Red Ruby Devons sell to 3,000gns

Females were in demand at the Red Ruby Devon’s pedigree Autumn sale which saw prices peak at 3,000gns.

155 cattle were put forward, all of which were females bar two bulls. J Linton and Son, from Hereford topped the bidding for Mr George Vellacott’s smart in-calf Heifer Ashway Marigold 1st, Show & Sale Female Champion. 

As in the Spring, demand for Red Rubies was not limited to south west buyers with several buyers from the welsh borders and eastern counties making the trade.  The Reserve Female Champion, Ashway Mary 12^th was bought by Mr T S Griffiths of Caerwendy Farm, near Hereford.

Topped priced bull, at 2150gns (below), Knowstone Perfection 2^nd, was bought by Angus Cottey for his well-known Garradon Herd in South Molton, Devon.

Numbers of cattle were boosted by some significant herd reductions. John and Sylvia Lindley’s Nowers herd attracted competitive bidding with his topped priced female, Nowers Dairymaid 19th selling to Mr T Martin at Treveigan, Bodmin for 2650gns – the second highest price of the day. 

The longevity of the Red Ruby was proven by two 10 year old Nowers cows, both with top class calves at foot and plenty of breeding left in them.  They attracted a lot of interest, fetching a top price of 1,550gns paid by J and C Perrett, Folke Manor Farm in Dorset.  The average price for Nowers’ in-calf heifers was 1,951gns, whilst Mr and Mrs Gay’s reduction of their prize winning Bagnell herd achieved an average of 1,890gns for cows and calves as did the final herd reduction of the sale, Mr Christopher Norfolk’s Curdon herd.  

Averages: Cows and calves, 1,690gns; in-calf heifers, 1,725gns; maiden heifers, 1,015gns