Belgian Blues hit new highs
Belgian Blues hit new highs
BELGIAN Blue bulls met an upbeat trade at the breed societys Chelford show and sale, where Lancashire breeder Alan Barnes enjoyed a hat trick of success including the top male and female prices.
The keen competition for bulls was strengthened by many new buyers who lifted prices to a peak of 3100gns given for Mr Barnes (Blackburn) Cowden Number One.
This blue-and-white son of Burton Korky is out of the 1993 Royal Show champion Canvin Iden and was bought by Mr and Mrs Mason, Lancaster.
Judge Mr John Giffin, Tetworth, West Sussex, made Mr Barnes white bull Cowden Nightcap – a full brother to Number One – his supreme champion. The bull realised 2500gns to M Blackwood, Muirkirk, Ayrshire.
More accolades for the herd came with the maiden heifer Cowden Nouveau, another of Idens progeny. This white heifer by Kramiek et Ten Durme stood female champion and led the bidding at 2000gns. Buyer was Lewis Roberts, Cardiff.
Great stretch
Other leading bids included 2400gns for Lancashire breeders A S Woods and Kate Fishers white bull Bannister Naturally, a bull of great stretch by Kisinger claimed by P A Mason, Driffield, and 2200gns paid by J Dodson, Huddersfield for Michele Gardners (Leighton Buzzard) black-and-white bull Ridge Dean Nevada.
Robin Ivory, Hitchin, Herts offered his in-calf heifer Nether Magnolia carrying a June calf by top show sire Hazelwood Freshman. She sold for 1950gns to Mr Goulding, Keighley, West Yorks.
Recipients met a tremendous trade with nine averaging 962gns. Top call of 2100gns came for Don Wiliams, Shifnal, Shropshire, who offered a Simmental cross cow suckling an June 1997-bred bull calf by Savant de Pierrecome, the sire of the 10,500gns breed record-holder bred by Mr Williams. Buyer was J R Blandford, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
AVERAGES: 36 bulls £1592.50 and (Frank R Marshall and Co). *