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.
Next best call of £4600 came for the reserve overall champion and reserve heifer champion another Limousin cross this time from Messrs Dent, Lartington, Barnard Castle. Buying this one was Heather Blythe, Norwich.
Then at £3100 was another Limousin sired heifer, this time from Messrs Dinsdale, Grinton, Richmond. Taking this one home was Stephen Priestley, Bradford.
At £2200 the Dent family sold another Limousin sired heifer to Dickie Anderson, Middleham.
Among the steers the top call was a £1280 bid for the steer champion a Limousin cross again from John Smith-Jackson. Claiming this one was T C Rawsthorn, Garstang.
And next best among the steers was the reserve steer champion another from Mr Smith-Jackson, a British Blue sired entry which netted £1260 and sold to Messrs R B Ingamells and Son, Grantham.
now that is a class act - still at crazy money though!
Yes, she's one smart beast. I liked her a lot last year as a baby and she's grown into herself really well. But £6000 is still a bit dear for me too.
Buyers now added to Leyburn report, look's like young Jennifer Hyslop has been saving hard to afford that one.
well I'll just say 1/2 the money for just as good a beast.
bit risky paying all that for a Blue as they are the marmite of the show-world - you either love them or hate them!
She is an amazing heifer - love at first site when I saw that one out last year! Just hope she can hold it all the way through for the summer - I'm sure she can!
fair enough, nice animal once again, but £6100 for cross bred heifer. still over priced, this clearly isnt " proper livestock farming" and now doubt the young girl has been backed by mum or dad!
The champion heifer is in a class of its own compared to the other prize winners - it looks like it was the only decent one there on the day. I would rather pay 6100 for her than take any of the other prize winners home. I think they have all taken leave of their senses and I really hope someone pops up with a home bred animal and beats the lot of them !
This Limmy heifer is a class act and is in a league of her own. I have been at all the spring shows from Aberdeen to Carlisle and I haven't seen a beast that is in the same league as her and certainly nothing that could stand in her way. I was there the day she was sold and she was the best beast there by far. I am looking forward to seeing her out on this summers show circuit. I saw her at Peterborough and Countryside live and I literally fell in love with her, Good Luck to Mamma Mia and Jennifer this year- £6100 worth every penny in my opinion!!
A class act and one very good calf and should stand a good chance this summer. In my opinion the folk that says otherwise or says negative comments about her are just jealous that they dont have her.
GOOD LUCK !!!!
Perfection !!!! (In my opinion)
Best beast there by far. Everybody is saying "to much money was spent on her" but I dissagree she is PERFECTION and worth every penny !!!!
Oh for crying out loud - what is all the fuss about this heifer - yes she's nice, but there are plenty of nice animals out there - strikes me someone is going on here under a couple of names (Lim lass et al) and posting about their own animal. It's getting a bit daft now seeing the same type of comments about one animal (and all from similar names I see)! Just remember it's all about competition and I'm sure you've not seen everything out there in fact I know you haven't cause you haven't been to our yard!!!!
I don't see how from 3 comments you can guess that it is the same person who is commenting. Plus this is a public site to comment how and under what names. It is up to them on what to say and under what name to comment under. It is just a coincidence that they have all agreed and people tend to agree if they like someone.
Everybody Feel free to comment on what and how you like and feel free to agree with other comments !!!
Anonymous, I think the point that Stop the Press is making is that the same words "Perfection" etc.. keep cropping up in comments from people with very similar user names and it looked contrived (I'll not say here if it was or not). Additionally, the original commenter suggested the beast was going to win certain shows, something no one should contemplate saying unless they've seen all the stock entered and are the judge!
I would remind everyone that this blog is designed to allow open debate about subjects and sales, but comments should be kept civil and remember when you include your email address on the contact details of the comment I know who the comment has come from.
To everyone who i may off affended i am very sorry, i did not mean to anger anyone or upset anyone and i do sincerely apologise.
"perfection" whats with this word, your gettin a bit carried away here in the fact that no crossbred animal is worth 6 grand!! i dont think it will be worth that much on the butchers counter! so how do you justify this, have you seen every animal in great britain i dont think so and to assume that this is the best of the lot is WRONG!! I for one hope it gets beaten!! Some people on her im afraid to say are talking with a lack of common sense!!
Now, I haven't seen this heifer, but I have a suspicion that it is the owner talking her up.... now if you are, youre not endearing yourself to anyone. The Crossbred job seems to have lost its way a bit, I don't want to resurect the showcattle society debacle, but it seems to me that these people have taken over, its ego all the way, and who has the deepest wallet wins... what happened to skill?
I'll always favour the underdog, good for the breeders who are on the receiving end of the cheque, but I hope some rank outsider with a cracking home bred animal, shown with the good manners and the minimum of fuss sweeps the board.
OK guys I think everyone has said enough on this subject now. Those involved are aware of my thoughts on the matter and I'd be grateful if everyone else could stop adding comments now. I understand why this has sparked so much debate, but it is time to let sleeping dogs lie I feel.