Taking Stock

As promised - a lovely video from Perth:

Following on from a successful Craven Champions day, Skipton auction mart are doing similar business in the dairy sector.

Dairy farmer Jeremy Taylor made it a record-breaking five-strong haul of Craven Dairy Auction championship victories at last Monday's show and sale when a total of 77 pedigree and commercial cattle represented the highest-ever entry since the reintroduction of the fixture at the beginning of 2005.

A home-bred pedigree Holstein Friesian heifer from Jeremy's Smellows herd at Small House, Broughton, near Skipton, won him his latest title and received the Craven Dairy Trophy from animal feeds supplier BOCM-Pauls.

Following on from the dizzy heights of trading at Perth and Carlisle recently, demand for Limousin bulls and females continued with a sound trade at Dungannon.

The sale was topped by Francis McAuley's senior champion, Carmorn Axle (see below), a Kype Spartacus son out of a Pelletstown Ken cow, which sold for 5000gns to J Redmond, Loughgall.

Anyone with any interest in cattle and sheep breeding would be well advised to head to Paris this weekend for France's two leading shows, SIA and SIMA.

SIMA is undoubtedly the larger of the two, but this is largely a machinery show, with some livestock tacked on. However, it does have one of the finest show's of Holsteins you're ever likely to see. SIA, meanwhile is the main livestock event and has been a happy hunting ground for UK breeders in the past, particularly those exporting into Europe.

With pedigree bulls selling to a top price of 6000gns, trade was brisk at Aberdeen & Northern Marts' multibreed show and sale today at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

Following his spring show record price in 2006, John Wilson of Kinclune, Glenkindie, again led the way in the sale ring with his first prize-winning Charolais Kinclune Ace selling for the top price of 6000gns to W and N Milne, Milton of Edinglassie, Strathdon.

A full brother of last year's record breaking animal, this year's sale leader was a home-bred June 2005-born son of the 14000gns Caylers Solomon.

Local one-day shows are the backbone of the UK show circuit and nowhere is this more true than Scotland.

But new proposals from SEERAD on pre- and post-show biosecurity have raised concerns many shows held on farm fields may have to close their doors. The proposals include a 27-day standstill both before and after the event, something show organisers suggest is unworkable.

But just how unworkable would another notifiable disease outbreak be. We all remember the devestation foot-and-mouth caused in 2001 and unless proper biosecurity precautions are taken shows could be the catalyst for just another such outbreak.

So, while it may seem like bureaucracy gone mad, everyone must take responsibility for ensuring livestock health, not disease is top of the agenda.

Well that's the first part of the Paris mission completed, SIA the main livestock show is safely under my belt and a huge success it was too.

The English presence there was fantastic under the EBLEX banner, promoting not just English beef and lamb, but also English breeding stock. Disappointingly, there was no Scots or Welsh presence, a huge opportunity missed I feel, but all the better for us English that they weren't there to compete!

The main purpose of SIA is undoubtedly to promote farming to the French public and it puts every UK show to shame, explaining production from farm to fork.

A quick tour of SIMA reveals the presence of more UK stock in the form of impressive Limousin bull Sauvignon from the Crawford brothers. Admittedly bringing a Limousin bull to Paris is a little bit like taking coal to Newcastle, but its good to see UK cattle back in Europe again.

Sauvignon takes on the might of the French Limousins tomorrow and it'll be interesting to see how he measures up.

As predicted the Holstein lines here are full to bursting with a highly impressive line up of cows to be judged later in the week.

A packed ring side at Friday's evening show of Belgian Blues was a taster for the huge crowds that gathered for the Saturday morning sale at Chelford. The sale quickly assumed a multi-national dimension, selling cattle to Southern and Northern Ireland, Spain, Italy, Holland, as well as parts of Scotland, England and Wales, proving one of the best the society has seen in recent years.

The day's top call of 8600gns was paid for the May 2005 born, Arcanna Alfie, a well muscled black and white bull by the renowned AI sire Twyning Ash Troy, out of a homebred cow, Arcanna Vida. One of the first bulls to be offered for sale by Messrs Deverall, he sold to Orkney-based David Eunson.

Charolais bulls met a flying trade selling to 7000gns in Dungannon on Saturday at the Northern Ireland Charolais club's official early spring show and sale. Strong demand for Charolais females was reflected in the bidding to a top of 4200gns twice.

Sale topper was the event's senior male and reserve overall champion, Solitude Aled (CH34) from John McMordie, Ballygowan who 10 days earlier had turned out the supreme Perth champion, Solitude Attaboy that sold for a 32,000gns NI record.

A Doonally New son, and out of one of best breeding females from his eight cow herd, Aled qualified for the NI Elite Beef Quality Initiative and he sold to Noel McIlwaine, Plumbridge.

The interest in Savignon, the Crawford brothers' Limousin bull is gradually building, with many French breeders stopping by for a look at the impressive beast.

With judging now underway it won't be too long before he comes under the judges gaze. The Crawfords' expect to the be in the ring at about 12 noon, so I'll report back later with the results.

The interest in Savignon, the Crawford brothers' Limousin bull is gradually building, with many French breeders stopping by for a look at the impressive beast.

With judging now underway it won't be too long before he comes under the judges gaze. The Crawfords' expect to the be in the ring at about 12 noon, so I'll report back later with the results.

History was made 20 minutes ago, when Sauvignon, the Limousin bull from the Crawford Brothers walked into the showring at Paris' SIMA show.

But that was nothing compared to the historic moment which occurred some 10 minutes later when Sauvignon clinched first place in a tremendously strong class of 15 senior bulls.

Sauvignon continues to dominate the Limousin cattle classes here at SIMA, having clinched the senior and overall male championships.

Owner Raymond Crawford told Taking Stock the win was a monumental achievement and was more than he could have ever hoped for when he left for Paris.

Now all they need to do is convince DEFRA to let Sauvignon back into the UK and they'll have the job sussed - however, the chances of that happening are about as slim as landing a bull on the moon. But then again according to the nursery rhyme a cow did jump over the moon, so maybe DEFRA will come up trumps after all!!

Sauvignon continues to dominate the Limousin cattle classes here at SIMA, having clinched the senior and overall male championships.

Owner Raymond Crawford told Taking Stock the win was a monumental achievement and was more than he could have ever hoped for when he left for Paris.

Now all they need to do is convince DEFRA to let Sauvignon back into the UK and they'll have the job sussed - however, the chances of that happening are about as slim as landing a bull on the moon. But then again according to the nursery rhyme a cow did jump over the moon, so maybe DEFRA will come up trumps after all!!

A Turriff farmer scooped the overall championship at the recent beef carcass show held at Scotch Premier Meat Ltd's Inverurie premises as part of the 2007 Royal Northern Spring Show.

Champion steer and overall champion was a home-bred Limousin cross from Simon Roebuck, Lendrum, Turriff and it was purchased by Aberdeen butcher Jim Black who judged the entries on the hook.

Based in Aberdeen and with 30 years of experience in the trade, Jim supplies a number of the city's top hotels and restaurants as well as fishing vessels and the oil industry, sourcing all his beef, lamb and pork from Scotch Premier Meat Ltd.

I had heard a rumour but now it's official....

As of today the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society have announced the annual National Primestock Show and Sale will change its name to the English Winter Fair Show and Sale, bringing it in line with the other main winter events - the Welsh Winter Fair and the Scottish Winter Fair.

Included in that change is a new ruling that means we might not be seeing too many more instances where a champion remians unsold to the meat trade (either taken home for breeding, or left for the handler to take their chance at the next big show).

Now the champion will automatically be entered into the show's auction of prize winners and will be sold to the highest bidder; that person will have to pay the winning bid as well as all commission charges.

Furthermore, if an exhibitor has intentionally instructed the auctioneer to set an unattainable reserve or withdraws the beast from sale, they will face suspension from showing at this event for two years.

Other changes include a move to holding most of the championships to the Sunday morning of the show, which will be held on the weekend of 17-18 November.

I see the Beef Expo committee have got the job right in asking Hugh Dunlop to judge the suckled calf classes at this year's Beef Expo 2007, which is to be held at Skipton Auction Mart on Thursday May 17.

To anyone that has followed commercial cattle judging, you will be aware how successful Hugh and his wife Lynne have been on the show circuit having won Smithfield in 1996 with Am Your Man, 2002 with Lip Gloss and 2004 with Dancing Queen which sold for the record price of £16,000.

They've also won both champion and reserve awards at the Scottish Winter Fair and in the commercial classes at the Royal Highland Show and Ayr.

Back home the couple run 140 beef suckler cows, 45 pedigree Texel ewes and 100 Texel cross ewes at Holehouse.

As for what Hugh is likely to go for on the day, I wouldn't say he will be particularly fussed for breed choice, providing the animal is sweet, clean, have a good top and present itself well in the ring, particularly if his recent exhibits are anything to go by.

Now I've heard about Fantasy Football, but fantasy cattle selection, not I'm interested!!

Just come across this rather cool site which lets you start your own fantasy herd up, although I'm a bit worried, a rather large warning sign comes up if you select Belgain Blue's - I'm guessing America isn't used to the likes of Wilodge Ulex or Threeways Superstar before then!!

Anyway, it's got to be worth a play - you start with a bull and four foundation cows, so let's see where it gets me!

Like many of you I've been anxiously watching the post in recent weeks waiting on this year's show schedules dropping on the doormat.

And, unusually, the one which has been missing is the Royal Show's. The RASE, normally a byword for efficiency - well pre-show anyway - have been unusually lacklustre in forwarding this year's schedules and entry forms to exhibitors, but I am assured by the those in the know that they should be arriving as I write.

More importantly, closing dates for entries have been put back to May this year to ensure everyone has plenty of time.

So, speculation of the Royal's demise is premature it seems, well for this year anyway. The only question now is can I afford the entry fees and just what am I going to take, with two breeds, Southdowns and Suffolks, its always tricky deciding which has a better chance. See you all at Stoneleigh in July, hopefully!

Now this did make me laugh! Showing and selling cattle in the States has always made me giggle, but this has to top it!

Check this report out where a 9-year old girl (with her pink showstick) caught the eye of buyers round the sale ring, where she sold her Charolais steer for $34,000 - I'm not saying a word!

A vibrant buzz round the sale rings at Dungannon Farmers Mart resulted in an almost full clear out of Belgian Blue bulls and averages creeping £600 up on last year's sale for the Northern Ireland Belgian Blue Club's first export sale.

Auctioneer Trevor Wyllie commented after the sale on the lively trade with a strong demand for quality stock, with nearly half of the bulls forward being sold for export to Southern Ireland.

The store cattle trade continues unabated, with Aberdeen and Northern Marts' first spring show and sale meeting a lively trade for all classes.

Leading the way was W Forbes, Dalrachie Farm, Ballindalloch with a 428kg Limousin cross steer which stood champion in the show classes and sold for £1000 to Messrs Cameron, Grange, Keith.

Reserve spot was clinched by J Stuart, Belnoe, Chapeltown with a 540kg Limousin cross bullock. This one realised £800 to show judge David Henderson.

Top spot among the heifers was Blair Duffton of Bogie Street, Huntly. This one tipped the scales at 580kg and sold to Woodhead Brothers, Turriff.

The final silverware of the day for the best beast from the Islands went to A G Flaws, Ringesta, Quendale, Shetland with their 345kg Blonde which fetched £570, selling to Thirsk Auction Mart.

Northern Limousin breeders are going to showing their finest pure anc crossbred youngsters at Skipton Market on May 9, giving everyone a chance to assess their chances ahead of the main show season.

With £2300 in prize money up for grabs the event looks sure to draw in some top quality entries of young cattle. Classes are for pedigree Limousin heifers and bulls born in 2006 and crossbred Limousin sired steers and heifers.

Judge for the show will be William Smith of Millbrook Limousins, Ireland, one of the best known Limousin breeders in Eire.

On the same day up to 1500 pedigree and crossbred Limmys will be penned for the annual Craven Limousin Day which will feature the annual show and sale of pedigree Limousin breeding cattle.

A good show of Simmental cattle at the society sale at Ludlow at the weekend, in conjunction with McCartneys Auctioneers, encouraged buyers to clear all of the 15 lots forward.

Top price of the day and reserve champion from the pre-sale show, judged by Rob Fitton, was Wroxall Seaman, which made 3500gns to Michael Mercer, Bowley Court Farms, Hope-Under-Dinmore, Leominster.

Sired by by the imported Vingegard Texas out of Wroxall Nice Moira, Seaman is bred and exhibited by the society president, Dan Evans, Abbey Farm, Wroxall, Warwick.

A trip to yesterday's National Holstein Show, was I have to admit one of the few things in life I felt I could really do without.

As a sheep farmer with a leaning to beef too, spending the day surrounded by hoards of black and whites never has been my idea of a fun day out. However, the dairy industry really must be congratulated on putting on tremendous show.

Assembling more than 350 cattle of one breed in one place is quite a task and one which the show organisers appeared to take in their stride.

Everything ran to time and never was a cow or handler out of place. A lesson many summer shows would do well to learn.

The good weather last week must have drawn the crowds out to pack the ringside at Holsworthy market, as Kivells auctioneers have just reported one of their best trading days since 2000.

Wednesday saw over 2500 livestock entries with just over 1000 head of cattle. Trade was excellent, with some 220 dairy cattle forward, with 45 of those fetching in excess of £1000.

Kivells head of dairy department Mark Bromell reckons this level of interest and transactions made reflects a buoyancy in the current market, a trend I'm sure the market is keen to see continue.

The champion dairy exhibit selling at Kivells......

Well that's Cheshire Show having a right old knees up this year.....well the Limmie breeders will be at any rate!!

Having reached the grand old age of 25, the North West Midlands and North Wales Limousin Breeders Club plan to stage their 25th anniversary celebrations with an exclusive show for members at this year's Cheshire Show.

The club hopes that as many past and present members as possible will go along and take part in the competitions at the show.

Graham Simms, a founding member of the club and current president, says is important to remember how far the club has come. "Unfortunately, some of our original members are no longer with us but they deserve to be remembered for the enormous contribution they made."

Now I know I get accussed of being pro Limousin most of the time (don't worry Angus and Blue's I won't leave you just yet!), but I really have to pat the Lim guys on the back this time.

I've just had the email through for the Carlisle Bull Sales and you don't know how pleasing it is to see a full list of every vendor's health status.

Following the Herd Health Iniative introduced by the society in 2005, a second major health step sees the introduction of Herd Health declerations and information at collective Limousin pedigree sales, the first one being the May 2007 Carlisle sale.

Personally I think this is a great step forward for the industry in terms of monitoring and (with a little help from your vet) eradicating diseases such as IBR, BVD and Lepto.

Having looked through the list of vendor's health status, there aren't many not declaring their status, but there are one or two. However, congrats must go to the following herds that are demonstrating a huge committment to herd health planning, in terms of monitoring, accrediation, vaccination and being part of the CHeCS control scheme.........

Newhouse, Miscombe, Middledale, Tomschoice, Hudscales, Emslies, Fieldson, Ballinloan, Goldies, Gunnerfleet, Ringway, Glenrock, Homebyres, Norman, Cockleshell, Rombalds and Loosebeare.

Who says Charolais only really sell in Perth.....not Welshpool goers that's for sure. Ok not quite the 30,000gns we have all grown to expect at Perth, but 5800gns is a pretty impressive price for Welshpool.

Solid commercial demand for bulls underpinned by the premium marketplace for Charolais cross calves set a buoyant trade at the breed society's official spring show and sale.

Bidding peaked at 5800gns, a 3800gns price both started and closed the sale, 31 lots sold to achieve a new centre record average of £2,868 and an 85% clearance was achieved.

Sale leader was the day's champion, Maerdy Amorist (CH23), a 17 month old from Flintshire based vet, Esmor Evans, Mold.

Wednesday's Skipton store cattle show and sale saw a home-bred 11-month-old Belgian Blue bullock from John Mellin, of Mill House Farm, Long Preston take the championship.

By John's own stock bull, out of a home-bred cow, the victor sold for £920 to Stephen Swales, of York. The reserve champion, a Belgian Blue heifer from Peter Fawcett, Long Preston, made £650 when bought by Jeff Burrow, Kirkby Malham.

Show judge was Robert Garth, of Keasden, and the fixture was held alongside the third annual show and sale of pedigree Belgian Blue breeding cattle, the opening fixture in Skipton's 2007 "Pedigree Beef Season," which runs until June.

News reaches Taking Stock that exhibitors at this year's Royal Highland Show may be faced with a tight squeeze for stock accomodation.

According to the RHASS's show director David Dunsmuir entries have been overwhelming and there could be a need to limit entries in some sections.

In the cattle section the Highland Hall is able to accomodate 960 head, while the sheep penning can hold 1400, but entries are running at about 15% above these levels.

Despite this Mr Dunsmuir has assured exhibitors that all those who have entered stock will be able to show.

For results and pictures from this summers shows check back with Taking Stock over the coming months.

Two of the Holstein breed's latest high-profile buyers battled it out for the most sought after entry at the Springtime Showcase sale at Bristol but it was determined phone bidding from Cornwall-based Wills Brothers that finally secured Morsan Allen Breeze Doris at 27,000gns.

This partnership, which has made a huge investment in black-and-white genetics for its Willsbro herd, beat stiff competition from Middle-East owned Sahara Holsteins following a bidding duel that saw several breeders in contention up to the 20,000gns mark.

Consigned by Tony Reed form Alcester, Warwickshire, this massive November 2005-bred daughter of Ocean-View Durham Doris has the great Snow-N Denises Dellia as fourth dam.

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.

Now that I have finally thawed and dried out from a rather miserable wet day at Newark and Notts Show I can bring you some results and pics from the show.

I was particualry pleased to see a stronger than usual entry of beef cattle, both pedigree and commercial, at the show, it's just a shame the dairy cattle can't follow suit.

David and Mary Cormack (with a little help from Charlie Collison and Paul Walker), took the overall beef title with their Limousin bull Grenhill Viper, under interbreed judge and Limousin and Angus breeder Colin Hutchings, Somerset.

Today saw the second day of the Balmoral Show, and while the weather wasn't as sunny as it could have been, the Belgian Blue classes were well attended.

Farmer Focus writer Victor Chestnutt's daughter, Zara Chestnutt of Bushmills with Clougher Wilma, her Supreme Champion Belgian Blue.

Basil Dougherty, Kircubbin with Greenfield Amazon his Belgian Blue Male Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion.

Belgian Blue Judge, Michelle Wilde from Bedfordshire looks over one of Sam Miliken's cattle during judging.

Beef Expo may be the technical event of the beef industry, but once again it was the show of suckled calves which drew the crowds.

Judge for the day was Hugh Dunlop and it was no surprise his task took him a little longer than expected, with a wealth of quality calves before him.

Having caught the eye of noted Smithfield champion exhibitor Mr Dunlop the minute she walked in the ring, the Belgian Blue x Limousin heifer Black Beauty from Tecwyn Jones sparkled in the lightweight heifer class, to go on and take the Continental heifer championship and overall title.

Described as being in just the right condition for this time of the show season, Mr Dunlop told Taking Stock he had no hesitation in selecting the animal as his champion. "I came here not knowing whether I would place a suckled calf or a well fleshed animal, but she had my attention right from the start, oozing great style, ring presence and fantastic locomotion."

The 402kg, nine month old heifer from Carmarthenshire-based Mr Jones, who also runs 45 pedigree Welsh Black's under the Seisiog prefix, was bought privately for an undisclosed figure from noted show cattle producer Trefor Jones. Black Beauty next heads for the Royal Welsh and will ultimately end up at the Welsh Winter Fair.