Taking Stock

Local exhibitors clinched both the cattle and sheep titles at last week's Leicestershire Show, with Charolais heifer Thrunton Agatha lifting the interbreed beef award for Gaynor McDowell and father Colin, under judge Richard Bartle.

Agatha was purchased from the Campbell family's Thrunton herd as a calf and is one of 12 Charolais owned by the family. Standing reserve overall beef was Aberdeen Angus heifer Hawstead Lodge Pamela from Bury St Edmunds-based Andrew Brown.

Among the sheep it was the turn of Mary Tulloch to collect the silverware with her Charollais shearling ewe which had earlier led its breed classes. By homebred sire Rutland Ensign, the ewe was on its first outing of the season for Mrs Tulloch.

Second spot here was clinched by the Jacob champion from Alan and June Smith, with their homebred ewe Ewecote Lottie.

Suffolk show as always proved its worth as a true farming show this week, with strong livestock entries in all sections and large farming crowds thronging the judging rings.

Continentals ruled the championship rings as a Charollais ram took top honours in the sheep rings and a Charolais cow rearing twins scooped the beef interbreed silverware.

The sheep leader cam from Jonathan and Carol Barber's Crogham flock of 120 ewes and was bought two years ago for 600gns in conjuction with Stuart Dudley of the Hyde flock.

Bred in Northern Ireland, the tup is by noted sire Southam Bob the Builder and out of a Mawhinney ewe, he previously stood interbreed at last year's Royal Norfolk Show and has been used extensively in both the Crogham and Hyde flocks.

Reserve spot in the sheep lines was taken by the Suffolk champion, a ram lamb from Gordon and Elizabeth Beddie's flock from Swaffham, Norfolk. This January-born lamb had stood first in a strong class under breed judge Helen Goldie before beating off stiff competition to clinch male and breed championship.

In the beef rings the leader was seven year old Charolais cow Moathall Roney from the Wicks family's 80-cow Moathall herd from Mellis, Eye, Suffolk. Roney who was shown with her twin calves at foot was described by judge John White, of Midlock, Biggar, as having an exceptional head and superb topline.

Standing second to Roney was the Limousin leader, Segala from Doug Mash's Brockhurst herd. Five year old Segala was imported from France last year and now heads on to Rutland, East of England, the Royal and the Royal Welsh.

And the Charolais also triumphed in the interbreed pairs competition, beating off stiff opposition from the Belgian Blue pairing to lift the title.


But the Blues did one better taking the group of three title - from the Barwood and Padfield team came Ridge Dean Sherry, Ridge Dean Wren (both with their two heifer calves) and the homebred bull Piggots Artful Dodger.

In the Native championship it was a win for the Aberdeen Angus heifer of Andrew Brown, Hawstead Lodge Pamela.

Meanwhile, the dairy championship was dominated by traditional breeds, with the Jersey leader standing champion ahead of the top British Friesian.

Bolderston and Partners' 2002-born cow Tetfor Hall Danni lead the way having calved in April and given 40kgs a day at the peak of her last lactation. Danni runs as part of the partnership's 80 cow mixed herd alongside Ayrshires and Holsteins.

Following closely behind was 2000-born British Friesian cow Oakalby Breadwinner S Ruth 34 from the Burroughs family's Beccles-based herd.

Taking the Dexter title for the fourth year running was Roseamry and Stuart Creasey with their February 2005 born heifer Langley End Alison, a heifer that had taken the title the year before.

Among the pigs it was another interbreed success for Guy Kiddy's Withersfield herd of Large Whites. Taking the honours for Mr Kiddy this time was his July 2006 born gilt Withersfield Blackberry 151, shown by Shuttleworth college student Stuart Warby.

Reserve pig champion was Carol Knights' Gloucester Old Sow boar Also Sambo from Mrs Knights 12 sow herd.

Among the commercial pigs it was another win for Peter Reeder with a homebred gilt. His winner was a Maximus x Large White x Landrace.

Last week's South of England show was a particularly good one for Taking Stock with both regular contributors invoved in bringing forward champions.

For my part I managed to clinch the interbreed sheep title for the second year in a row with a Southdown shearling ram, while Chrissie helped Thorndean Farms to the Limousin breed title with a two year old heifer, Thorndean At Last, sired by Sheelin Nato.

Elsewhere in the beef lines it was the turn of Mortimers Farms' stockman Charlie Maclean to lead out the winner, Charolais cow Mortimers Racey. By Gretnahouse Napoleon and out of homebred cow Mortimers Madonna, Racey was shown with a Mortimers Upstart sired calf at foot and just the week before had stood interbreed champion at the Royal Bath and West.

Unshown since 2002 when she lifted the breed championship at the Highland as a heifer, Racey beat the Angus champion, Andrew Brown's heifer Hawstead Lodge Pamela into reserve.

Pamela, who stood native champion at last week's Suffolk Show, is by Blelack Black Beret and was led out by Kevin Byford.

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.

Rupert Taylor Ltd have announced the death, last week in Ireland, of influential Charolais sire Doonally New, from heart failure.

Born in France in January 1997, a son of Hermes, he was selected by Cormac Monaghan, then bull buyer for the North Western Cattle Breeding Centre in Sligo. New stood successfully in Sligo until their merger with Progressive Genetics in 2002, when he moved to Enfield. During the five years that he stood at Enfield NCBC collected and sold close to 100,000 straws from New on the Irish market.

A new face among the Charollais ranks came up with the goods at the breed society’s show and sale at Worcester last weekend and earned the day’s highest price of 7600gns.

Peter Vaughan was making his debut at the breed’s premier fixture and it was his ram lamb Kingsland High Flyer that began his headlining ascent after being given a Gold Award in the pre-sale ram assessment. With no shortage of admirers, this son of Southam Exotic, was finally taken by Eire-based breeder Michael Power who runs the Ballyhibben flock in Co Limerick.

Mr Vaughan, who already has a 150-strong flock of Texels at his farm at Kingsland, Herefordshire, bought the ram in-vitro through the purchase of its dam from Lionel Organ’s Southam flock in Carmarthenshire last autumn.

Interbreed Sheep

D B Robert's Charollais ewe; res, K R Thomas's Suffolk shearling ewe.

Suffolk

K R Thomas's shearling ewe; res, T S Cox's ewe lamb.

Beltex

C Root's shearling ram; res C Root's shearling ewe.

Charollais

D B Robert's homebred ewe; res, R S and J A Gregory's ram lamb.

Any other rare and minority native breed

D Stanhope's Teeswater shearling ram; res, E Lamberts shearling ewe.

Jacob

G A and V Ridout and H VF Higginson's ewe; res, J N Simmon's ram lamb, Camster Lagon DA.

Ryeland

A G Anslow's shearling ram, Chase Jokin; res, C Shaw's shearling ewe.

Southdown

V E M and D Hulme's shearling ewe; res, K and A Stickel's shearling ewe, Stoneridge Molly.

The British Charollais Sheep Society's premier sale at Worcester last weekend - the first of the season's terminal sire ram sales - boosted the confidence of a sheep sector beleaguered by bluetongue zoning restrictions as bidding reached a top of 5000gns and saw over 20 rams sell at over four figures.

Sheep from Tim Prichard's Castellau flock at Llantrisant, Glamorgan has long been a force to be reckoned with in both the show and sale rings and it was some skilful breeding based on the flock's most successful bloodlines that paid off earning him the day's top call of 5000gns.

The early December-born ram lamb Castellau Ieuan is an ET-bred son of Flashy Lady who took the 2006 Royal Welsh Show's inter-breed championship. Ieuan was secured by new breeder John Davies from Stoke-on-Trent.

Another ram lamb from the same flush - Castellau Iestyn - made 3700gns to Gloucestershire breeder L M Buckland who runs the Stonebow flock.

No one could deny the depth of quality in the pen of Herefordshire breeder Peter Vaughan who presented an impressive string of ram lambs from his Kings Land flock. The six lambs averaged £2677.

His top price of 3700gns was paid for the overall champion - Kings Land Invincible - bought by Jonathan and Carroll Barber for their Crogham flock in Norfolk.

Just had the trusty Taking Stock photographer on the phone to tell me trade has gone through the roof at the Charollais sheep sale in Welshpool as the champion has just sold for 10,500gns.

Having selected it as his champion, John Geldard later backed his judgement and dug deep to secure the ram.

More on this sale to follow along with pictures.....

Bidding for Charollais ram lambs scaled new heights to reach a record price of 10,5000gns at the breed society's sale at Welshpool on Monday for a lamb bred in a flock of just six ewes that was only in its third season of selling.

But Arwel and Amanda Owen, who scooped the jackpot with the ram lamb Banwy Immense, are no newcomers to the livestock scene. Although they only recently established their Charollais flock, Arwel has also been well known for his wins with Charolais cattle produced from the family's farm near Welshpool.

Immense is by the good producer Foulrice Eurostar - who progeny were among the most sought after - and out of a ewe by Southam-A-One. He stood champion under judge John Geldard who mounted a determined spate of bidding, partnered by eldest son Richard, to secure the ram for the family's Wraycastle flock of 130 ewes at Levens, Cumbria.

Tup lambs from two leading Welsh flocks took the top honours in the pre-sale show at Lanark Charollais sale today.

Taking the overall championship was Bryan Evans' first entry from his Penrhos flock. This one, which will be the first lamb through the ring this afternoon is by Foulrice Eurostar, sire of the new breed record holder, and out of a homebred dam.

Reserve champion went to another Eurostar son, this time from Arwel and Amanda Owen's Banwy flock which set the new 10,500gns breed top price last week.

A full sale report and pictures will follow as the action happens this afternoon.....

Well after an early morning flight, a spell watching the pre-sale judging and decent lunch in the market cafe, we joined Charollais breeders ringside to catch the action at today's sale at Lanark.

Arwel and Amanda Owen picked up at Lanark where they left off last week at Welshpool, collecting the top call of 3000gns for a full ET brother to their breed record holder.

Buyer this time was last week's under bidders, Willie and Carol Ingram, Logie Durno, Aberdeenshire. By Foulrice Eurostar their tup lamb had stood reserve champion earlier in the day in the pre-sale show.

The increasing popularity of Charollais sheep was reinforced at their premier sale with averages up almost 50%.  There was plenty of interest from south of the border with breeders having to dig deep to secure their purchases.

Leading the way was the Carnew flock of Jonathan Aiken who took the championship in the pre-sale show and then went on to receive the top price of 2800gns for a Loaningfoot Highlander son.  Purchasing this stylish ram for their Doughery Flock were Robert and Stuart Cromie.

 The first prize December born ram lamb was also a son of Loaningfoot Highlander and sold for 1900gns to R Hall and Son, Carlisle. Demand was high for stock  from Highlander who was purchased at Lanark in 2007 from Ben Radley. Local breeder George Hammond buying for his Ballymaguire flock took one home at 1400gns, Gordon Nicholson bought at 1100gns and Kenny Malcomson took another at the same price.