Keen bids for Nibheath herd of Charolais
Keen bids for Nibheath herd of Charolais
SWITCHING to rare breed sheep may not prove as lucrative as breeding Charolais cattle – but it should prove less demanding in her retirement for Joyce Newby.
Last weekend she dispersed her well-known Nibheath herd of Charolais cattle, ending nearly 30 years involvement with the breed which included winning the Burke Trophy at the Royal Show.
The sale attracted many new faces to the ring at Lichfield, although well established breeders were out in force to snap up some of these well-proven lines.
Nibheath Okra, winner of more than 49 championships, including Royal and Royal Welsh Show titles, was the star of the herd and a granddaughter, Nibheath Exsp-etion, drew the top bid of 2700gns.
This huge fifth calver, carrying her sixth by Kersknowe Giles, is by Maerdy Barnum and was bought by Ian Thompson, of the Airdlin Farming Partnership, Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
Long-established pedigree beef breeder Will Oates, Co Durham, gave 1800gns for the Moyness Excalibur second calver Nibheath Janetta who was offered with a January bull calf by Tattenhall Lutteur.
Most of the cattle sold were in calf to Lutteur, who sold for 1750gns to Martin Conley, Newton Abbot, Devon.
Local breeder Len Lockley paid 1550gns for the Giles daughter Nibheath Jenna sold with a her heifer calf by Lutteur and an equal bid came from David White, Wheathampstead, Herts, for the 1994-bred Nibheath Julia, a young cow by Moyness Excalibur, suckling a Lutteur heifer calf.
Averages: 34 aged cows with calves or in-calf £732; 17 young cows with calf or in-calf £1050; 12 in-calf heifers £678; 19 maiden heifers £553 and six bulls £1239. (United Auctions with Wintertons) *