Taking Stock

Now here's one guy that would benefit from a lesson in understanding breeding values!!!

I'm not too sure how many Angus cows could cope with a calf birth weight of this much!!

Good quality beef cows and calved continue to meet a strong trade, with last Wednesday's sale at Newport Market topping at £1160 for a Belgian Blue cross cow and her March born Limousin sired heifer calf.

Meanwhile, native crosses traded at a top off just under £1000, with a smart 2003-born Hereford cross cow and her April-born Limousin cross steer calf making £910.

A flying trade was also seen for in-calf cows and they topped at £780 for a Belgian Blue cross, while Hereford cows peaked at £770.

A pedigree Limousin bull had drawn a large number of admirers and was finally knocked down at £2050 after some fierce bidding.

Averages: 29 cows and calves - £825; 2 in-calf cows - £720; 1 stock bull - £2,050.

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.

The recommencement of sales at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, got off to a strong start when a catalogued entry of nearly 1900 cattle came under the hammer at the major autumn show and sale of continental suckled calves.

Trade, though slightly back on last year was still buoyant and a packed ringside soon gathered to take advantage of the quality suckler-bred cattle on offer.

Topping trade at £2800 was a red Limousin cross heifer shown by Robert and Michael Scott, Thirlwall Castle, Greenhead. This greatly admired heifer and one of many in the offering from the Scott family, is a Cloughhead Titanic daughter, attracted keen competition and was sold to show enthusiast Neil Slack, Newby Penrith.

The championship ticket was presented to J Lee and Sons, Whitfield, Hexham for a black five month old Limousin cross heifer. This smart heifer, sired by the registered Limousin bull Greenfield Topper and out of a Belgian Blue cross Limousin mother, sold for £1400 to Messrs Bonsall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

The Reserve Champion ticket was won by Mike Harrison of Sleddale Hall with his Blonde cross steer which sold for £900 and sold to Farmtec, Coat House Farm.

Averages: steers £591.33; heifers £525.38 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Overall champion at Gisburn Auction Marts Christmas show and sale of rearing calves was a seven-week-old Belgian Blue bull calf from dairy farmer, Colin Whitelock, Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire.

The calf sired by Greystone Renowned Danish out of a Holstein Friesian x MRI cow, sold for £300. Next lot under the hammer from Mr Whitelock was his eight-week-old first prize Limousin heifer, she sold for £270. Taking them both back home to Manor Farm, Rillington, Malton, North Yorkshire was Chris Hodgson.

Prices hit an event record high of £6500 at the 2007 Aberdeen Christmas Classic yesterday when butcher Tom Hutchon of JB Penman's, Crail, Fife, bought this year’s supreme champion, which came from exhibitors Watson and Work of Mains of Dumbrek, Udny.

The supreme champion was the April 2006-born, Limousin cross heifer Baillie’s Orkney Cream. Bred by J S Baillie and Co, Sebay, Tankerness, Orkney, she tipped the scales at 536kg.

The overall reserve champion was exhibited by Bert and Patsy Paton of Spott, Glenprosen, Kirriemuir - winners of the supreme championship last year. The 672kg March 2006-born Limousin steer Jim Jam was knocked down to Archie Jess, of Matheson Jess, Paisley, for £2600.

A cold but sunny day in Brecon for McCartneys show and sale of show potential calves saw some quality entries forward. Altough short of 20 calves due to recent changes in bluetongue movement restrictions, which meant the zone stopped short of the roundabout down the road from the market, the standard of calves on offer today lived up to expectations.

Taking the championship and top call of £2350 was a sweet purebred Limousin heifer from Gwyn, Hazel and Chris Davies, Dryslwyn, Carmarthenshire. Fancied by many ringsiders (including myself) to take the championship, she sold to one half of the judges - Robin Roberts via a telephone bid.

MORE PICTURES

A baby with a bright future stole the show on Craven Champions Day, the annual show and sale of commercial store cattle with future show potential at Skipton Auction Mart.

The six-month-old home-bred Limousin-cross heifer from Dalesman Chris Akrigg, of Manor Farm, Cray, was first chosen as champion in the halter-led classes before going on to take the overall supreme championship in the hands of Mr Akrigg’s son Tom.

By the renowned Irish Limousin sire Rocky, out of a Limousin-cross dam, the victor went on to impress in the ring when sold for the show-topping price of £1680 to Steven Swales, of York.

Topping trade at Ruthin was this Limousin cross from Trefor Jones selling for £3000.

The overall champion was a Blue x Limousin from B and J Griffiths, Newtown, selling for £2400.

I've just been scanning the catalogue for the Leyburn Spring Spectacular sale of show potential cattle and it looks like the judges should have some good entries in front of them.

Taking on that challenge will be Louise Todd from Market Rasen, she'll be judging the steer classes and in the heifer section Elizabeth Vance will be in control.

As usual the Limousin breed is dominating proceedings with entries from John Smith-Jackson, Blue Taylor, Dent's, Keeble's, Hird's and Dinsdale's to name but a few. Suprisingly though there are fewer Limousin heifers than I thought there would be.

I'm sure trade will be good, if my memory serves me correctly they topped at £3500 last year and being the 15th March (day before bluetongue movement D-Day) - I'm sure buyers will be in strong spirits.

Judging is due to start at 9am followed by a young handlers class to be judged by reigning Smithfield Champion exhibitor Mark Hallam.

Farmers Weekly have booked a photographer so keep an eye for a picture gallery to appear after the sale.

For more information on the day's proceedings go to Leyburn's website or call 01969 623 167.

Hexham and Northern Marts had forward an entry of 1197 store cattle and suckled calves at their special March prize show and sale.

A fantastic show of cattle met a tremendous trade from start to finish and with a ring of buyers forward from as far a field as Laurencekirk in the North and Sussex in the South many would leave empty handed.

Prior to the sale the Judge and Angus and Limousin breeder Colin Hutchings, Kings Brompton Regis, Dulverston, Somerset awarded the Overall Champion to Messrs W & J A Longlands, Rusheylaw with their homebred Charolais steer which went on to make £940 and was bought by the Colin.

The reserve champion was awarded to Messrs R M & H J Lewis, Ryal Westside with an exceptional Black Limousin Steer which made £920 and was purchased by Cannon Hall Farm Ltd, Cawthorn, Barnsley

Just as we thought commercial show goers were spending wisely this spring, the championship steer at Penrith has sold for £6500.

Honky Tonky, a steer from Messrs Richardson, Ghyll House, Dufton, now joins Mr G Rice.

More than 70 animals attracted strong interest at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ annual Young Farmers Overwintered cattle competition at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre last week.

Sale leader for the second consecutive year was Ewan Dow, Elgin. The Lower Speyside YFC member’s 422kg yearling Limousin cross heifer sold to A J Forsyth, Newton Stewart for £2000.

The second highest call came for the homebred champion from Balfour Baillie, Orkney. His June 2007-born Charolais cross steer weighed 448kg and sold to James Forsyth, Newton Stewart for £1500.

The overall heifer champion from Darren Irvine of Keith YFC was next to go at £1050. His April 2007-born Charolais, bred by Neil Barclay, Crathes, sold to G Simpson, Huntly.

And having caught the eye of judge Scott Walston, Carnoustie was Darren’s brother and fellow Keith young farmer Martin Irvine’s March 2007 Charolais cross bred by G Cameron, Argyll. He tipped the scales at 414kg and sold at £1000 to S and M Brown, Little Brechin, Brechin.

Renowned for selling show potential calves past the £5000 mark, this year’s spring two day event at Carlisle didn’t disappoint with a little more than 2700 calves on offer and a top call of £5200.

And this year’s sale leader came from the 1349 heifers on offer. The Limousin cross heifer from Messrs J R Graham and Partners, Biggar caught the eye of many showmen and finally knocked down to Ewan MacPherson, Oban.

Taking the heifer championship under judge Alistair Vance, Whithorn, was a stylish Limousin cross heifer from Messrs Trafford, Keswick. By Waindale Potential and out of a three quarter bred British Blue cow, she later sold for £2800 to Mr Vance.

The reserve champion rosette went to Helen Claxton, Stocksfield for her British Blue cross. This roan heifer sold for £1900 to Alan Hall, Darlington.

Trade for strong young beef cross calves continues at a high with Leyburn Auction Mart seeing prices well in to the £300 bracket.

Topping day's trade were G P and R Simpson, whose British Blue cross bull calf sold for £325 and whose batch averaged £271. Blue cross heifers also topped at £315 for one from A S and J K Leggott, their batch averaged £266.

Next to top were Limousin's when a heifer from J Pearson and Sons sold for £295 and a bull calf from J Dinsdale sold for £280.

J A Dent and Sons' Simmental crosses topped at £242 for bull calves and £205 for heifers.

On the same day 110 sheep were forward with in-lamb Mules hitting £50 a head and Mule gimmer hoggs selling to £59 a piece.

Tuesday saw the best calf trade at Shrewsbury Auction Centre for four years, Auctioneers told.  

Fierce bidding coupled with high quality calves resulted in an overall market average of £161 a head, including Friesian bulls, said auctioneer Tom Jones.  

"Tuesday's overall trade is certainly the best since I started selling calves four years ago and more calves are needed to satisfy the demand, with buyers travelling to Shrewsbury from across Shropshire and surrounding counties.

"The improving beef market has resulted in a strong demand for Friesian bull calves, which are selling at up to £106."