Taking Stock

As you know we're keen on Angus on this blog and it seems store buyers north of the border are too, with steers topping at £860 at last week's sale of Angus sired stores at Thainestone.

The steer was consigned by Messrs Craigi, Hall of Clestrain, Orkney and was bought by W Stewart, Greenfold, Bridge of Marnoch.

Champion ticket in the pre-sale show was clinched by J and J Mark, Mains of Pitlurg, Keith, with a heifer which sold for £660.

Females dominated proceedings at last weekend's East of England Show, clinching the overall interbreed beef title, the commercial beef championship, the interbreed sheep championship and the interbreed pig silverware.

Leading the way was Doug Mash's French bred Limousin cow Segala from his family's Brockhurst herd. Imported just over a year a go and shown with her November 2006-born calf at foot, Segala now heads to the Royal and Royal Welsh.

Standing reserve here was the Aberdeen Angus champion, Briston Echo, from Duncan Jeary's 60-cow herd. By Tegnose Pensboy and out of Briston Briarthorn, Echo was also shown with her March-born calf at foot.

Heading up the commercial classes was the Limousin cross heifer Miss Moneypenny from Sennybridge-based Elfed Williams. Brought out by Neil and Sally Lloyd of Black and Blue Show Team, Miss Moneypenny was bred by Andrew Davies and cost Mr Williams £7100.

Among the juniors it was the turn of another Limousin, Ironstone Brandy, from Smtihs of Bloxham's Ironstone herd which led the way. By Unesco, Brandy is out of record price Limousin female Bailea Umandy.

Narrowly pipped into reserve spot was Mike and Jean Dickens' Limousin cross heifer Splash, this one was bred by the Skidmore family.

Charolais cattle captured both the individual and pairs interbreed championships at the rain affected Three Counties Show.

Conditions were so bad that interbreed cattle judging was moved inside, where judge Jim Goldie found himself assessing a Limousin bull he bred.

Having made Shamleys Victoria, an outstandingly well grown Charolais heifer from Mrs Jamilla Robinson's herd at nearby Tenbury Wells, his champion, he called on independent referee Martin Jones to decide whether Goldies Trophy should be reserve champion. The bull he sold to Somerset breeder Colin Hutchings three years ago for 6000gns, was given the nod.

The National Aberdeen-Angus Show, to be held as part of Turriff Show on Monday, August 6, has attracted a record entry of 128 head from 31 herds covering the length and breadth of the country from Surrey to Orkney.

Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society chief executive, Ron McHattie, said the large entry would provide a magnificent showcase for the Aberdeen-Angus breed.

“We are grateful to the organisers of Turriff Show for agreeing to host our national show and providing us with such excellent facilities,” said Mr McHattie. “The cream of the Aberdeen-Angus breed will be on show, including some of the champions from major regional shows on both sides of the border.”

The Aberdeen-Angus cattle will be accommodated in a special marquee and the breed will have its own enlarged judging ring and hospitality facilities. Judging commences at the earlier time of 8.30am and the judge will be renowned breeder and former breed president, Willie McLaren, Netherton, Blackford, Perthshire.

The national Aberdeen-Angus Show has been held as part of Westmorland Show since its launch in 2005 but the Society’s Council has decided that the event should move around the country in future years.

Although few Aberdeen Angus cattle were forward at the society sale at Carlisle, last week, those that were sold well with a top price of 5000gns for the only cow forward on the day.

Martin Whiting’s Lakewood Rhapsody Z001 took the top bid of the day selling to John Campbell and Son of the Thrunton herd, Alnick. This 2000 born Elgar of the Moss daughter sold with her bull calf Rawburn Elbar at foot.

This week's Perth Bull sales has kicked off with judging in the Aberdeen Angus classes. Judge Alwyn Armour, Co Down, made speedy work of his task in chilly conditions, with all classes and championships awarded by 10.30am.

Male champion went to John Lascelles' junior bull Balmachie Franco, this one is by Netherton Kiwi Sam and out of Netherton Flora and carries a terminal sire index of +28.

Reserve overall male title and reserve junior champion was John Fraser's Idvies Junior Eric. Junior Eric has a terminal sire index of +24 and is by Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot and out of Idvies Juana Erica.

The female classes were judged earlier in the day and results from these will follow later, as will pictures of all champions....

Irish buyers set the pace at the “Best of Blacks in the Borders” sale of Aberdeen-Angus females at St Boswells which saw a top call of 12,000gns for a 19 month old heifer.

The top price bid came from the president of the Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association, Albert de Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, for the 19 month old heifer, Duncanziemere Jody F223, from Alistair Clark, Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Sired by the 2003 Royal Highland Show male champion, Newcairnie Pastor Z006, she is a full sister to two Highland Show champions - a bull which went on to win the championship at Perth in October, 2004, and sell for 7000gns, and a heifer which was Ayr and Ingliston champion in 2006.

Second highest price was a 5800gns bid by John Kissack, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, for the two year old heifer, Rawburn Edelweiss E390 from John Elliot, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

This daughter of the home-bred Rawburn Lord Ross C216 is the highest performing female ever bred at Rawburn – out of a Rawburn Transformer daughter – and boasted the highest terminal sire index of 36 of any Aberdeen-Angus female sold at public auction. She was sold in calf to Fruelunds Atlas.

Leading Irish Aberdeen-Angus breeder, Albert de Cogan, owner of the renowned Mogeely herd at Killamuckey, Co Cork, has been confirmed as the judge of the Scotia Homes Black Beauty Bonanza show of Aberdeen-Angus yearlings and calves at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on Saturday, January 19.

The pioneering annual show, launched by the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club in 1998 and now replicated by Aberdeen-Angus clubs throughout the UK and Ireland, had to be postponed from its usual November date because of livestock movement restrictions.

“We are delighted that Mr de Cogan has accepted our invitation to judge the Black Beauty,” said North East club chairman, Charles McCombie. “He is recognised as one of the leading breeders in Ireland and his Mogeely herd has an enviable show record stretching back over many years.”

Mr de Cogan this year won the coveted All-Ireland Aberdeen-Angus championship at Bantry Show for the second year running with his stock bull, Glendara Walnut, and also the reserve championship with a yearling heifer, Portauns Black Beatrice.

Angus breeder and butcher, Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir, Guthrie, Forfar, Angus, has won the Walkers Shortbread Rosebowl for the Aberdeen-Angus Show Herd of the Year for the fifth time in six years.

Mr Rennie will be presented with his award, along with a cash prize of £250, at the annual dinner of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society at Perth on February 4.

The competition is sponsored by Walkers Shortbread Ltd of Speyside and is based on points gained at the national shows plus eight selected regional shows.

Mr Rennie also wins the Central Scotland Aberdeen-Angus Club’s Herd of the Year competition, based on points awarded at local shows, for the fifth successive year.

The Mosston Muir herd was founded in 1991 and has been consistently successful in the show ring.

Successes in 2007 included the reserve male championship and two firsts at the Highland Show, two firsts and the best group of three at the Royal Show, champion, reserve champion and junior champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, champion and reserve at Ayr Show, champion at Angus and Border Union shows and reserve champion at Fife and Kirriemuir shows.

Mr Rennie and his son, Allan, also run a butcher’s shop, Rennies Quality Butchers, in Forfar.

* The qualifying shows for the award in 2008 will be Royal Highland, Royal, Royal Welsh, National Aberdeen-Angus Show (Turriff), Westmorland, Royal Norfolk, Royal Cornwall, Cheshire, Duns, Fife and Perth.

The Aberdeen-Angus breed is enjoying a mini-export boom with the sale of 12 young bulls from four Cheshire breeders to France and six bulls and 51 heifers from 15 Irish breeders to Portugal and the Azores.

This follows the sale at Perth last month of two bulls to Germany at 10,000gns and 6000gns, another to Romania at 5200gns and five bulls from two Scottish herds to Denmark.

“The development of export sales has been a priority for us during the last two years,” said Ron McHattie, chief executive of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society.

“The time and effort our members have put in attending exhibitions and promoting the breed in Continental Europe is now beginning to bear fruit and benefiting breeders throughout the UK and Ireland.”

More than 900 animals made their way to Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre for a show and sale of Aberdeen-Angus sired store cattle on Friday.

Stepping up to the challenge of judging was David Jackson, Mains of Melgund, Brechin. He selected his champion in the form of a 622kg June 2006-born steer from W Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten, which realised £940 to D and V Buchan, Savoch, Longside.

Trade for pedigree Aberdeen Angus cows topped at £940 at Ashford market on Tuesday for a 2000-born Perryville Nimrod daughter with heifer calf at foot.

Forward from a dispersal from the Wetland Trust, Fisher Pinky Pride, bred by R J Hutchings sold to Maggie Howie, Wrotham. Mrs Howie also bought one from the same holding, this time a TLA Northern Samurai daughter again with a heifer calf at foot for £640.

Buying on behalf of Gallagher Farms, Maidstone, Kent, Geoff Pearson bought Fisher Beauty Lass, a Tegsnose Karman 2004-born daughter and in calf to Rosemead Bill for £840, while at £800, Essex-based Edward Hull bought the Wetland Trust’s afore mentioned stock bull Rosemead Bill.

The best of an offering from Paul Clements, Suffolk, went to John Hall, Headcorn, Maidstone at £770. Cambric Esmerelda is by Bert Star of Auchetrforfar and out of a Wingfield cow.

Averages: 22 cows and calves £659; 8 in-calf females £568; 12 maiden heifers £504 (Hobbs Parker).

Leading an impressive sale of Aberdeen-Angus bulls at Carlisle last week was Hallington Walter from Newcastle-based Alan Lawson, who sold for the day's top price of 10,000gns.

Sired by Blelack Prince consort out of Blelack Wistaria, Walter has a self replacing index of +21 and an impressive milk figure of +17. He sold to Tom Rennie.   

More to follow shortly.......

Unfortunately, as I'm judging the sheep interbreed groups at the Bath and West tomorrow I haven't been able to head to Shepton Mallet today to catch up with the interbreed beef, sheep and pig competitions.

However, a quick scan of the show's online results pages indicates the Wheeler's Limousin heifer Rosecroft Versace took the interbreed beef award, this makes it two out of two for Versace after she took top honours at Devon County too (where the photo below was taken).

Colin Hutchings' Aberdeen Angus cow Kingsbrompton Miss Ethel stood reserve.

The sheep interbreed takes place today with ex-NSA supremo John Thorley doing the honours.

To see the show's results pages click here

I've just uploaded the second batch of pictures from the Suffolk Show which includes the Beef Interbreed champion from Andrew Brown and a cracking shot of the overall Dairy champion which I'm hoping to use as a front cover shot this week!

For the second year running Ruby Wright took the young handler championship at this year's East of England show having just received her NVQ equivalent award for Animal Husbandry from the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society's 2007 Youth Development Programme.

I had the great pleasure of judging Ruby in the young handlers competition and she is definately one to keep an eye on in the future.

 The quality of the young handlers at the East of England was very impressive and gave me a really difficult job, but Ruby caught my eye the minute she came in the ring. She and her animal were immaculately turned out and she presented her heifer incredibly well showing great knowledge as I talked to her.

Having tapped out a hsort lead consisting of the Aberdeen-Angus, Galloways, Charolais, Simmentals, Limousin and Salers, David Leggat has selected the Limousin team to take this year's Royal Highland Interbreed Team award.

The team was led by Harry Emslie's bull Hartsideanew Argos, Bernard Mairs' cow Ronick Money and two heifers from Doug Mash, which are embryo heifers by Grahams Samson out of Ronick McAinsi born a day apart from each other.

The Aberdeen-Angus group took the reserve spot.

David Leggat's next job will be to select the overall interbreed champion of the show.

Although the Aberdeen-Angus classes weren't the most hotly contended of classes this morning, Angus Stovold's cattle shone through to do the double, taking both champion and reserve spots.

His leader was the January 2003 cow Rosemead Karlotta with calf at foot. Sired by Lockerley Mere Boy out of a homebred dam, she took the title ahead of Rosemead Bellmaid, a Janaury 2007 heifer.