Shorthorns do well
Top A-A cattle see Perth bulls off to red-hot start
By Jeremy Hunt
ABERDEEN Angus cattle got this weeks Perth bull sales off to a blistering start with the top price of 20,000gns marking the best trade for the breed in over 30 years.
The 93 bulls averaged £3461, up £52 on the previous best average seen at the venue last spring.
Supermarket sales of Aberdeen Angus beef continue to rise and premium payments offered by breed marketing schemes stimulated demand from both pedigree and commercial buyers.
The top bid came for Duke Star of Auchterforfar from James and Alex Laird, Forfar, who are relative newcomers to the breed. The herd, set up three years ago, numbers just 20 cows but the partnership has made some shrewd purchases of foundation stock.
The sire of Duke Star, Wiwa Creek North Star, was bought for 14,000gns and his dam – Rawburn Duchess 7th – was bought for 15,000gns.
The 20,000gns sale-topper stood reserve overall champion and boasted an Estimated Beef Value of 40, the best of any Angus bull on offer.
After spirited bidding he was claimed by Lord and Lady Glendyne who run their Hurdcutt herd at Forfar. "I was determined not to go home without him; he has so much to offer," said Lady Glendyne.
Underbidder was Rae Grieve, Leven, who found solace by taking the junior champion – Netherton Pendulum – from Willie McLaren, Auchterarder, Perthshire, at 13,000gns. Pendulum is by Netherton Footloose and has EBV figures that put him in the breeds top 1%.
An identical bid made it a day to remember for this famous herd when the Royal Stockman son Netherton Friar Fergie was bought by Genus. And topping off the day for the McLarens was a 6500gns call from Dr James Irvine to secure a son of Canadian sire Drumcrow Joskon.
Amber Agriculture, which has manufacturing businesses as well as their farming interests, took two of the highest-priced bulls. They gave 7500gns for Pedro of Eastfield from the Brewis family at Kelso and partnered him with a 7000gns call for the senior champion, Florist of the Moss from John Moores. This bull is by Lord Hesketh of Blelack.
And it was a Blelack entry that topped the commercial end of the trade when A Shepheard gave 6200gns for a son of Royal Added Value from Neil Massies big string of bulls.
More Blelack breeding figured in the 6500gns bull Tui Eriexis from John Tilson, Berwickshire. This son of Lord Horatio of Blelack stays in the Borders with Mr and Mrs A Stewart, Fenwick.
Suffolk sheep breeder Sandy Lee, Fraserburg, sold his New Zealand bred Kris of Fordafourie at 5000gns to Mr and Mrs O Russell, Banff.
Three other bulls made 5000gns including Hurdcott Bandolier from Lord and Lady Glendyne (to David Walker, Nairn), Carhurlie Gold from Mr Grieve (to Terry Coghill, Orkney, who judged the entry) and M Leadbetters Heath House Plato (to T Rennie, Forfar).
Aberdeen Angus females peaked at 5400gns when Chris Marler from Bucks bought a daughter of Royal Added Value from the Massies. Mr Marler was acting for Sheik Makhtoum who continues to strengthen his herd in Norfolk.
Champion Angus female was a Mushroom Friar Fergus heifer from A Wyllie, Ayrshire. She made 4200gns to E Cublin, Fraserburgh. (United Auctions.) *
Holsteins 1050gns
THERE was plenty of production to tap into when Simon Chesshire dispersed his 74-strong Holstein cows at East Cholderton, Hants. The herd, with an average yield of 8204kg, included 26 lots with yields between 9000-12,000kg. Top call was 1050gns for a second calver carrying the Gladwake prefix and giving 58kg a day. Buyers were Messrs Smith, Marlborough. (Greenslade Taylor Hunt with Tubshaws.) *
Todbermanor crowd
A HUGE crowd turned out for a sale from the Todbermanor herd of Holstein Friesians at Sturminster Newton, Dorset.
Prices on the day reached a healthy 910gns.
Robert and Myrtle Candy offered their milking portion and in-calf heifers comprising 171 mainly unregistered stock. Over 50 buyers were in action with the highest bid made by Frome, Somerset milk producers Messrs Ham who claimed a third calver by Broker.
Calved heifers reached 780gns for one by a home-bred son of Bridon Astro Jet and giving almost 33kg a day.
Averages 113 cows in-milk (including barreners) £517, 39 heifers in-milk £564 and 19 cows in-calf £525. (Greenslade Taylor Hunt). *
Dabbler still has an eye for a champion
DERBYS farmer Harold Crapper may have ceased milk production but he has certainly not lost his eye for the type of cattle to tempt the discerning ringside at the North Western Holstein Friesian Breeders Club sales at Crewe.
Mr Crapper has twice won the championship in recent months and last week, although having to settle for a second place with a stylish calved heifer, finished up making the top price of 1220gns.
Still "dabbling" in cattle and enjoying the job of buying youngstock to offer as freshly-calved heifers, Mr Crappers success came with Broommill Park Hi Jessie. Bred by Broommill Farms, this A Juniper Park daughter is out of a 9300kg Hanoverhill Inspiration dam.
Heifer trade was slightly slower than recent sales at this venue with smaller sorts taking the hardest hit. But only 12 cattle were unsold on a day when dairy farmers considered cows a better option for filling the tank.
A December-calved heifer from Alistair G Clark, Hitchin, Herts, made 1000gns to J R and C E Jones, Shrewsbury. Kimpton Mountain Blackcap 2nd is by Bis-May S-E-L Mountain and out of a milky young Valiant Rockie dam that gave 13,650kg with her second.
Also at 1000gns was John * Clay and Partners (Shropshire) Crickett Park Star Cherry taken by T W Massey, Macclesfield.
Judge Brian Huxley of the Emral herd gave the top ticket to Lancs breeders Tom Jolly and Partners with a Weeton Prelude heifer from their Rosebud family. She made 750gns to Marbury Hall Farm, Whitchurch.
Bull champion was Hiddenvalley Mandel Deacon bred out of a 10,000kg Regancrest heifer by Leadman. The bull has an ETA of +966M, +21.1F and +25.1P. He was consigned by W R Davies, Presteigne, Powys and bought by David Sutton, Crewe.
Averages 51 cows £756; 107 heifers £712 and nine bulls £756. (Wright-Manley.) *
Shorthorns do well
BEEF Shorthorn bulls sold twice to 3500gns at Perth this week. The champion, an Uppermill-sired entry from Alan Wass, Peterborough, went to C Graham, Killearn and the Biggar family from Castle Douglas sold a son of Tofts Romany to S Scarth, a director of Orkney Meats. *