Limousin bulls top 5,400gns at Skipton
The Oddacres herd secured the day’s leading price of 5,400gns (£5,670) at the annual spring show and sale of pedigree bulls and females at Skipton.
Sale topper from John and Claire Mason was their first prize intermediate bull, Oddacres Hoggarth, a September, 2012-born son of their 10,500gns Homebyres Dixon, acquired from John Logan in Kelso, out of the home-bred Vandale daughter Oddacres Clover.
The title winner found a new home in Pendle when joining regular Mac Townsend, Laneshawbridge, and will go to work on the family’s commercial cattle herd.
The Masons consigned a 15-strong hand, comprising nine bulls and six females, including some top-notch maiden heifers. Three of their April, 2013-born junior bulls were also popular at the ringside, including, at 2,550gns, their Econome son Oddacres Ideal, out of the Ronnick Hawk daughter Harveys Atique, knocked down to C Miller, of Hebden Bridge
Overall supreme champion was the first prize senior bull and male champion from County Durham’s Cliff and Jackie Moffett, who run their Carlo’s Pride pedigree herd at Backandsides Farm, Hummerbeck.
The supreme champion, Carlo’s Pride Henry, a June, 2102-born son of the AI bull, Wilodge Cerberus, achieved the day’s second top price of 3,700gns.
By one of the herd’s best cows, Carlo’s Pride Dancer, he fell to Andrew Foster, Markenfield Hall, Ripon.
The Priestley family – Steven, Ruth and son Richard – who run the former West Yorkshire-based Brontemoor pedigree herd in Cumbria at Kirkambeck, near Brampton, also received good support at the ringside for their quality six-strong pen of entries. Taking the lead was Brontemoor Hawk, a 2012 son of Elite Benn, out of the first-rate stock cow, Brontemoor Vanessa, which sold to R Wood of Asygarth for 3,500gns.
The Nottinghamshire-based Coach House herd of Barry and Gill Heald, who farm with their son Matthew at Home Farm, Grove, Retford, made 3,500gns with the second prize senior bull and reserve male champion, Coachhouse Horatio. Horatio is a 2012 son of Overthwaite Crackerjack, out of Coachhouse Chanel. He joined RO Gilson in Spennymoor, Co Durham.
At the same money was Gallaber Handsome, a two-year-old senior bull from Ian and Glen Sedgwick, whose herd is based at Burton-in-Lonsdale. Handsome is a son of Melbreak Chariot, out of the Ronick Parachute daughter, Gallaber Umist.
Chris and Caroline Prince, based at Greenhow, above Pateley Bridge, led the junior bulls on price when their red rosette-winning March, 2013-born Toftgate Ivan, by the AI sire Millbrook Dartangan, out of the home-bred Toftgate Fan, sold to Grantley’s Colin Nelson for 2,850gns.
Cow and calves
Cows and calves also met a good trade, with the Millerscotenook herd reduction on behalf of Rossendale’s J Miller causing significant interest.
Leading the way on price at 3,200gns was the 2009 Mas du Clo daughter Millerscotenook Endora, which sold with a smart February-born bull calf by Fieldson Alfy at foot. The buyer was Janet Sheard, who runs Low Common Farm Pedigree Limousins in Almondbury, Huddersfield.
The High Birks herd of Philip Summers Agriculture in Clayton, Bradford, made 1,100gnns when selling the first prize in-calf cow, the 2007-born Temeside Unicorn daughter, Temeside Confettim, who sold carrying a calf by High Birks Herbert. Buyer was S Greenwood, of Shibden, Halifax.
Terry and Elaine Priestley’s Prietec Hotchocolate, out of Prietec Cindy sold for 1,400gns to JP Barnes, of Sawley, Clitheroe, while the second and third prize winners each made 1,450gns on joining the same buyers, Stephen Pickard and his daughter Melissa, of Bolton-by-Bowland.
(CCM Skipton).