Taking Stock

There's no stopping the big money heading the way of Jack and Adam Lawson this season as their Bluefaced Leicester tup lambs continued their remarkable run with another top price of £2800 at the breed association's show and sale at Carlisle.

This father and son partnership from Wigton, Cumbria led the trade at the association's Hawes fixture three weeks ago at £11,500 where they averaged eight tup lambs at £2750 and topped the market at the breed's Penrith sale last week at £4200.

This latest run of success by Lawson's Hundith flock - established 60 years ago and currently numbering 40 pedigree ewes - can be traced back to the influence of a tup bought from the Kentmere Hall flock some years ago.

Now an aged tup, he cost £2400 at Lazonby and has bred "exceptionally well" at Hundith leaving some outstanding females. Two years ago the Lawsons were part of a three-way split to pay £8500 for a Midlock tup lamb at the Hawes sale and it's the combination of the breeding of these two sires that has delivered this year's great crop of lambs..

Continue reading "Hundith Flock Success Continues" »

European buyers helped lift the trade at the Highland Cattle breed's annual sale in Oban.

Breeders from France and Germany bought 19 - almost a fifth of the cattle sold.

The biggest international buyer was Yann Guisnel of Brittany, France. He bought 13 and spent just short of £10,000. His top purchase was at 1,800gn for an April 2005 heifer, Eiteag of Liath na Doire, from Ewan Mackay, Glasgow.

It was Mr Mackay who produced the sale topper at 4,000gn - the 19-month-old Bhoidheach Ruadh of Glengoyne, by Domhnull of Gartchonzie and out of Bhoideach Ruadh 2nd of Glengoyne.The heifer was bought by John and Dawn Mackie for their recently established herd at Strathaven.

Next at 3,800gns was the female champion, Isobel of Bien Esk, from Patricia Burns and Paul Smith, Stirling. This three-year-old, by Thorn of Bien Esk and out of Neonag of Browhaze, is in-calf to Conan of Corriemuckloch. Buying her was Galloway and Charolais pedigree breeder Hamish Porter, Bridgend, Islay.

Continue reading "French Buyer splashes the cash at Oban" »

We're back from Ireland (well we got back yesterday but with most things time is never on our sides to get things done early enough!), so I've uploaded a gallery of pictures from Beef Expo.

See if you can spot a certain breed society chief executive practicing his audition for Riverdance!

Leading the Simmental classes this afternoon was Banwy T-Rex from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan. By Sterling Nelson 2nd, he is out of the Scottish bred cow Skerrington Legacy.

He took the title ahead of the female champion Seepa Roxy, a Rosten Barney daughter out of Hillcrest Jezebel. She fought off stiff competition from one of the hotly tipped entries from Peter and Marion O'Connell - Raceview Nicolete Beauty who had to settle for reserve female champion.

Pictures to follow shortly.........

Leading the way in the Belgian Blue classes was the male champion Rosemount Ashmore from Trevor Ashmore. This Dafydd D'Ochain son born in October 2006 is out of Jocvel Des Oies and took the title ahead of the female champion Ross Vivenne from Jarlath Duggan.

The reserve male champion was Ross Beaver, a 16 month old Blak Baty Eprave son, while the reserve female champion was Ballyconry Awsom Queen from Mr Scanlon.  

Sean McKiernan's Grianan Firecracker has taken the Hereford championship under judge Robine Irvine. The Chutchill Storm son is out of Yarram Pompeii and took the male title ahead of the senior bull class winner Udel 1 R51 Veteran.

The overall reserve champion was the female leader from Matthew goulding. Dorepoll 1 R51 Duchess is by Doonbridge Hustler and out of a homebred cow. The reserve female champion was kye Sorcha 4, a Churchill Storm daughter from Padraig McGrath.

Taking the male and overall championship honours in the Charolais section here in Kilkenny today was Blakestown Aster, an imported son of Major out of Fatcha, owned by Patrick McCabe.

Standing reserve was the female champion, Ballydavis Champion, from Michael Hargroves.

Reserve male champion was Michael Keating's ET bred junior bull Prime Champion by Indurain and out of Prime Noelle.

Judging has come to a head in the Aberdeen-Angus rings as Albert De Cogan's 2006 born Deveron Jasper Eric F170. This Deveron Limited son is out of Newcairnie Jacqueline and goes back to Rushcroft Prince.

Taking the reserve overall spot was the second prize senior bull from Pat Cahill. Cashelane Bart is by Coldstream Genetic and out of Bohey Jasper.

The female champion in the Angus classes was a classy two year old heifer from Joe McGarry. Tonroe Carly is by Tonroe Udi and out of Drumcrow Princess.  

The female championship has just been decided in the Charolais rings as judge Basil Bothwell has just tapped out Ballydavis Champion, a Bova Sylvain daughter from Michael and Kathleen Hargroves. This April 2007 heifer is out of Ballydavis Tremendous.

Standing reserve female champion was a Doonally New daughter Cornadrung Dawn (which I have to say was my personal favourite in the Charolais rings). This nine month old heifer is out of Farmleigh Petal.

Jim Goldie has just tapped out his Limousin female championship aftter some pretty tough judging. I have to say the Limousins have put on the best show of cattle so far this morning with a cracking line up of first prize females.

Taking the top spot was John McInerney's September 2004 cow Drummin Veronica. Sired by Mas Du Clo, she is out of a homebred cow Drummin Peach.

Standing reserve to her was the second prize senior cow Milbrook Ulla from William Smith. she is by Poker out of Milbrook Petal.

Pictures to follow shortly.........

Well we thought we would try something different this weekend and take a look at some impressive cattle across the water.

Chrissie and I are at Beef Expo 2008 held at Kilkenny Market which I have to say is some livestock market. Today will see a number of beef breeds shown with cattle coming from both the South and North of Ireland.

Breeds on show today include Angus, Charolais, Limousin, Speckle Park, Hereford, Parthenaise, Piemontese, Shorthorn, Aubrac, Belgian Blue, Saler, Simmental and Blonde D'Aquitaine.

Most of the judges are Irish with a few exceptions to the rule such as one of Scotland's leading Charolais and Limousin breeders Jim Goldie who will be judging the Limousin classes.

Judging starts at 10.30 and will run for most of the day, so we will try and keep you up to date with who has won what. There is some terrific breeding on offer..........we'll keep you posted!   

The first new Dairy Shorthorn bloodlines from Australia in four decades are now available from the breed's UK society.

His dam is the impressive Andeline crowned reserve champion cow at IDW 07 and champion cow and Brisbane Royal in 2005 and interbreed champion cow at Brisbane in 2006. She gave 9256 litres of milk at 4.5% butterfat and 3.2% protein. His maternal sister was also champion at Brisbane in 2006.

Redrama brings new bloodlines into the UK and gives breeders the opportunity to take advantage of this very dairy type of Shorthorn which has many desirable Shorthorn attributes as well as good milk yields, says Shorthorn society secretary Frank Milnes.

"It is also an ideal cross for black and white breeders looking to improve robustness in their cattle without sacrificing dairyness."

The semen, from Agri-Gene, in Wangaratta, Victoria, is available through the Shorthorn Society at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

Skipton's high profile annual show and sale of gimmer lambs saw more than 6000 lambs passing through the ring.

Highlight was the show and sale of 695 Masham gimmer lambs on behalf of Masham Sheep Breeders Association, with the champion pen of ten exhibited by north Yorkshire father and son breeders, Roland and David Verity, Pateley Bridge.

They sold for both top price in class and of the entire day at £110 a head to co-judge Keith Liddle, Otley.

The title winners received the Kemp Spokes Trophy from Angela Spokes, the third generation of a family that had been buying Mule and Masham sheep at Skipton since late 1930. They are based at Long Buckby, Northampton.

For the second year running, the second prize pen of Mashams came from Colin Willoughby, Redmire, Leyburn. The third prize pen of J M Wilson and Sons, Harrogate, sold for £69 each to Margaret Watkinson, Thirsk.

The Swaledale gimmer lambs was won for a record-equalling fourth time in succession by local farmer Kevin Huck, of Bordley, his charges selling for £60 a head, top price in class. There were 930 Swaledales forward.  

A total of 4363 Mule lambs passed through the ring, selling to a good company of buyers. Trade was above expectations levelling at £46.95 a head.

Limousins ruled supreme again at Skipton Auction Marts annual pedigree event for beef breeding cattle.

Champion was an 18-month-old bull from the Kirkview herd of W E Salisbury and Son, based at Treales, near Preston. The victor Kirkview Cougar is by the family's stock bull, Croftlimousin Voldemort, purchased as an embryo calf for its breeding potential fro 2000gns at two-months-old. The dam is Springsett Ubet. Cougar sold for 1700gns to W D Hayhurst, Longridge, Preston.

Reserve champion was a May 2007 Limousin bull from west Yorkshire-based Brontemorr herd of renowned breeder Steven Priestley, Denholme. Brontemoor Cyrus is by Sultan, Imported from France by Mr Priestley, out of Brontemoor Sparrow.

Several other bulls sold for 1700gns, including a Limousin son of Haltcliffe Hercules from S W Littlewood, Huddersfield, selling to local buyer Ian Parkinson of Barden.

Carlisle Aberdeen Angus Show and Sale saw good competition between buyers, with bids forcing female prices up to 1800gns.  

Taking the top spot was Lynher Valley Elmariposa FO44, a May 2006 born heifer by Blelack Prince Consort A286 and out of Lynher Valley Elpapillon Z031. Elmariposa took the female champion title selling to J Walsh, Walmersley, Lancashire.

Just missing out on the top spot was Blelack Jayne Erica C773 forward by Alan R Lawson and Son.  The April 2003 born cow is bred by Messrs N F Massie and Sons and is by Blelack Blacksmith Y291 and out of Blelack Jayne Erica Y279.

Another two entries by Alan Lawson, Hallington Wanda E096 and her calf Hallington Wanda H190 both sold for 1100gns to G Robinson, Helton, Cumbria.  

Continue reading "Aberdeen Angus females top at 1800gns" »

Picture- taking the top bid - Starcross Lee Wendy VG86

Continue reading "Starcross Holstein Dispersal tops at 5200gns" »

It isn't often that the owner of a herd of Holstein cows has the chance to sell them in the market he owns but that was the case when Derek Mead and his family sold 200 head from their Lynchmead organic herd at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Somerset, where prices reached 4400gns.

Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt shared rostrum duties with Norton and Brooksbank on a day that saw west country buyers dominate the top end of the trade.

The freshest cows were the most sought after with the first 30 from this section averaging £2000 a head and including the top price of 4400gns. The call came for the homebred Lynchmead Jackson Sherry 2, a VG85 cow that calved her second in July after a heifer lactation of 8237kg. Along with several other lots she heads for the Coldridge herd in Devon.

The third calver Lynchmead Linjet Luta 4 - by Sunnylodge Lynjet and out of a Rotate Jed dam - made 3800gns and joins the Rose family's Stourvale herd in Dorset.

There were eight lots over 3000gns including one call for the choicest of the maiden heifers - Lynchmead P Toystory Daisy 2. This 13-month-old heifer was from a long line of VG and Ex dams and traces back to the Fleetridge herd. She made 4200gns to Henllan Farms.

In-calf heifer due from November onwards reached 1920gns given for Lynchmead Throne Charmaine 9. Several heifer calves sold to 1000gns.

Averages: cows and heifers £1766; in-calf heifers £1534; served heifers £1036; maiden heifers £2598; heifer calves £655. (Greenslade Taylor Hunt with Norton and Brooksbank).

Pictures to follow shortly..........

Blackface rams sold to £12,000 at Stirling where a significantly reduced and much improved entry met considerable demand.

Averages at the annual sale on Saturday, October 4, soared with shearlings up £147.60 to £459.29 and ram lambs ahead £116.47 at £382.46. The entry reflected the long standing demand from buyers that they wanted rams with size and length, a message that in recent years has all too often been ignored.

Buyer of the sale topper was James Duncan-Millar who runs 1800 Blackie ewes at Aberfeldy, Perthshire. He liked the power, body, bone, skin and conformation of the shearling, bred by brothers Willie and Ewan Bennie, Gartocharn, Stirling. By a £2000 Elmscleugh ram and out of a ewe by a £3800 Midlock sire, the ram had been the talk of the market. He gave the Bennies a day to remember as their previous highest price was £9000.

The Bennie brothers also sold at £3200 a shearling by the same breeding to the Taylor, at Killin, Perthshire.

Top priced ram lamb at £5500 was a son of a £5500 Auldhouseburn sired by a £47,000 Dalchirla sire and out of a ewe by a £49,000 Glenrath from father and son Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Muirkirk, Ayrshire. This one was snapped up by a trio of buyers of Andy Woodburn, Muirkirk; John Guild, Cumnock and Robert McInnes and Stuart Heads, Fenwick. The only other ram lamb from Auldhouseburn made £2200 to Bobby and Iain McLarty, St Fillans, Perthshire.

It was expected to be a fantastic sale, and it didn't disappoint! Prospective buyers from some 27 counties travelled to the Knightsway dispersal of pedigree Dexter cattle at Sway, New Forset, Hampshire on behalf of Judy Knight.  

Long-time stalwart of the breed and owner of the top show herd in the country, Mrs Knight had decided to retire and hang up her white coat and her exit from the breed was met with UK record prices being obliterated.

Top price of the day of 8800gns was paid for Knightsway Paddy, the senior stock bull and well-known champion bull (born 12.4.99).

He was purchased by Lisa Bell of Wheatholme Farm, South Clifton, Newark, Notts on behalf of the Messrs Munn adn Bell partnership.

Continue reading "New 8800gns record for Dexter breed " »