Taking Stock

Demand for quality native cattle from German breeders seems to be soaring. We've already seen Galloway and Highland cattle head across the water and now the Herefords are next to begin their travels.

One of the UK's leading Hereford herds, J R B Wilson and Sons from Cowbog, Kelso have re-established links with Europe with a 17-month old bull and two heifers travelling to near Bremen in Northern Germany to Hergen Eickhorst, a regular buyer from the Wilson's Romany Herd prior to the EU Export ban in 1990.

Accompanying Romany 1 Classic was Romany 1 Cavalier, a son of senior stock bull Crickley 1 Figurehead, sold to Rinderproduktion Weigand, who have Germany's largest Hereford Herd of 100 cows south of Berlin. This five figure shipment arrived safely in Germany last Saturday.

Anyone who's anyone in the Hereford breed will be heading to Hereford Market next Saturday for the breed's spring show and sale.

With 98 head on offer, including 27 bulls and 25 show females, there's sure to be plenty of quality stock on offer and with interest in the native breeds continuing to surge its likely there will be some good prices too.

All sale entries will be TB tested and the sale also includes some consignments of organic cattle and will feature a number of cows and calves.

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.

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.

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.

Strong demand for quality Hereford cattle meant the dispersal of the Mwyn herd of Messrs H P Astley and Son, Anglesey topped at 4000gns.

The 17-month old maiden heifer Mwyn 1 Rosebud 431 sired by Reydon 1 Intrepid was bought by J Little, Chelmsford for his daughter and son-in-law Luigi and Kate Munday.

Newcomers to the breed, H and D Owens, Anglesey, purchased three heifers all by Intrepid - 25 month-old Mwyn 1 Laurel 373 for 2100gns; 14-month old Mwyn 1 Janey 437 for 1000gns and five month old Mwyn 1 Rosebud 473 for 2250gns.

Also new to the breed Nanhoron Farms, Pwllheli bought eight cows and calves, two in-calf heifers and a maiden heifer for a top price of 1400gns.

Averages: 14 cows and calves £1420; 6 in-calf heifers £835; nine maiden heifers £1217; three bulls £400 (Brightwells).

Robin Irvine from Whitecross in County Armagh has been elected President of the Hereford Cattle Society for 2008. Robin has represented Northern Ireland breeders on the society’s council for five years and is well known as a breeder and judge of Hereford cattle throughout the British Isles.

His Ballymoyer herd, now in its twentyfifth year has enjoyed success in both sale ring and showring and a number of sires bearing his Graceland prefix are in use in pedigree herds throughout the UK.

“It is an honour to be elected president particularly at a time when the breed is enjoying such a tremendous surge in popularity,” says Robin. “We have seen another big increase in membership this year – in fact the last five years has seen a seventy percent increase in the number of active breeding herds.

It is also great to see the response to the new Breedplan recording scheme with 50% of registered calves now participating”

This revival of interest has followed from the growing recognition of Hereford beef as a premium quality brand which is delivering added value to producers. A growing number of retailers throughout Ireland and the UK are reporting a keen demand for the Hereford product with consumers prepared to pay for the succulence and quality which it delivers.

Hereford breed supporters, like so many others, were forced to cancel much of their 2007 calendar due to the havoc caused by foot-and-mouth and bluetongue. But in place of their annual trophy presentations, usually held at the breed society’s October sale, leading breeder Philip English led efforts to hold a special evening at the House of Commons.

Hosted by Leominster MP and Hereford breeder Bill Wiggin, about 50 breed enthusiasts gathered for a special dinner of English beef at the Palace of Westminster, after which Mr Wiggin distributed the silverware.

Taking home the Bull of the Year trophy was Philip English for Churchlands Estate 1 Batavia, a home-bred bull from his Churchlands Estate near Banbury, Oxfordshire. Batavia is by the Australian National Champion Wiranya Batavia and out of the 2004 Royal Grand Champion and overall British National Champion Panmure 1 Plum T9. He has enjoyed considerable show success including the Poll Bull of the Year title.

Breeder David Jones, who has shown Herefords for over 40 years, took the Hereford Female of the Year and Poll Female of the Year titles for his striking cow Phocle Dowager, who stood Supreme Champion at Three Counties Show and Grand Female Champion at Shropshire & West Midland Show.

Critchley 1 Figurehead from Kelso breeder J R B Wilson and Sons, was chosen as Hereford Sire of the Year. J R B Wilson and Sons also took the trophy for ‘Show Herd of the Year 2007’. This belongs to the breeder gaining most points at shows with cattle they have bred, over an entire show season.

John Douglas of Ervie herefords, Stranraer and Graham Stratford of Aultoun Herefords, Hampshire have joined forces to send a consignment of 16 Herefords to Giel Hermans in the Netherlands.

Ten of the in-calf heifers are homebred, four of which are by the Canadian import sire Bannerlane Hi Standard 45H.

Topping Hereford trade at Carlisle yesterday was Kelso-based JRB Wilson and Sons with their November 2006 born Romany 1 Diamond. By Crickley 1 Figurehead he is out of the homebred Lily line and has a terminal sire value of =28 and milk figure of +8, ranking him in the top 10% for the breed. He sold for 3000gns to J Brown, St Momans, Anstruthers.

As promised I've updated the picture gallery from the recent Hereford Show and Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

Feel free to add any captions!

Top bid of the day at the Hereford Cattle Society's spring show and sale was a call of 5000gns to secure the reserve male champion from Phil and Alison Allman.

The 22 month old Greenywards 1 Caesar, weighing in at 852kg, is a double cross of two Royal Show champions, Onondaga Pure Gold and Broatch 1 June. Buyer was Sarah soanes of Kiplingcote herefords, East Yorkshire.

This weeks Native breed sale attracted a strong offering of Hereford bulls to the Farmers Mart in Dungannon.

The show prior to the sale produced a tense tussle as always, with top honours going to current society president, Robin Irvine from Whitecross, Co. Armagh.

His 18 month old Graceland Dessie took the eye of judge Sean Mc Kiernan from Cavan. Dessie is the first offering from the current Graceland herd sire, Udel 1 WWW dot and he impressed onlookers with his style and carcass qualities.

The reserve champion came from the Lisrace herd of David Wilson from Magheraveely. Lisrace Lumberjack is a well muscled young bull with a successful show season behind him - notable achievements included winning the reserve junior championship at last years Balmoral Show.

Lumberjack sold for 1800gns and this proved to be the top price of the day. Other prices included 1500gns paid to Robin Irvine for the second prize winning bull Graceland 1 Carlo.

There were plenty of new investors backing the future of Hereford cattle at the dispersal of the Llancillo Hall herd at Pandy in south Herefordshire last week where the strong family lines behind this herd were bought both as foundation stock and to enhance new herds on a day that took bidding to 3600gns.

 And buyers weren't cherry picking. Nigel Hooper, relatively new to white-faced ranks, claimed eight lots for his Hooper Hereford herd at Suckley, Worcester paying up to 2200gns.

But it was the four-year-old cow Llancillo Hall Beatrice 3 - suckling her autumn-born heifer calf - that proved to be the most fancied lot. She topped the trade and heads for Oxfordshire with M Ludgate who runs the Rempstone herd at Thame.

He was a keen bidder determined to fill his wagon and bought another further four lots including the six-year-old cow Llancillo Hall Beatrice 11taken at 1600gns. She was carrying an ET-bred calf out of the sale topper.

The Hereford breed was probably one of the strongest classes of cattle today with strong numbers in all of the classes. Taking the top spot this morning under Northern Irish judge R Irvine, P and A Allman's bull Greenywards Archie, a Doonbiddie Husteler son out of a Dendor female.

Taking reserve spot was the homebred female champion Phocle Dowager from David Jones.

For the second year running the Limousin pair has taken the Burke trophy at the Royal Show. Taking the silverware back home to Northern Ireland and making it a double for them were bothers Raymond and Stephen Crawford with the interbreed champion Victorieous and her matching partner Vigot.

A strong punch in the air from both brothers showed just how delighted they were to win the double!

Taking the reserve spot were the Herefords, consisting of the champion exhibit bull and overall breed champion Greenyards 1 Archie from P and A Allman and the reserve overall and female champion Phocle Dowager from David Jones.