New Red Ruby Devon breed record set at 20,500gns

The breed record price for Red Ruby Devon cattle was smashed when 20,500gns was paid for the breed’s top show winning bull Yeomadon Ferdinand Ex93 at the dispersal of Tony and Julie Beneworth’s Yeomadon herd, from Holsworthy, Devon.

A bull with a remarkable record of top-ranking show wins over the last three years, Ferdinand Ex93 is a six-year-old son of Glebe Universe 3rd. His sale presented breeders with a rare opportunity to acquire a sire of such renown, but Bedfordshire-based breed devotees David and Sarah Tutt from Roxton were unstoppable in their determination to take him home to their Colesden herd.

“Having been beaten by him in various competitions I just had to buy him when the opportunity arose. He’ll help us with our breeding plans,” commented Mr Tutt. It was a day where plenty more new records were set.

His son Yeomadon Ferdinand 3rd – out of Barton Camelia 221st, who is by the prize winning Whitefield Devon Air – had impressed the crowd at the breed society’s recent Spring Yearling Show and met fierce bidding to sell at 10,200gns to new breeders Ellacott Bros, Beaworthy, Devon. This was a new record price for a yearling bull.

Meanwhile a Ferdinand Ex93 daughter topped the females, setting a new record female price of 4,800gns. Yeomadon Sally 4th was sold with her three-week-old bull calf at foot. She was the Devon Cattle Breeders Society’s Young Female of the Year 2010 and has a good show record. Buyers were David and Henry Andrews, Okehampton, Devon.

Yeomadon Fancie 2nd, a May 2008-bred daughter of Ferdinand Ex93, sold with her four-week-old bull calf at foot to the Andrews at 4,700gns. They also claimed Barton Camelia 221st – a May 2008-bred cow with a six–week-old Ferdinand Ex93 bull calf at 4,600gns. Top price served heifer was Yeomadon Cherry 2nd selling to the Andrews’ at 3,600gns.

Yearling females reached 2,550gns for Yeomadon Buttermaid 2nd, a June 2012-bred daughter of Ferdinand Ex93 taken by Tim Martin, St Teath, Cornwall. While Yeomadon Fancie 5th, by Yeomadon Hannibull, goes to R Richards, St Keverne, Cornwall at 2,500gns.

Averages: 19 cows and calves £2810; four in-calf cows £1522; two served heifers £3412; nine maiden heifers £1817 and nine bulls £5880.

(Andrew Lane Ltd)