom 22 by B Jurist sold for the same money.

Another of the Heather Bloom family, this time Heather Bloom 15, a McCornick Nelson daughter predicted to give 6780 litres in her first made 2500gns and Knockenjig Poker 11 and Ellerton Special Blend daughter sold for 2800gns

Trade for Ayrshire cattle at today's Knockenjig herd dispersal at Carlisle, with Knockenjig Isobel, Meikle Laught Victory Crown daughter who gave more than 8000 litres in both her first and second and is predicted to give 8702 in her third has sold for 2400gns.

Then, Knockenjig Polly 13, a daughter of homebred Knockenjig Oracle which is predicted to yield 7706 in her first having given 2795 in 103 days so far sold for 2700gns.

And then immediately afterwards Knockenjig Lucky 22, a first lactation heifer which stood first heifer in milk at Dumfries in 2008 and 3rd senior heifer in milk ar Agriscot sold for 6000gns to Messrs Thomas Llanelli.

Here are a couple more highlights from the action so far at the Knockenjig dispersal at Carlisle, firstly, Knockenjig Brindle 21 has sold for 4100gns. She is by Knockenjig Snowstorm and gave 8197 in her first and is predicted to give 9423 in her second.

And, secondly, Knockenjig Wallpocket 15, a McCornick Nelson daughter which has given 3189 in 104 days of her first lactation has sold for 5200gns to Messrs Adamson, Lanarkshire. She has been AI'd to Hunnington BBK Easland and is projected to give 8271 litres by the end of her lactation.

Trade at Carlisle for the Knockenjig Ayrshire dispersal is warming, with a top price so far of 7000gns paid for Knockenjig Moonshine 23 a Woodland View Partner who gave 7910 litres in her first lactation and calved with her second in January. This one sold to Messrs Logan, Glasgow.

Another from the Moonshine family, this time Knockenjig Moonshine 22, an October 2004-born Ellerton Special Blend daughter sold immediately afterwards at 6000gns.

At 3300gns was Knockenjig Tilda 7, a Bankhead Lord Ontario daughter and at 2600gns was Knockenjig Erica 8, a daughter of Brieryside High Profile which gave 6484 litres in her first in 282 days. She calved again in January.

The sale of the Knockenjig (I'm bound to misspell that at least once today) is underway at Carlisle and so far its looking like a good solid start.

The second lot in the ring, Knockenjig Catkin 12, set the scene for the sale so far, being knocked down for 2000gns. This one is an October 2005-born entry and is by Meiklee Laught Victory Crown and calved on the 30th of January.

Then a few lots later Knockenjig Ida 14 sold at 2500gns. Again by Victory Crown, this one last calved in February 2008 andd was AI'dd in June to a Charolais sire.

Then at 2000gns Meikle Laught Suzie sodl having calved in November. A 2005-born heifer she gave 2208 litres in the first 65 days of her opening lactation.

More prices to follow as the day progresses...

As expected the crowds are starting to gather in Carlisle for what promises to be one of the best dairy sales of the year, the dispersal of the highly respected Knockenjig herd of Ayrshires.

Its sure to be a good sale with plenty of the breed's top bloodlines represented and the cows are said to be in tremendous condition and offer breeders the chance to acquire some great brood cows and potential show stars too.

I'll try to keep you up to date with all the action from the sale as the day progresses, so remember to check back later for reports from the ring....

Tomorrow sees on of the UK's leading herds of Ayrshire cattle come under than hammer as the Knockenjig herd is dispersed by David and Rosemary Dickie at Carlisle's Borderway Mart.

Flicking through the catalogue makes for impressive reading, with 11 cows rated Excellent and another 76 ranked very good. With a herd average of 7782 kg and a calving interval of 393 days the herd is surely one of the most complete offerings of Ayrshires to ever come to the market.

Unfortunately I can't be in Carlisle tomorrow, but rest assured I'll be bringing you a full report just as soon as possible and hopefully will be able to bring you the highlights from the sale later tomorrow.

Charolais met a record demand underpinned by the commercial sector in Dungannon on Saturday 7 March at the breed society's NI club spring show and sale where bidding peaked at 6100gns and a record NI breed average of £3332.50 was achieved together with 98% clearance, 46 out of the 47 entries found buyers.

"This fixture's insatiable demand for bulls was driven by the commercial sector's confidence in Charolais' ability to deliver calves with superior growth rates through to traditional finishing weights and beyond the former 400kgs barrier, and continue to grade within the specification," commented the society's David Benson.  

Sale leader at 6100gns was Atnaveigh Cracker, a 16 month old by Doonally New son and out of a Gretnahouse sired dam from S and R Thompson, Newry, County Down. Cracker who earlier on had been awarded the reserve supreme and junior male championships, was knocked down sold to Colin Hamilton, Castlederg.

The day's second highest call at 5700gns was made for the supreme champion, Killadeas Colum from Stuart and David Bothwell, Ballinamallard, County Fermanagh. This 19 month old Dunlon Ulick son and out of a Brampton Embark daughter went home with Brian Pedlow, Lurgan.

British Blue breeders reaped the benefits of continued improvement in beef prices at the weekend, with new records set at the breed's first official sale of the year at Chelford.

Leading the way with a new centre record of 12,500gns was Frank Page, Northampton, with Elkington Cowboy. Sired by noted primestock producer Tamhorn Ringmaster and out of Park Samantha, a Greystone Indelible daughter. Buying this one was Paul Gentry on behalf of the Gascoignes Group, Newark, Notts.

Second top was am 8200gns call for the best from Graham Coates' Greystone herd, Greystone Carbon. This all black son of Greystone Warrior, himself a son of Valide, is out of Greystonee Topic, an Adagio daughter and stood second in his class in the pre-sale show. He later sold to Keith Barrow, Over Stowey, Somerset, for his commercial enterprise.

At 7800gns Brian Grifffiths, Newtown, Powys, sold the pre-sale show champion, Penygelly David. This one is by Annanwater Vince, an Affute son and out of homebred dam Penygelly Una, an As de Trefle daughter. After a bidding war among a number of breeders January 2008-born David was eventually knocked down to J E Trafford, Keswick, Cumbria.

British Blonde breeders enjoyed a consistent trade at Carlisle last week with just two bulls and four heifers going unsold from a catalogues entry of 36 head.

Leading the way at 5500gns was Hallfield Cavalier, a May 2007-born son of Doncombe Ayers Rock forward from Messrs Weightman, Peterlee, Co Durham. Having stood junior and overall male champion in the pre-sale show, Cavalier is out of Hallfield Stella and sold to P and J Johnson, Terrington, York.

Next best among the bulls was a 4500gns sale for Criffel Classic, the reserve junior champion from Ewan Burgess, Dumfries. This one is by Whitefield Leader and out of Millend Unity's. Going back to French sire Arlequin, Leader was snapped up by C I Thomas, Montgomery, Powys.

Several young cows topped 2000gns on a day that saw trade reach 2600gns at the dispersal of E E Marks and Son's 340-strong Loddonvalley Holstein herd at Basingstoke, Hampshire this week - and even cows with "issues" found no shortage of takers.

Around 25% of the cattle required qualifying statements from the rostrum concerning, fertility, feet or udders, but buyers were undeterred and levelled the 161 cows and calved heifers at £1342.

The 2600gns top was reached three times. A fresh second calver by Bosside Reuben carrying the Charavon herd prefix was one of them and she joined 16 other purchases made by Messrs Spiby and Partners, Chichester. A 10-weeks calved Sinatra heifer from the Loddonvalley Smelly family also made 2600gns to C Pugh's Kemplecourt herd in Gloucestershire. Mr Pugh also took a Convincer sired fresh heifer at 2550gns.

James Crosbie-Dawson, who runs the Freefolk herd at Overton, also paid 2600gns for a fresh heifer from the heavy milking Pastime family. Mr Crosbie-Dawson bought 17 head.

The strongest trade was for served heifers with 38 averaging £1700. Six of them made 2000gns or more peaking at 2400gns for one due next month by Alanta Gaylord. Maiden heifers sold to 1100gns.

Averages: 161 cows and heifers £1342; 38 served heifers £1690; 49 yearling/bulling heifers £901; 52 heifers under 12 months £606. (Norton and Brooksbank).

Store cattle prices continue to hit the big money and Shrewsbury Auction Centre was no exception last week as steers topped at £958 and heifers went to £905.

Top price for steers went to a Charolais cross weighing 575kg from J Byrne which was closely followed by £952 for another Charolais cross from Messrs M and G V Ellis and Son. Messrs G H and Z Brown took third place with £945 for a 545kg Limousin cross.

A pair of 535kg British Blonde cross heifers presented by Dave Egerton topped their section as they peaked at £905. Hot on his heels was George Brown making £850 for a bunch of Limousin cross heifers weighing 465kg.

The annual spring poultry sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, saw a huge catalogue entry of 1100 poultry and waterfowl together with 250 lots of hatching eggs, and 90 lots of equipment.

This event is believed to be one of the biggest sales in the country attracted consignors and buyers from as afar afield as Aberdeen in the north to Shropshire in the south.

Leading the sale at £230 was a quartet of brown Leghorns exhibited by Georgena Heggie of Perthshire and were sold to R A Lancaster of Torver, Coniston.

Three black Orpington females offered from W and K Pimlott of Preston sold for £165, and a trio of New Hampshire Reds went for £145 shown by William Blyth of Castle Douglas. 

A pair of Red Breasted geese sold for £180 and were offered by J Ashcroft of Wigan, Lancashire. In the duck classes three dark Campbells sold for £90 shown by A Hamilton of Cumbernauld, Glasgow. 

Hatching eggs sold up to £55 for a dozen Barnevelders exhibited by local enthusiast A Timms of Appleby.

A 16-month-old 425-kilo British Blue heifer landed the cattle championship at the March prime stock shows at Skipton Auction Mart on Monday.  

Exhibited by Jimmy Baines, Trawden, the youngster sold for the show-topping price of £967 (228p per kilo) to Saltaire butcher Richard Binns.

Anthony Thompson, of LR Thompson and Son, Higher Broach Farm, Foulridge, was awarded the prime lambs title for a pen of Beltex-cross lambs, which weighed in at 41kg and headed the prices at £102 each when acquired by Keelham Hall Farm Shop, Thornton, Bradford.

Butcher buyers or their ringside representatives were again well represented at the popular monthly fixture, as they sought to source top quality prime stock for their customers' tables.

Back in the prime cattle classes, particularly strong this month, the reserve championship fell to the second prize 485kg British Blue heifer from Keith Downs, Milner Field, Bingley. It sold for £844 (174p/kg) to Calderdale buyer C Clough, Northowram.

Irish Limousin spring sales kicked off to a flying start on Monday at Roscrea with a steady trade for bulls with 119 catalogued on the day. Export demand was once again evident with 14 lots being sold to UK buyers.

The sale of bulls resulted in an average of €3956 at a 71% clearance, up €515 on the previous year.

Sale leader at €15,000 was Moloskey Claus from Brendan Clancy, Mullagh, Ennis, Co Clare, for his November 2007 born bull. This Mas Du Clo son was an embryo calf out of a homebred Geant cow, Moloskey Nical.

With a top muscle score of 146 and five stars for both suckler beef value and calf quality this first prize winning bull was sold to Norman Cruikshank for his well know Normande herd at Lanark, Scotland.

The next highest price of €9700 went to the senior champion, Wood Road Cyril from Noel Fennessy, Castleconnell, Co Limerick.

This September 2007 bull was an embryo out of three times All Ireland Producing dam, Ov Nadia B by Sympa. He was purchased by Garrett Mc Cullagh, Smithboro, Co Monaghan. A full brother Wood Road Conor sold for the third highest price of €8000. A third prize winner in his class he was purchased by Eamonn O'Sullivan, Tralee, Co Kerry.

Top price and reserve champion award at Gisburn Auction Marts' pedigree dairy cattle show and sale last week went to a Whytil Brandy Elizabeth 321 from J and M Singleton, Goosnargh, Preston.

Sired by Weeton Brandy, this fresh calved heifer giving 27 kgs sold for £2580 to N W and J M Coulthurst and Son, Preston, Lancs. The same buyer also took home the champion, a Ladino Park Talent bred heifer again from Messrs Singleton, this time selling at £2520.

Longridge breeder Simon Thompson had a successful day when his two fresh calved heifers Affetside Ella 73 and Affetside Frances 17, both sired by Comestar Outside, sold for £2560 and £2040, respectively to producer retailer Tom Pickup, Entwistle, Bolton, Lancs.

R L and M S Mares, Darwen, Lancs, sold Blacksnape Jordan Hope sold for £2120 to J and M M Walmsley, Worston, Clitheroe. Next from Messrs Mares was a third lactation cow, which gave 11,828 litres in her second lactation, she sold for £2020 to producer retailer Hector Buckley, Denby Dale, Huddersfield.

Averages

Fresh calved cows £1716; fresh calved heifers £1935 (Richard Turner and Son).

Store trade was termed "tremendous" by Exeter Market auctioneers this week, as steers topped at £995 while heifers went to £842.

With numbers in short supply, trade is continuing at exceptionally high levels, with suckler bred cattle reaching prices never seen at the market before.

A group of six Simmental cross steers from M and J Hoskin, Dunsford, sold for the top price of the day at £995 a head. Finsihed heifers topped at £842 for a good bunch of Limousin crosses from B Vallance.  

A run of pedigree Limousin bulls from Messrs Quinney and Spears sold to £1050.

Numbers were a little lower than the previous week in the store sheep rings, but demand remains strong,w ith many good sorts fetching in excess of £81.  

Another strong week of prime cattle trading saw steers top at 208p/kg at St Boswell yesterday, with Ramrig leading the way selling to Messrs W T S Forsyth and Sons. The 127 steers averaged 168.4p/kg.

Heifer trade topped at 194p/kg for a Limousin cross from Robert Neill and Partners, Upper Nisbet, selling to J Scott and again for Cockburn selling to Messrs Gilmour. The 152 heifers averaged 168.5p/kg, a little over 2p/kg down on last week's trade.

The 2418 prime lambs forward averaged 169.1p/kg, up more than 4p/kg on last week's trade and topped at £125.  

The largest entry for several months attracted 45 cows, 124 heifers and 78 embryos consigned from the herds of leading breeders for the Western Holstein Club's Monthly Show and Sale at Beeston Castle.

Judge Jessica Hassall selected the fresh calved heifer Tibenham Talent Kandy 18^, a daughter of Ladino-Park Talent with two VG dams behind her. She was bred in Norfolk by Peter Rout and purchased by Jack and Barclay Taylor, Shrewsbury, as a bulling heifer. She was calved a month and was sold for 5000gns giving 32kg to Adrian Hinton for his Wentwood Herd at Raglan, Monmouthshire.

Mr Hinton also purchased the next top seller for 3950gns, Hollowmoor Goldwyn Joyce, a daughter of Braedale Goldwyn, was consigned by Mark Bowden of Malpas.

Selling at 3400gns was Alandrew Terrason Coco 3 from G and A E Smith and Sons, Garstang, Preston. This daughter of Innwood Terrason is bred from eight generations of EX/VG dams and sold to David Alderson of Northallerton.

The next highest price was 3200gns for Ridgefield Linjet Beauty who was recently classified VG86 and goes back to Rainyridge Tony Beauty. She sold giving 40kg to Mark Lee of Northampton.

The sale also included the first consignment of animals to disperse the entire Carnguwch Herd, the property of G H Griffiths and Co of Llwyndyrys, Pwllheli. They sold to a top of 2500gns for the December calved Carnguwch Talent Janett (VG87-3yr). She sold giving 47kg in her second lactation to Lloyd Thomas, Carmarthen.

Top bid for embryos was 400gns for a package of Talents from eight generations of VG/EX dams from the Rockset Rachel family.

 Averages 40 cows £1727.25; 95 calved heifers £1901.62; 2 in-calf heifers £1548.75; 45 embryos £302.87 (Wright Manley).  

A strong entry of Galloway cattle, which included the dispersal of the Skitby herd, saw trade top at 1500gns for bulls and 1400gns for females at Carlisle last Friday.

Sale leader and champion male was Barlaes Godfather from Kirkudbrightshire-based R and M Fergusson. By New Era of Gall-Way, out of Barlaes Katie 32, he sold to Kilnstown Farm, Carlisle.

 At 1400gns J F Irving and Son, Selkirk, sold the Penninghame Major son, Mountbenger Admiral for 1400gns to Walter Henderson, Lockerbie.

The leading female bid came from the dispersal of the late G Forrester's Skitby herd. The 2002 born Tansy 29 of Skitby, by Bingo of Kilnstown, sold for 1400gns to T R and K M Wallace, Hexham. The same buyers also took home Bridget 56 of Skitby, again by the same sire at 1050gns.

Champion female from the shown section was Barlaes Grace 66 from the Fergusson family. Homebred on both sides, she sold for 1000gns to J McCurdy, Ballymena, Co Antrim.

Averages 4 bulls £1220.63; 15 bulling and maiden heifers £852.60. Dispersal 9 cows £612.50; 15 bulling and maiden heifers £613.20; 11 cows in calf £752.18 (Harrison and Hetherington).  

Topping a small entry of Whitebred Shorthorn cattle at Carlisle on Friday was the overall champion Parton Degree from local breeders Messrs Hewson.

Selling for 2000gns, this Broadleyfold Craig sired March 2007 born bull out of Parton Suzanna, sold to J Savery and Son, Totnes, Devon.

 At 1700gns Carlisle-based breeders R and D Telford sold Hole-of-Lyne Trevor, a Row Jordan son to J Story, Newcastleton, while Messrs Hewson sold another, Parton Quartz at 1500gns to C W McAllister, Isle of Arran.

Averages 5 bulls £1123.50; 1 female £472.50 (Harrison and Hetherington).  

Hereford cattle topped trade at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday with a call of 5000gns for the male champion helping set an average of £2569.88 for the 10 males sold.

Sale leader was Panmure 1 Elvis from J M Cant and Partners, Arbroath. Sired by Solpoll 1 Brigadier and out of the homebred Plum line, he sold with a milk figure of +2 and terminal sire index of +19 for 5000gns to D and J Coulson Livestock, Middle Rasen, Lincolnshire.

Elvis had previously stood second at the Royal Highland and reserve junior male champion at the Scottish National Show in Perth last year.