Needham bull takes Lincoln Red title

A bull from the long-established Market Stainton herd of Robert Needham took the supreme championship and made the day’s top price of 3200gns at the Lincoln Red Cattle Society’s show and sale at Louth Livestock Centre.

From Mr Needham’s family’s herd at Gayton-le-Wold, near Louth, this April 2004-bred son of Fenton Challenger is out of a Donington Victor cow and heads for Spilsby, Lincs, with father and son team Ivan and Martin Clough.

Doncaster-based breeder Bev Wright saw his young bull Bevan Gallant collect the junior championship.

He is by Beverley Zeal, a previous winner of the junior bull title at the Lincolnshire Show.

Buyers at 2150gns were Graham and Brian Parkinson of Donington On Bain, Louth.

The Needhams enjoyed more rich pickings when Market Stainton General, another son of Fenton Challenger, was taken by Anthony White at 2100gns.

Growing interest in high quality prime beef from traditional breeds is firing demand for Lincoln Reds and this sale saw 76 females catalogued – the highest for many years.

There were 55 through the ring and Horncastle vendor Michael Read’s show-winning heifer Hemmingby Mattie earned the section’s top price of 1500gns.

A first-prize winner in the Young Farmers’ Club class at last year’s Lincolnshire Show, she is by Anwick Chancellor, who has been one of the herd’s most successful sires in recent years.

Mattie goes to James Barclay of Stixwould Abbey, Lincoln.

Averages: seven bulls 1957gns and 54 females 639gns. (Masons)