Chelford Blues top at 5000gns

Last Saturday’s sale of young British Blue bulls and females at Chelford topped at 5000gns with a final phone bid securing the January 2007-born cow Glenavy Connie, with her February born heifer calf Astbury Flo at foot from Jim Barber, Congleton, Cheshire.

Connie is by Springhill Uhu and is out of the Osborne Van Terbeck daughter Knocagh Upstart. She sold to new breeders Michale and Sarah Potter, Faringdon, Oxon, who currently run a pedigree Limousin herd.

She was closely followed by two bids at 4500gns. First up was the March 2008 born heifer Astbury Duchess, by Cristal de Somme and out of the Sceptre De Bomal sired Astbury Willow, who was sold in calf to Dartagnan du Castillon, to Boomer Birch and Adam Neachell.

Second at this price was the November 2009-born heifer calf Astbury Emerald. By Bringlee Blackstar and out of the Gitan Du P’Tit Mayeur sired Annanwater Chantel, she sold to another partnership deal, this time Andy Ryder and Paul Walker.

The overall championship went to New Close Duncan, a December 2008-born bull from the Wilson family, Hollington, Staffordshire. Duncan, by Empire D’Ochain and out of Hazelwood Waterlilly, has a carcase yield index nearly three times the breed average on the Breedplan EBV figures and sold for 3850gns to F J Griffin from  Beaworthy, Devon.

Ernie Hemmings saw his June 2008-born bull, Paulern Dalston, a Cristal de Somme son out of the Lawns Dominic sired Springfield Violet, make 3050gns to D G James, Welshpool, Powys.

Topping female trade at 3800gns was Danny and Jane Wyllie’s October 2009-born heifer, Tamhorn Enchanted.  By the noted show bull Ballygrange Alex she is out of the Tamhorn Ringmaster sired Tamhorn Billy Jean and sold to W R Jones, Llanruaeadr, Owestry.

Selling at 3600gns was the female champion and reserve overall Snowy Ridge Duchess, an October 2008-born heifer from James and Gloria Annett, Co Down, Northern Ireland.  By the Baron Du Bois Bauloye son Springbank Blackstar, and out of Ridge Dean Wisdom, this heifer sold to G and V Bowring, Mansfield, Notts.

Second in the class behind her was Carrock Davina, an Empire D’Ochain daughter from Messrs Brough, Dalston, Cumbria, who also made 3600gns to Frank Page, Northamptonshire.

A number of recipients were forward with pedigree embryos, best of which made 2800gns, for a British Blue cross cow carrying an embryo by Bringlee Blackstar out of Boomer Armani, put forward by Messrs Brough and purchased by Andrew Bishop, Malvern, Worcestershire.

Of the 40 commercial crossbred and show potential cattle on offer, trade topped at £1400 twice. The first at this money was the reserve champion, a black British Blue cross steer from Andrew Bishop, Eldersfield.  He sold to Mr Kingston from Catcott, Nr Bridgewater.

Messrs Morgan, Newtown, Powys topped the female trade at the same money with a pedigree heifer which now heads to Llandinam, Powys with Messrs Woosnam and Mathias. Messrs Morgan took the heifer championship and sold their heifer to John, Debbie and Sam Madely, Herefordshire, for £1380.

The steer and overall championship honours were awarded to John and Denise Davies, Rugby, with a black and white steer which sold to the commercial judge Stephen Hough, Pontefract, for £1300.

Averages: Pedigree bulls £2483.48; pedigree heifers £2582.34; pedigree cows with calves £3157.50; recipients carrying pedigree embryos £2520 (Frank Marshall).