Ready demand for Lincoln Red bulls secures 12,000gns top

Newark Market was the venue for the first Lincoln Red Cattle Society sale of the year on Saturday, with a ready demand for the best of the cattle on offer and strong breeding bulls selling well.

Leading the day’s prices was the top call of 12,000gns for the reserve champion, Springwood Poacher from Leicestershire-based Julie Evans. By Hemingby Dragon, this one is out of the Stock Haven Jasper daughter Riseholm Hazel K427 and was shown in the summer picking up numerous awards including a junior and reserve male championship at the Great Yorkshire Show. He sold to Ruttle Plant Holding, Chorley, Lancashire.

Next best and making the worthwhile journey down from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, was Auchmacoy Oakley from S Buchan. Homebred on both sides, this one is by Auchmacoy Lancaster and out of Auchmacoy Judith L013, a Market Stainton Harvester daughter. He was knocked down at 8,000gns, finding a new home with Michael Read’s Hemingby herd, Horncastle.

The pre-sale show champion then went under the hammer at 6,000gns for the Clough family, Spilsbury, Lincs. Having stood reserve male champion at Royal Norfolk last summer, Beverley Pioneer is by Beverley Landmark and is out of the Beverley Zeal daughter Beverley Miss C21. Taking this one home was the Needham family, Gayton-Le-Wold, Louth.

And following him at 5,000gns was Walmer Nimbus from the Needler family, Ranby, Lincoln. By the successful show bull Walmer Kudos, this one is out of the Donington Victor daughter Ranby Heroine A4 and was bought by G White and Son, Beesby, Alford.

A trio then sold at 3,500gns, with the first of these being another from the Buchan’s Auchmacoy herd. This was Auchmacoy Oliver, a son of Auchmacoy Lancaster out of a dam by Market Stainton George. He sold to R and I Mee, Hathern, Loughborough.

The second at this level was the Needham family’s Market Stainton Pageboy, a son of Donnington Lancer out of Market Stainton Eva 7, a Fenton Challenger daughter. He sold to John Thomas, Flemingstone, Barry.

And the final bull at 3,500gns was Michael Read’s Hemingby Gordon, a son of Walmer Legend out of Hemingby Polly K469, a St Fort Essex daughter. He was snapped up by W H and E E Carry and J Kennedy, North Somercotes, Louth.

The late spring made females harder to place, according to auctioneer Paul Gentry of Newark Livestock Sales. “The hard winter and cold start to the year have made everyone more conscious of having extra mouths to feed and unfortunately this was reflected in the female trade on Saturday.”

Heading up the female trade at 1,700gns was Hemingby Mattie P727 from Michael Read, a daughter of 10,000gns sire Walmer Legend out of Market Stainton Goodman daughter. She sold in-calf to Donnington Kavannah and was bought by John Gent, Oundle.

Then at 1,500gns was another from the same home, Hemingby Polly P766, a Donnington Kavannah daughter out of a St Fort Essex daughter. She also found a new home with John Gent.

And making 1,400gns was Wells Marsh Princess Mabel P270 from J Kennedy. This son of Beverley Lionheart is out of a dam by Donington Oxcellent and sold to M Gathercole, Carbrooke, Thetford.

Averages; 14 bulls £4680, 48 maiden heifers £1027.03, one in-calf heifer £1207.50, one cow and calf £1260 (Newark Livestock Sales).