If you are heading to Stirling next week with the aim of buying an Aberdeen Angus bull you should waste no time in getting to grips with the entry - from the catalogue or on-line. This spring's sale presents a wealth of breeding and performance data that takes time to assess well ahead of sale day.

The catalogued entry of 235 bulls - including female gems from the Rawburn and Hurdcott drafts - presents an outstanding selection of bulls and females. And there's enough performance data to meet the most demanding number-crunching buyers.

The Rawburn ladies look set to set sparks flying. Of note are the powerful 2006-bred cow Rawburn Duchess Kent - whose 2011 bull calf achieved a Terminal Index of 51 - and Rawburn Lady Hispade who boasts some of the breed's best performance figures.

Some of the major players such as Haymount, Wedderlie, Fordel Cardona, Blelack, Netherton and The Moss have most stalls booked. The Massie's entry includes Blelack Kentucky Lad (Terminal sire index 39) whose sire, Netherallan Peter Pershore has seen his first 10 sons sold at auction average 11,000gns.

From the McLaren family's Netherton string comes Netherton Black Bobby (Terminal sire index +38) whose sire, The Moss Mr Eshton, was 2010  Royal Highland Show champion and cost 26,000gns.

For those looking for slice of some of the breed's top performance achievements the five grade one embryos offered by Bova Gen Ltd will take some beating. They are by Rawburn Enigma and out of Rawburn Ellen Erica and will be full siblings to Rawburn Emblem who achieved an actual 400-day weight of 872kg and the highest muscle area ever measured at Rawburn. Emblem sold for 30,000gns.

(United Auctions)

A wide range of quality embryos are now up for grabs in the "Best of the West" embryo sale.

The catalogue is available to view online at global cattle online with the sale runing until 21.00 GMT on Thursday 2 February.

The sale features 29 lots of embryos that will suit all budgets and includes a consignment of sixteen lots from Willsbro Holsteins. Willsbro remain at the cutting edge of Holstein Breeding and their consignment includes embryos by Lexor, Numero Uno and Epic from many of their very best cows.

Just one example is Lexor embryos from Riverdane PS Sara EX 93:

·         Lexor is one of the highest GLPI bulls in the breed

·         PS Sara EX93 is widely considered to be one of the best cows on the planet today

·         Her daughter by Million sold for 45,000 Guineas ($75,000 US)

·         A first pick by Palermo sold for 15,000 Guineas ($25,000 US)

Scottish Charolais breeder Murray Lyle has landed an export deal to send a batch of semen from Lamerpark Champion to the Mexican Charolais Society, via UK Sire Services.

Champion is by Weybread Archie and out of the homebred Lamerpark Ripple; he has a TI of +33 and a SRI of +32.  He was bred by Dr D G White, Wheathampstead, Herefordshire, and has previously won overall Scottish National Charolais Show campion and Royal Highland Show junior interbreed champion.

The export deal comes about following a visit by the Mexican Charolais Society to the Perth Bull Sales in autumn last year, which also resulted in visits to various Charolais herds across the UK.

Commenting, Mr Lyle said:  "The delegation selected Champion for his frame and the growth that his genetics will offer to Mexican pedigree and commercial producers to enhance their already high performance Charolais.  They were also very impressed with his muscling and easy fleshing qualities."

Fashion and figures are on offer in plenty at next week's sale of Limousin bulls at Stirling.

A strong catalogue of 103 bulls by leading sires - combined with top-ranking performance figures - presents some interesting genetic packages for both pedigree and commercial buyers.

Progeny of many of the breed's big-money bulls such as Cloughhead Umpire (42,000gns), Wilodge Cerberus (50,000gns) and Wilodge Vantastic (42,000gns) are up for grabs with some of the highest EBV scoring sires being sons of the Vantastic son Goldies Comet (23,000gns).

David Baillie is no stranger to this fixture and his stalls have three Comet sons with some of the highest performance records at the sale - Calla Floyd (Lim+48), Calla Fergus (Lim+47) and Calla Finlay (Lim+40). But Stephanie Dick has chosen Stirling to sell the first bull from her Stephick herd. She looks likely to have plenty of interest in Stephick Flashi. By Vantastic and out of a Ronick Astique cow, Flashi stood third at the National Limousin Show and adds to his appeal with an EBV Lim+40.

Bruce Goldie brings an interesting string. Goldies Frank is by the big winning - and now very successful sire- Ampertaine Bravo (24,000gns) and out of the Lascard dam Goldies Treasure - who has already bred Goldies Andres at 11,000gns. Frank boasts a Beef Value of Lim+40. Goldies Forecast - also by Bravo and out of a Ramses cow - has attained Lim+46.

Black Limousin genetics are certainly no longer a "colour fad" and there are leading bloodlines from the USA on offer. While the Rawburn herd will no doubt have plenty to interest Limousin stalwarts in the future, John Elliot whets buyers' appetites this time with Elliot Black Firestarter, a black-coated bull (91% black genetics) boasting some of the USA's most sought after maternal genetics and sired by the intriguingly named Wulfs Shop Talk.

R M Adam and Son bring black genetics from their Newhouse herd including Newhouse Black Freelander - a Hudscales Bigboy son - with an impressive Beef Value of Lim+51 while Harry Emslie brings Emslies Black Fandango who is by Bailea BMW and has a Beef Value of Lim+37. (United Auctions) 

Lancashire breeders David and Sheila Tomlinson and son James brought out the most tempting lot for the keen crowd of buyers gathered at Beeston Castle market in Cheshire for the Western Holstein Club's show and sale and walked away with the day's top price of 3800gns.

Bred in their herd at Bilsborrow near Preston, the calved heifer Bilsrow Alexander Shower is by Golden-Oaks Alexander and out of Bilsrow Shottle Shower that gave 13,959kg and 12,392kg in two of her first three lactations. The family traces back to Glen Drummond Shower through the heavy milking six lactation cow Bilsrow SR Shower that did three notes well over 12,000kg in her six calvings.

Trade was brisk throughout the sale although the 70 catalogued entries reflected the tight supply of dairy stock.

More Shottle breeding came good for Crewe herd owner Terry Goldstraw who earned 3500gns for his only entry Kingold Shottle Promise - a calved heifer with a sire stack including Carol Prelude Mtoto, Igniter and Celsius.

(Wright Manley)

A UK bred Limousin bull has been sold to French breeders and exported in what it widely believed to be the first time a bull of the breed has been sold back to France.

Homebred, 11 month old Grange Gervaise from George and Steven Smith and Family, Brookfield Farm, Daventry, sold him for an undisclosed sum to InterLim Service Genetique on behalf of three breeders; Earl Lasternas, Earl Geraud and Earl Bonnet.

The bull is by French sire Chaval, which the Smiths bought from Lanaud Bull Station in 2008. Gervaise is out of homebred cow, Grange Cascade and was sold weighing 660kg at 33 days old, meaning he had gained an impressive 1.86kg a day since birth.

His great grandmother, Grange Juniata was champion pedigree female at Smithfield in 1994 and his grandfather on his father's side is Recis - one of the leading bulls in France.

The bull is believed to be currently with Earl Lasternas where semen will be taken from him before he is moved around the three herds. Lasternas is one of the top show people in France having had the champion bull at the French national Limousin show for two consecutive years.

A record entry of stock put forward at the Sedgemoor Winter Warmer resulted in a record trade with 40 cows selling for 2,000gns plus.

More than 200 buyers flocked to the ringside, where auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt sold Jersey heifers to 2,200gns, Holstein heifers to 2,500gns, and calved Holstein heifers to an average of £2,258.

The top price of 2,500gns was achieved by JAW Bendall's "Pensdown Rose 71st" by "End-Road PVF Boliver" - their first ever calved consignment of six cows and heifers averaged £2,298. 

Meanwhile AG Lambert & Partners achieved the highest consignment average of the day with their six freshly calved heifers averaging £2,424 and selling to a top of 2,400gns for the November-calved "Saddlers Sparky 620" by Baxter.  And regular sellers at Sedgemoor, Roland & Simon Bugler, sold their ten "Bettiscombe" heifers to 2,250gns averaging £2,294.

Hitting the record price of 2,200gns for November-calved Jersey heifer "Hareplain Vertify Lucy" was SE Lane & Partners who travelled from Kent with a consignment of Pedigree Jersey's from their "Hareplain" herd. The six calved cows and heifers averaged £1,610.

The herd dispersal of MPP & ED Kane continued and  20 freshly calved cows and heifers sold to a top price of 2,100gns for a homebred "Weeton Jackson" 2nd calver. Another herd dispersal on the day, that of PJ, CA & TC Marks of Bath, with their commercial crossbred herd that calves all year round, saw two Swedish Red X December-calved heifers sell to 2,050gns; their maiden heifers sold to 980gns.

There was also strong demand for in-calf heifers, and R Fricker's "Moet Brinstar Sirius" daughter due in March to the Angus, sold for 1,900gns. And Lordswood Farms Limited sold 24 Montbeliarde heifers, due this Spring, to 1,480gns on four occasions for daughters of Redon & Robin. 

Commercial Served Heifers from FG Knapman & Co sold to 1,200gns and British Friesian served heifers sold to 1,000gns for daughters of" Winnoch Officer".

COLLECTIVE SALE      Average
 4 Pedigree Calved Holstein Cows   £2,016
 37  Pedigree Calved Holstein Heifers  £2,258
 8 Jersey Calved Cows & Heifers   £1,418
 20 Commercial Holstein Incalf Heifers  £1,657
24 Montbeliarde Incalf Heifers   £1,431
18 Commercial Holstein Served Heifers  £1,151
     7 Commercial British Friesian Served Heifers £1,029
  1 Holstein Bull (14 mths old)   £1,313

DISPERSAL SALES     Average
MPP & ED Kane
 21  Cows & Heifers     £1,523
PJ, CA & TC Marks
105 Crossbred Dairy Cows & Heifers   £1,374
  53 Bulling & Younger Heifers   £   850

The dispersal sale of David Dickie's Knockenjig flock of unregistered Suffolk sheep attracted strong interest and buoyant prices.

The top price paid at Carlisle for Mr Dickie's, of Sanquhar, stock was 780gns for a gimmer, scanned carrying twins to a Brotherstone ram; all ewes and gimmers were scanned in lamb to Allanshaws and Brotherstone rams, due to lamb in March.

Ewes sold to 680gns for a three crop ewe also scanned carrying twins to a Brotherstone ram, while ewe hoggs sold to 600gns for a March born hogg.

The sale averaged £524.41 and the leading prices were as follows:

Ewes: 690gns, 620gns, 600gns, 520gns
Gimmers: 780gns, 580gns, 520gns (x3)
Ewe Hoggs: 600gns, 520gns, 480gns, 420gns (x2), 320gns

(Harrison and Hetherington)

Holstein Northern Ireland reported a steady trade at its January show and sale, with prices topping 3,250gns at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira.

Taaffe Auctions oversaw the sale which resulted in a 94% clearance, with a total of 29 heifers going under the hammer to an average of 2,190gns a head.

The top price on the day - 3,250gns - was achieved by Ards Shottle Nell (pictured above) from Harry Patton and Sons, Newtonards, County Down.  This two-year-old heifer is by Picston Shottle and is bred from the EX classified Ards Champion Nell.  She was bought by a County Tyrone milk producer, having calved five weeks ago.

Other leading prices on the day included 2,820gns each for a pair of home-bred heifers from father-and-son duo Sam and John McCormick's Hilltara herd in Bangor, County Down.

First out of the two to enter the sales ring was the day's honourable mention award winner Hilltara Bolivia Simone.  This September 2009-born heifer is by Magor Bolivia Allen and out of GP84 (2yr) by Innwood Terrason.  She sold to a dairy producer based at Dromore, County Tyrone, having calved four weeks earlier and giving 42 litres a day.

The second to go under the hammer was Hilltara Bolivia Freda, also by Magor Bolivia Allen.  This one was snapped up by David McClurg, Crossgar, County Down. Born in September 2009, this one is out of VG87 (2yr) Hilltara Gibson Freda 2 which gave more than 9,000jg at 4.13% butterfat and 3.11% protein in her second 305-day lactation.

The overall champion on the day - an October 2009-born Hilltara Calypso Flo - sold for 2,720gns to a producer in Dromore, County Tyrone. This one is by Wil-Harte E Louie son, Nor-Bert Calypso TW, and out of VG89 Hilltara Jolly Flo.  She calved five weeks prior to the sale and is currently yielding 33 litres a day.

Another sizzling sale for Blue faced Leicester breeders at Carlisle with a joint top price of 8000gns.

The bids came for two ewe hoggs - one from Richard Hutchinson's Kirkby Redgate flock and the other from John Lord's Hewgill flock. Both flocks are based at Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria.

The Carlisle sale completed a phenomenal two days of selling for John Lord who achieved a new breed record price for a female when he sold a ewe hogg at Hawes last Saturday for £11,000.

"The breed is riding high at the moment. Demand has been tremendous at both sales," commented John Lord who runs 65 ewes in his Hewgill flock and which produced the previous female record holder at the 2011 Hawes fixture making £8000.

Note the Hawes sale is transacted in pounds sterling and the Carlisle sale in guineas.

(Harrison and Hetherington)

Northumberland-based Whittaker Farms and Co have sold the Aberdeen Angus Winter National Show reserve female champ for an undisclosed figure to the Borewell herd of Daniel Whiteford and Co, Berwick upon Tweed.

April 2010-born Flodden Elegant K572 is a daughter of Wedderlie New Era H573 and out of Wedderlie Elegant H634.  She was sold in-calf to Ardrossan Admiral.

She was crowned first prize junior yearling heifer at the Royal Highland Show last year, first place junior yearling and junior champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, before taking the title of yearling champion and reserve overall female champion at the Aberdeen Angus Winter National Show in Carlisle.

A new centre record of £11,000 was paid for a Blue faced Leicester gimmer hogg at Hawes today (Saturday). The North Yorkshire market saw a keen trade at the breed association's annual sale of females but it was a gimmer from the flock of noted breeders Messrs Lord, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria that topped the day and achieved the new mart record.

The hogg (pictured above), by a Hewgill sire, heads for Northern Ireland with joint buyers S Laverty and R Loughridge, Co Antrim. She stood champion under judge Richard Thomas from Powys. The Lord family had a great day also selling at £7500, £5400 and £4600.

A gimmer shearling by a Smearsett tup and consigned by the Booth family from Feizor, Austwick, Lancaster stood reserve champion and made £5000 (pictured below) to A and K Pye, Lancaster. She was scanned in-lamb for triplets to a Smearsett sire. The flock's best gimmer hogg realised £2700.

Ripon, north Yorkshire breeders E Fairburn and Sons sold a gimmer hogg at £3200 and one from Dales-based flock owners W C Porter and Son, Richmond achieved a best of £3200.

A 2008-bred ewe from P Ewbank, High Draymans topped a sale of "crowned" Swaledale ewes at the breed association's show and sale at Hawes making £3200 (below). She stood champion under judges R Harker, Gayle and B Thomas, Horton in Ribblesdale and was bought by RMS Livestock, Castle Bolton.

The reserve championship went to a gimmer shearling from M Skidmore, Wolf Cleugh. It made £1800 to D Hanson, Whitby. Gimmer hoggs peaked at £2500 for an entry from P Hallam, Arnfield Farm and bought by I Collinson, Bishop Auckland.

Blue faced Leicester - 74 sheep averaged £1425 (up £192 on 2011); gimmer hoggs £1528; gimmer shearlings £1780; ewes £507.

Swaledale - 26 sheep averaged £991 (up £206 on 2011); ewes £1233; gimmer shearlings £882; gimmer hoggs £828.

(Hawes Auction Mart).

The British Blue sale at Carlisle  got off to a flying start with a bid of 7,700gns for lot 4. October 2009 born bull Strathbogie Elliott is by Nether Hall Buster and out of Strathbogie Britney and was put forward by J C Innes and Sons.

Second best was Lot 2, bull Rathylon Dave selling for 6,800gns. This is a entry from Malcolm Telfer and Helen Claxton and is by Empire D'Ochain and out of Rathlyon U-Beauty.

Then at 6,000gns was the male champion, Lot 3, Seaclan Duke. This one is by Empire D'Ochain and out of Bringlee Baroness - a Sady x Baron daughter. Duke won second prize at the National show in Tullamore.

Springfield Freddy (Lot 7) from A J and D A Wilkinson was then secured for 6,000gns. This June-2010 born Blak Du Baty D'Eprave son is out of Springfield Astra.

Next best was in along the females, with a bid of 3,500gns for Rathlyon Dinah put forward by Malcolm Telfer and Helen Claxton. She is a Heros Du Peroy daughter out of Bringlee Baroness - a full sister to Bringlee Blackstar and Solway View Dynamite.

Wigton's weekly sale of Primestock held earlier in the week saw an entry of 154 Cattle including bulls, and 1,032 Prime Sheep including ewes.

There was a good show of cattle which helped relieve pressure on the averages, which held up well with heifers just better on the week and bulls maintaining a decent trade.

The top price of 233.5p/kg was paid for a Limousin Heifer shown by Messrs A E Fawkes and Sons, Welton Farm, and was purchased by Carrock Meats, Dalston. Top price of £1,395 a head was also shown by Messrs A E Fawkes ad Sons, Welton farm, and was purchased by Wilson Family Butchers, Corby Hill, Carlisle.

Joint top price of 216.5p/kg was paid for a Limousin Steer which was shown by J E Brockbank and Sons, Westward Parks and also for a British Blue Steer shown by J Watson and Son, Outgang, Branthwaite. Top price a head of £1,682.78 was paid for a Limousin Steer shown by Messrs Bowe, Bothel Parks, Bothel.

The top price of 209.5p/kg was paid for a Limousin Bull shown by Messrs Watson, Cunningarth, Westward. The top price a head was £1749.83 paid for a Charolais Bull shown by T Bell & Son, Clement Leazes, Hallbankgate and was purchased by G Riley and Sons, Dunnockshaw.

Over Thirty Months cattle sold to 202.5p/kg paid for a Limousin Streer shown by Messrs Cape, Kirklands Guards.  

Averages:

Heifers LW 167.5 (167.5) MW 233.5 (191.56) HW 232.5 (202.98)

Steers  LW 216.5 (183.41) MW 210.5 (192.45) HW 216.5 (194.09)

Bulls  MW 209.5 (179.12) HW 205.5 (190.63) (Hopes Auction Co)

The first sale of the year started with a bang for the Border and Lakeland Holstein Show and Sale at Borderway, Carlisle, with cows and heifers averaging £2,230 and a top price of 3,300gns.

Buyers were impressed with the quality on offer - classy udders on wide powerful heifers came one after the other with some very impressive pedigrees to attract the top breeders, says auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington.

The top call went to the champion, Espland Pagewire Naomi consigned by D I and F M Cannon, Espland Hill, Appleby. She was a daughter of Braedale Pagewire from a twelve thousand kilo dam and went to to Messrs H Thompson of Springfield Farm, Egremont.

One of the more impressive pedigrees in the sale was consigned by Warnelview Holsteins. This one is a daughter of their Goldwyn son Warnelview Bingo and bred from an Excellent 94 Boulet Charles with over one ton of milk lifetime. In the first three generations of this pedigree no less than thirty three lactations were recorded. This top class heifer sold for 2,900gns and now joins the herd of Messrs H Thompson of Springfield Farm, Egremont.

R-E-W Buckeye sired the next highest price of 2,600gns, this time consigned by Skirwith Hall Farms, Penrith. Bred from a line of high component dams and displaying a marvellous udder she now joins the herd of Messrs N and S J Sanderson of Burtholme Farm, Lanercost.

Attracting interest from across the Irish Sea was a tall, stylish daughter of Wilcoxview Jasper consigned by Ruth Watson from the Lillyhall herd near Cockermouth. Her grand dam was the All Canadian Dreane Astre Inksou EX96, Lillyhall Jasper Inksou sold for 2,450gns and now joins the Printshop herd of Gaston and John Wallace, Templepatrick, N. Ireland.

The reserve champion Warnelview Loader Debby consigned by the Wilson family from Wood Farm, Carlisle then went for 2,400gns. This daughter of Cogent Loader was bred from two VG87 dams and went to Messrs W McWhirter and Co of Burnockstone Farm, Ayrshire.

Averages: 2 cows in milk; £1,365, 28 heifers in milk; £2,292.75 (Harrison and Hetherington)

With the first "suck" lambs in the south west only weeks away from hitting the market and lambing already underway elsewhere in flocks hoping to scoop high spring lamb prices, those running more mainstream lambing flocks have been out and about assessing the in-lamb ewe trade.

It's clear from the first sales of commercial ewes that have been offered so far that there's going to be a strong demand from flockmasters keen to increase ewe numbers this year but it looks as though cash is still going to be spent with care. At Longtown in Cumbria a sale of full-mouth Suffolk ewes - some carrying triplets - found plenty of bidders but the best trade is yet to come for younger sheep carrying two lambs.

At Welshpool on Monday auctioneer Richard Evans had an easy job selling good quality full-mouth Texel-cross ewes carrying a range of lambs. Prices were up to £190 a head with full-mouth Suffolk ewes reaching £135.

"A good trade with a lot of interest considering some of these were full-mouth ewes. I have no doubt we are going to see a very good trade for younger sheep once we get into the bigger offerings of in-lambers."

Gisburn Auction Marts, sale of rearing calves last Thursday saw 224 rearing calves forward. Topping the trade was J Shuttleworth and Son, Rylstone, Skipton with three Simmental bulls at £472, £462 and £458.

Anyone selling prime hoggets this week should heed the advice of auctioneers and not be tempted to hold back anything that is clearly ready to sell in the hope of an improving price.

A New Year "wobble" - particularly for home-trade hoggets - caught a few out who had held on to sheep before Christmas expecting to hit a rising market after the holiday.

Although the price of top quality export hoggets looked to be getting back on track at many markets last week - and even the home-kill sheep seemed more settled on price - buyers are still operating with care. News that New Zealand lamb is now appearing on the shelves - even though there were suggestions before Christmas that supplies would be tight - means UK lamb consumers have a cheaper option.

Yes, supplies of prime hoggets will get tighter as we move through the late winter and into early spring - and auctioneers report stores are getting harder to find in big numbers - but the advice is the same as it always was "sell them when they are ready".

With all the hype there's been about a boom-time for the spring hogget trade it's easy to think that the later they are sold the more money they will make. But while there's continued confidence in a sustained export demand, it will be for hoggets that fit the spec.

The strong cull cow trade seems set to continue as shown at United Auctions' sale of store cattle, cast cows and store sheep, where a Limousin X cull cow hit £1,665.

Out of the 169 cull cows put forward at Stirling auction centre, it was a Limousin X from Quixwood which hit the top price of the day; the others averaged at 124.93p/kg and peaked at 194.7p/kg for a Limousin X from Quixwood.

Meanwhile, a total of 731 bullocks went under the hammer, selling to an average of 200.17p/kg (+3.11p/kg) and to a peak of 245.2p/kg for a 310kg Charolais X from Muirston and £1,400 for a 788kg Limousin X from East Banknock.

553 heifers sold to an average of 201.93p/kg (-0.33p/kg) and to a peak of 226.8p/kg for a 291kg Limousin X from Killeonan and £1,100 for a 584kg Limousin X from East Banknock.

And 99 young bulls sold to an average of 193.92p/kg and a peak of 227.8p/kg for a 338kg Limousin X from Little Kype and £1,000 for a 570kg Limousin X from Altewan. 

The smaller entry of forward cattle (23) put forward averaged at 185.78p/kg and sold to a top of 210.6p/kg for a Limousin X from Glenehervie and £1,275 for a Limousin X from Sketewan.

The large entry of store sheep put forward (3071) saw the top price of £80 going for Suffolk X from Parbroath and Texel X from Ashfield.  Other leading prices included £77 for Suffolk X from Meikle Camoqhull, £75 for Mule from Knowehead and £74 for Suffolk X from Dlmahoy and Beltex X from Kilwinnet.

Cast tups hit £108 for a Cheviot from Little Ballo, while in the breeding sheep section, Beltex Gimmers from Mannerston hit £220 and £210

Averages:

SuffX hoggets  £67.63

TexX hoggets  £66.48

Mule hoggets  £63.25

BF hoggets   £48.17

Beltex hoggets  £72.06

(United Auctions)

 The annual January Welsh Black Society pedigree show and sale at Dolgellau saw trade up on last year with a ceiling of 11,400gns achieved.

Topping the bidding on the day was September 2010 born bull Ysgethin Tomas 10^th put forward by young vendor Mr G Evans, Eithin Fynydd, Bermo. This one is by Mignedd Tomos 2^nd and out of Llechwedd Mona 25^th and went home with Mr I Owen, Cefn Bodig, Bala.

With the Bull section having 23 forward, the trade was upbeat and saw most of the money on the day. Second highest price was for Deicws Erddyn 2^nd from Mr G C Williams, Tyddyn Deicws. This one sold to Glyn Thomas, Llandeilo for 8,200gns.

Two entries sold at 7,600gns, the first of which was Hafodesgob Berwyn from Gwenfair Jones and Son, selling to Messrs Price, Rhiwlas Estate, Bala.

Next was April 2010 born Ysguboriau Llewelyn 58^th put forward by W R P Jones he was the top performance tested bull at last years IBERS test at Gogerddan.  He sold to Mr E  Jenkins Tynygraig, Talybont.

Gwenfair Jones and Son also received a 6,400gns bid for Hafodesgob Meirion selling to Mr Alford, Cornwall.   The champion bull from Emyr Jones, Graig Goch Goch Berwyn 70^th then sold for 5,100gns to Jones, Cwm Y Geifr. 

Although there were fewer females forward than last year, trade was better. 

The in- calf section champion female from Gwenfair Jones and Son, Hafodesgob Ceridwen 20^th sold for 1,920gns to Keith Thomas, Llandeilo, and Morwynion Belle 5^th  from Dylan Wynne also sold at the same price..

The Maiden Heifer section saw a top price of 2,000gns for Hafren Cerys 3rd from vendor Emily Evans.  The heifer was sold to C D A Reynolds, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

Averages: In-calf females; 1,702gns, maiden heifers; 875gns, 19 bulls, 4,442gns. The female section saw a 100% clearance for the 19 forward. (Farmers Marts, R G Jones).

The opening Craven Dairy Auction of the year saw father-and-son farmers Raymond and Robert Johnson take the championship and achieve £2,180 for a newly calven Holstein Friesian heifer

Having calved 17 days earlier on the Johnson's Summerfield Farm, Felliscliffe, Harrogate, this one is giving 30 litres and went under the hammer at Skipton Auction Mart selling to John Howard at Carleton.

Meanwhile, reserve champion, a newly calven cow from father and son duo Malcolm and Robert Swires, Haverah Park, Beckwithshaw, sold for £2,000 to Tom Green, of Wigan. This second calver is giving 45 litres, and is by Myersdale Principal, bred by Geoff Spence in Northallerton.

Other leading prices on the day included 1,750gns (£1,837) for a 27-month-old Holstein Friesian stock bull by Durham Atlas from Alan Throup. This one sold to Stephen Breare - both producers are from Silsden.

And Geoff Eccles, of Worsthorne, Burnley, triumphed with an in-calf heifer selling for £1,310 to David Berry, Thornton-in-Crave.

Out of the 40-strong entry of animals put forward, newly calven heifers averaged £1,747 and newly calven cows £1,691.

Trade was back to normal after the holiday period with some 600 cattle and 1,982 sheep forward at Bakewell market

Bagshaws reported solid trade despite concerns over the Euro exchange rate with OTM Cattle averaging 118p and Hoggs 206p.

The market saw the largest entry of finished cattle for some time at 204, maintaining a strong performance right through the sale.

The most exciting section of the day was the store cattle where the seasonal entry of 172 animals was insufficient to meet the demand.  The result was a tremendous trade with 7-8 month cattle making up to £850 and stronger ones well over £1,000.

Bagshaw said "If you have Store Cattle to sell, do not hesitate, Bakewell buyers would relish the opportunity to bid at them."

The 112 barren and OTM cattle forward averaged 119.1p. This was an improved entry and a better trade with two more orders around the ring and a lot more bite to the trade.

The best cows sold to 165p for Jim Howard, Huddersfield with more of the best younger sorts over 140p.

There were plenty of feeding buyers operating again and there were some good "going on" sorts for them in the 125-140p bracket.

The 52 black and white and ex dairy cows averaged 109.1p with the best cows easy to sell and selling to 137p for D & LA Critchlow, Sheen, with all the better cows over 130p and meated Holsteins 125-130p.  Second rate sorts soldfrom 118-125p with parlour cows regularly over 110p. 

1,985 sheep, including 1,264 Hoggs & 721 Ewes and Rams, were up for grabs. There was a mixed show on offer with best butchers types selling to 237p/kg for a 42kg Texel with heavy weight Texels to 206p/kg.  The top 10 pens averaged 227.8p/kg.  The Farm Assured lambs still in demand with good lean export hoggs 40-47kg selling in the 210-220p/kg bracket.  Overall market average 207.99p/kg.

An outstanding entry of 721 Cull ewes and rams included several runs of grazed ewes attracted very brisk bidding for all types.  Best heavy Texel ewes peaked at £140 from Hadfield's at Cold Eaton with Suffolks from the same farm to £130.  Meated Mules sold in the £80-£95 bracket with Swales in the £60-£65 bracket.

Cull Ewes to £140.  Average £72.56

Cull Rams to £125.  Average £89.11

Once again there was a large show of 242 cast cows forward for the weekly sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, with trade being dearer for all classes.

Messrs Rogerson of Maisongill sold a Blonde cow for 178.5p and a Limousin cow for 173.5p to Jewitts Meat LTD and West Scottish Lamb. Messrs Hall & Son of Barker House sold a Limousin cross cow for 175.5p to Jewitts Meat LTD. Gretna House Farms sold the top priced Charolais cow weighing 902kg for 173.5p or £1564 bought by Mr John Robertson. Seymour Farms sold the top priced Holstein cross cow for 147.5p purchased again by West Scottish Lamb.

The mart reported an outstanding show of prime cattle on offer with a trade to match.

Mr Geoff Batey of High Knells Farm run of British Blue bullocks weighing 745kg sold to a top price of 217.5p or £1620, bought by Pioneer Foods.

Messrs Fawcett of Silverhow Farm run of cattle topped at 217.5p for Limousin cross bullock bought by Pioneer Foods, Messrs Hutton of Fern House run of cattle also topped at 217.5p for a Limousin bullock again bought by Pioneer Foods. Messrs Dodd of West View sold the top priced British Blue cross heifers for 217.5 also to Pioneer Foods.

At the weekly sale of prime hoggs and cast ewes 2,872 head were forward. Trade took a good rise on the week with an overall average of 210.82p/kg being achieved however the SQQ weights met the greatest demand averaging 218.98p/kg.

Topping the sale at £118.80 was a pen of Beltex cross hoggs from Messrs Wharton of Snade Farm selling to Mr Andrew Dawson of Sedbergh.

Messrs Wharton also had top price a kilo at 291.4p/kg again for a consignment of Beltex crosses weighing 37kg and they were again purchased by Mr Andrew Dawson. Messrs Harrison of Grange Hall sold a fabulous run of Continental cross hoggs with an average weight of 41.48kg, they sold to average £113.67 or 274.05p/kg. New buyers were in attendance and more hoggs could have been easily sold to vendors advantage.

(Harrison and Hetherington)

Two Deeside brothers triumphed at the recent Aberdeen & Northern Marts Thainstone Centre anniversary show and sale on Friday 6 January.

Taking the overall championship title with a homebred 734kg 20-month-old Charolais cross steer, was brothers Gavin and Euan Greenlaw of Groddie, Logie Coldstone.  The champion animal was sold for £1,760 to the show judge, Ian Emslie, Little Barras, Stonehaven.

Meanwhile the title of reserve champion went to a 598kg 15-month-old Limousin cross steer from Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Turriff.  This one was bred by John Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Ballinluid, and sold for £1,400 to F.W. Douglas, Wray House, Malton, York.

Auctioneer Allan Taylor, said of the 1,748-strong entry:  "There was an outstanding show of well bred and well presented cattle, which sold at prices ahead of expectations."

The 1,101 bullocks averaged at 212.2p/kg (up 43.3p on the year) and sold to 266.9p/kg and £1,570 gross.  Meanwhile, the 628 heifers sold to an average of 202.2p/kg (up 42.5p on the year) and sold to 266.7p/kg and £1,395 gross.

(Aberdeen & Northern Marts)

The Western Holstein Club's opening Show and Sale for 2012 attracted a small entry of just 70 cows and milking heifers plus a couple of heifer calves of which a  high proportion of 18 were not forward on the day.

Judge for this sale was Andrew Ollier of Knutsford who selected his champion from the noted Dalebank Herd of David Rees Farms of Hunsterson, Nantwich; their Dalebank Anderson 34th is a daughter of Firth Bullion. In reserve was the Talent daughter Weeton Talent Tabatha consigned by Absolute Genetics of Kirkham, Preston.

Trade was good throughout the sale and although auctioneers Wright Manley noted that quality was not as good as they had seen in recent months there was plenty of bidding for all cattle and a total clearance was affected.

The top seller was Fordswood Damion Angel from Howard Walmsley of Garstang. This daughter of Erbacres Damion is bred from six generations of top classified dams and also has two VG sisters. She sold for the top price of 3,700gns to Steve and Olivia Sherratt of Stalybridge, Cheshire.

The next top seller was the second calf Kingold T‐Baxter Promise (VG86‐2yr) from Terry Goldstraw of Audlem who is dispersing his herd as they calve. This young cow is the sixth generation of cows classified in the top two grades and gave 9,700kg as a heifer and was sold giving 50kg a day for 3,000gns to join the Caeremlyn Herd of Henllan Farms of Whitland, Carmarthenshire.

Next in line was Bidlea Supersonic Fayne, a daughter of Styche Supersonic from Ray Brown and Partners of Holmes Chapel. This heifer whose four nearest dams are all scored Excellent or Very Good sold for 2,750 gns to Elwyn Thomas of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire for his Gatrog Herd.

Four heifers made 2,500gns each, the first two at this price were from the noted Woodmarsh Herd of M and J C Gould of Bomere Heath Shrewsbury. Woodmarsh Mag Blitx by Charpentier Magot was purchased by D E and M R Davies of Llanymynech and Woodmarsh Mag Melody 121st by the same sire was purchased by the Sherratts. The champion was also sold at this figure and was purchased by the judge. The other at this price was Bowlandview Missile Trudy sired by BB Toy Missile and was purchased by Messrs Davies of Llanymynech.

TOP PRICES:

Lot 32 J & J M Walmsley Fordswood Damion Angel ET S & O Sherratt, Cheshire 3,700gns

Lot 7 T W Goldstraw Kingold T‐Baxter PromiseVG86‐2yr) Henllan Farms Ltd, Whitland 3,000 gns

Lot 20 Ray Brown & Ptns Bidlea Supersonic Fayne Elwyn Thomas, Kidwelly 2,750 gns

Lot 22 M & J C Gould Woodmarsh Mag Blitz 48th DE & MR Davies, Llanymynech 2,500 gns

Lot 24 M & J C Gould Woodmarsh Mag Melody 121st S & O Sherratt, Cheshire 2,500 gns

Lot 35 David Rees Farms Dalebank Anderson 34th A Ollier, Knutsford 2,500 gns

Lot 45 J & I Garth Bowlandview Missile Trudy DE & MR Davies, Llanymynech 2,500 gns

Lot 28 H & V E Jolly Fieldside Ada 164th JA & MH Wright, Sandbach 2,450 gns

Lot 29 H & V E Jolly Fieldside Janet 3rd JA & MH Wright, Sandbach 2,400 gns

Lot 31 David Rees Farms Dalebank Inez 245th D E & M R Davies, Llanymynech 2,400 gns

Lot 34 G H Harrison & Sons Bassingthorpe Bla Elsie 21st D E & M R Davies, Llanymynech 2,400 gns

Lot 46 J & I Garth Bowlandview Loader Maggie I K P Jones, Denbigh 2,350 gns

AVERAGES:

4 Cows £2100.00; 48 Milking Heifers £2156.87; 52 HEAD £2,152.50.

(WRIGHT MANLEY)

A gimmer from Lanarkshire breeder Angus Kennedy's Mitchellhill flock topped a lively trade for Texel females at Lanark today selling for 4000gns after taking the day's championship title. The sale saw 12 sheep make over 1000gns.

By Scrogtonhead Ooor Willie - a Claybury Midlander son - and out of ewe by Clynnog Joe Tex, she had been flushed leaving seven embryos at Mitchellhill. Offered in-lamb to Mitchellhill Sonic - a son of the 10,000gns Glenside Ring a Ding, she was claimed by Aberdeenshire breeder Graham Morrison for his Deveronvale flock.

The two other Mitchellhill gimmers made 1800gns and 950gns.

A gimmer from the reduction of the Cauldcoats flock, owned by the late David Arkley, made 2200gns.

Averages: Texel gimmers £728; Cauldcoats reduction £550. (Lawrie and Symington).

A capacity crowd packed the ringside at today's show and sale of Texel and Beltex females at Chelford, Cheshire where bidding reached 2500gns for a Texel gimmer from the Sportsmans flock of Cheshire-based Boden and Davies and Beltex sold to a top of 1100gns for a ewe lamb from the Tewitt Hall flock of Messrs Staveley, Clapham, Lancashire.

The Sportsmans gimmer stood champion under Texel judge Frank Rushton of the Fresh Fields flock and was claimed by David Bradley-Farmer from Hampshire. She was by Clougher President and out of a ewe by Mellor Vale Krugerand and was in-lamb to 25,000gns Milnbank Special One.

Auctioneer Gwyn Williams described the trade as "strong and solid throughout". "This was the 26^th show and sale for the North West Texel Breeders Club and pulled in the biggest crowd we've ever had for this event. Demand was keen from start to finish with just 12 animals unsold from an entry of around 300."

Taking the reserve championship was a gimmer from the Tima flock of Selkirk breeders David, Isla and Lisa Gray.

By Springwell Kermit and out of a Baltier Glory dam, this gimmer is an ET sister to the 7000gns Tima Look @ Me. She was in-lamb to the Knock Reebok son Ettrick Sir Alan. She goes to Barnsley, Yorkshire with Steve Richardson at 1550gns.

Cumbria flock owner Peter Woof sold a gimmer by Fachell On Approval from his Stainton flock at 2000gns. 

Out of a Cambwell Mountain ewe and in-lamb to the Baltier Panther son Carran Southern Star, she was claimed by an undisclosed North Yorkshire buyer.

Another gimmer from the same pen by the Fachell sire and in-lamb to the Carran tup, made 1150gns to Steven Smith, Welshpool.

A Baltier Prestige sired gimmer from the Fachell flock of Idris Morris, Caernarfon made 1000gns to Steve Gibbons. She was out of a Pennan Miracle ewe and in-lamb to Milnbank Stig.

Leading the Texel ewes at 800gns was a Castlecairn Never Again daughter from the Oldford flock of R Pierce, Chester. She was in-lamb to Hen Gapel Ronaldo.

Topping the Beltex Sheep Society show and sale was a ewe lamb from the Tewitt Hall flock owned by the Lancashire-based Staveley partnership. The lamb (below), which stood reserve champion, is by Hallcrake Noah and out of a ewe by Mustang. She made 1100gns to Steven Gibbons.

 Collecting the championship and selling for 900gns (below) was the gimmer Southern Acres Patience - a Bishops Nijinski daughter from L and S Hewitt, Chester. She was in-lamb to Buckles Newt - a 3000gns sire bought at Carlisle in 2010.

Headlind Pink, a gimmer by Viagrow V/d Drie Musschen from Allan Jackson, Lanark made 1000gns.

Averages: Texel - 106 gimmer shearlings £514; 15 senior ewes £345. Beltex - 15 shearling gimmers £576; 22 senior ewes £441 and 12 ewe lambs £448. (Frank R Marshall)

Ends

McCartney's of Kington report a smaller entry of 1,600 sheep yesterday for their first fat sheep sale of 2012.

The lamb trade had eased from the highs of the Christmas period but with less numbers being sold nationally the hoggets at Kington met an excellent trade equal to the previous week. The hoggets sold to a very good trade on all weight ranges and the whole market averaged 208p/kg with all hoggets averaging an excellent £90 a head.

Hoggets between 38kg and 43kg which were of export spec were sort after and fetched premium prices with these hoggets averaging a very good 2.14p/kg. Heavier hoggets between 44kg and 47kg would be easier to sell than the previous week and averaged a good 200p/kg. Hoggets over 48kg would again sell extremely well - they averaged 1.92p/kg up to £100 a head

The lambs sold to £100 a head for some 55kg lambs from Warren Farm (Powys) ltd.

Some 38kg hoggets from C & S F Thomas made £85, 39kg hoggets from Alan Layton made £88.20, 41kg hoggets from T E & K J Simcock made £88.50, 42kg hoggets from JD Price made £91.80, 43kg hoggets from PC Brigg made £92, 45kg hoggets from G J Bowen made £90, 48kg hoggets from JW Lloyd & Sons made £93.50, 52kg hoggets from KO Rogers made £97, 53kg hoggets from SI Rogers made £98.50.

There was another good entry of 500 cull ewes selling to an excellent trade which would be better than last week. The ewes sold to a top of £159 for some Texel ewes from B J Layton & Co and all the ewes averaged an excellent £89 a head with many hill ewes forward. Tups sold to a good trade with a top of £150 and to average £100 a head, The cull ewes included a large proportion of thinner mule ewes and smaller hill ewes. 

Sheep producers on the look out for some mid-winter management advice should make a note of the new sheep event being organised by the Eastern Region of NSA. The region's first "Winter Fair" event takes place at Melton Mowbray Market on Friday 27^th January.

Sheep farmers will be able to discuss feeding, EID and tagging and see a wide range of handling equipment. All aspects of sheep management will be covered including animal health, shearing, grassland management and marketing stock

The seminar sessions will provide a varied programme covering a wide range of issues. 

EBLEX will give a presentation on the outlook for the sheep industry and undertake a virtual lamb selection talk.  

Young shepherds (aged 26 and under) can enter the Young Shepherds Competition, sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers with the chance of winning £500. Application forms are available on the NSA website.

More information from the organisers on 01953 607860 or jonathan@nationalsheep.org.uk"

A total of 15 calves from a 77-strong entry topped £300, with an overall selling average price of £205, at a solid opening New Year show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart.

With many fresh faces at a packed ringside, notably from the east and west of the region, prices peaked at £380 for the show champion (pictured), a five-week-old British Blue bull calf from West Craven's John Dinsdale, of Rainhall Farm, Barnoldswick.

Mr Dinsdale was stepping up on his reserve championship success at the opening 2011 calf show. Buyer of his 2012 title winner was Michael Wilshaw, Warrington.

The reserve championship fell to the first prize five-week-old Limousin heifer calf from Mark Ashworth, of Fishes and Peggy Hill Farm, Clitheroe. The daughter of the Genus sire Mighty Prince sold for £345 to CG & AJ Sutcliffe, of Wetwang, Driffield, who also bought the first and second prize dairy bull calves at £145 and £140 from Malcolm Mossley, Riddlesden, and Ken Wright, Airton.

Mr Ashworth also had the top price Limousin bull calf at £295, which joined another east coast buyer M Ward at Harwoodale, who secured two further top price performers in the Charolais and Simmental bull calf classes at £375 and £365 respectively. Both were shown by Geoff Eccles, Worsthorne.

Mr Ashworth was also responsible for the first and second prize native bull calves, the Aberdeen Angus red rosette winner joining P & A Rowley, Wigan, for £265. The same buyers also paid £345 for the top price Limousin heifer calf from Graham Hayton & EC Stocks, Bolton Abbey, and £310 for a Hereford bull calf from JR CJ & D Drake, Thornton, Bradford.

Geoff Booth, Lothersdale, presented the first and second prize British Blue heifer calves, the victor becoming a further acquisition at £335 by Michael Wilshaw, the blue rosette winner selling at £330 to Paul Drinkall, Gargrave.

A black and white bull calf from first time exhibitor Ian Goss, Wortley, Sheffield, and a Murray Grey bull calf from Vickers & Richardson at Langdale End on the east coast both sold at £300. British Blue bull calves averaged £365, heifers £305, and Limousin bull calves £214, heifers £240.

(CCM Auctions)