Continental calf demand at Borderway
The annual spring show and sale of continental cross steers and heifers at Borderway Mart last week (18 March) met a roaring trade with 1,400 yearling and summer born calves forward and a sale high of £3,000.
Topping the sale was a pedigree home-bred red Limousin heifer shown by Colin Little of Mayfield, Carlisle. The heifer is by Guards Goshi and out of Guards Elf. Elf is also mother of the Betty Boop, who won the commercial championship at the 2014 Royal Highland. Successful buyer was Messrs Atkinson, Newland, Lancashire.
Top price at £3,000
Taking the overall championship title was a black Limousin cross heifer shown by Andrew Harrison, Grange Farm, Great Asby. This April born daughter of the homebred bull Noble Buster is out of a British Blue bred mother. She went on to sell for £2,500 to Messrs Dickinson, Askham, Penrith.
The reserve overall champion was a red Limousin heifer from Andy and Stephen Powley, Low Northsceugh, Armathwaite. This heifer was the class winner of the baby beef heifer entries and is a six month old daughter of Goldies Fireball and out of a Limousin cross dam. She sold for £1,450 to D Watret of Hightae, Lockerbie.
The duo also lifted the overall steer championship prize with their baby beef winner an eight month old red Limousin bred steer by Thirlwall Gojo who is out of a Limousin cross mother. It later sold for £1,800 to CN Bentley, Kepwick, Yorkshire.
The reserve champion steer was a red Limousin cross consigned by Neil Hardisty, Hall Hall, Ennerdale. This was a homebred entry sired by Huntershall Gladiator and is out of a British Blue cross Simmental cow. It was purchased by Messrs Kirby, Holsworthy, Devon for £2,600.
Other leading show winning prices included a red Limousin cross heifer from A Harrison of Grange Hall and sold for £2,700; a black Limousin baby beef heifer from B Hall, Ainstable Hall and sold for £2,600; a black British Blue cross heifer from B Hall, Ainstable Hall and sold for £2,400; a red Limousin heifer from C Little, Mayfield and sold for £2,100.