Top call of 10,800gns at Hereford Society spring sale
Northern Ireland Hereford breeders, John, William and Andrew McMordie, Ballygowan, Co. Down, dominated this week’s Hereford Cattle Society spring sale at Hereford Livestock Market, selling bulls to 10,800gns and taking the day’s second and third highest bids.
Topping trade was their 22-month-old bull, Solpoll 1 KitKat, by Panmure 1 Henry weighing 860kgs and within the top 1% of the breed for eye muscle area and retail beef yield. He sold AE Nesbitt Farms, Cleland Herefords, Hungerford, Berkshire.
Following closely at 10,500gns was their 23-month-old bull Solpoll 1 Karate Kid also by Henry and weighing 935kgs. Buyer was Oyston Estates, Lytham, Lancashire.
Next best at 8,200gns was their reserve male champion, 19-month-old Solpoll 1 Landmark, another son of Henry, weighing 785kgs. He was the pick of Jan Boomaars, Vexour Herefords, Woldingham, Surrey.
A and P Massey, Bury, Lancashire, sold their 23-month-old bull Hollyvale 1 Knight by Barbern 1 Horatio for 5,200 gns to Atkin Brothers, Barrow-on-Trent, Derbyshire.
Selling for the same money was the 18-month-old Moorside 1 Living-the-Dream by Injemira Advance Z080 from Lancashire, G. & M.C. Shepherd, Woodplumpton, Preston. He was purchased by R. Archer, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Two bulls made 4,800gns.
First of these was 13-month-old Solpoll 1 Lamborghini, by RLOA R271 Dynasty 37U, and weighing 640kgs, sold for 4,800gns to L Parry-Jones, Tymawr Herefords, Llangwyllog, Anglesey. He is a full brother to the popular Genus bull, Solpoll 1 Ferrari.
Second at this money was 22-month-old Fisher 1 Klondike by Fisher 1 Cracker and from west Sussex breeder WJ Hutchings and Sons. He headed to Fir Farm, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.
The grand male champion 15-month-old Greenyards 1 Legend by Greenyards 1 Henry bred by PJ and AC Allman, Sutton St. Nicholas, Herefordshire, sold for 4,500gns to M and M Roberts, Bromley Herefords, Hoarwithy, Herefordshire.
Females
The McMordie family also led trade in the female section, taking a bid of 5,200gns from Wand P Eccles, Tranent, East Lothian, for their 17-month-old heifer Solitude 1 Helen L485 by Panmure 1 Henry.
It was their reserve female champion, the 25-month-old in-calf heifer Solpoll 1 Stardust K20 also by Henry, that followed this with a 4,200gns bid from newcomers Murton Grange, Thrisk, North Yorkshire.
Meanwhile the female champion, 19-month-old Dendor 1 Anna Mary 21st by Solpoll 1 Gilbert, bred and exhibited by DE, ED and AL Jones, Newtown, Powys, sold for 4,200 gns to newcomers JS and AE Radcliffe, Swansea, Glamorgan.
Averages: 23 show bulls, £4, 287 (70% clearance); 17 show heifers, £3,199 (100% clearance); 4 cows incalf/with calves at foot, £2,625; 17 in-calf heifers, £2,057; 15 maiden heifers, £1,554; overall 36 females, £1,910 (95% clearance).
(Brightwells, Leominster).