New buyers dominate sale of Wright dispersal of Herefords

 At Saturday’s Dispersal Sale of the Hereford Herd for Messrs A G Wright and Son, Haddenham, Cambridge, a seven year old cow, Hermitage Carol Singer C9, along with her seven month old heifer calf, Hermitage Carol Singer J2, sold to gross 8,000gns.

Singer is a past Royal Show Junior and Reserve Supreme Female Champion and the calf was purchased by retired farm manager, Mike Church, for his daughter, Mrs K Froud, Ely, Cambridgeshire, who later purchased a second heifer calf, Hermitage Prunella, for 1,450gns.

The dam was purchased by first time buyers and new breeders, Oakingham Stud, Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire, who bought a total of 67 head to gross almost £150,000.

The sale was the first on-farm Hereford dispersal sale for nearly five years and saw the stud purchase nearly half of the herd on offer.

 Amongst other cattle purchased by Oakingham were the six year old cow, Badlingham Bonny 93^rd, by the Irish bull Grianan Cantona, along with her six month old heifer calf, Bonny 110^th for 5,200 gns.

The three year old Hermitage Carol Singer F19, a maternal half-sister to the top prize cow, together with her seven month old heifer calf, Carol Singer J5, went for 4,500gns, along with another half-sister, Hermitage Carol Singer E20 for 3,800gns.

Five year old Badlingham Bonny 97^th and her five month old heifer calf, Bonny 111^th were secured for 4,000gns.

The two top price maiden heifers, 19 month old Badlingham Hazel 30^th and Bridesmaid 56^th, both by Badlingham Ballina were purchased for 2,700 gns each.

It was pleasing to see that with almost half the herd purchased by one individual, the continuation of the family bloodlines successfully developed over the last 60 years by the Wright family was guaranteed.

Other leading prices of cattle sold to newcomers to the Breed included the last cow and calf through the ring, three year old Badlingham Bonny 100^th and her eight month old bull calf, Badingham Bailey, grossing 5,750gns. They were urchased by Heathdown Partners, Croydon, Sussex who also purchased the five year old, Badlingham Bonny 95^th, along with her seven month old heifer calf, Bonny 108^th, for 4,850 gns.

Shadwell Estate Co, Thetford, Norfolk bought the six year old Badlingham Blossom 138^th, a descendent of the Royal Show Junior Female and Reserve Supreme Champion, Badlingham Blossom 77^th, for 4,400 gns.

Another from the same family, Badlingham Blossom 157^th, along with her eight month old heifer calf, Blossom 167^th, sold to gross 6,000 gns.

Over from the Republic of Ireland was Mr. P. Stephens of Co. Wicklow who purchased the four year old cow, Badlingham Blossom 152^nd, for 3,450 gns. and Mr. V. Ledwith from Co. Meath purchased one of the young bulls, Badlingham Baeddan, for 2,400 gns.

One of the final lots of the day was the three year old herd sire, Cato 1 Felix, purchased for 3,250 gns. by his original breeder, Mr. J. Moorhouse, Cato Herefords, of Taunton, Somerset.

Averages: 59 Cows and Calves, £3,350;  17 In-calf Heifers, £2,755; 29 Bulling Heifers, £2,015; 7 Bulls, £2,183; 112  Lots, £2,840 (Brightwells)