Ruby Reds hit 6200gns at Taunton

Breeders from far and wide came to buy bulls at the Devon Cattle Breeders Society Spring Show and Sale held at Taunton Market.

The champion bull came from G Dart and Sons’ old established Champson herd, in the form of Champson Jasper, who sold to top price of the day. This 23 month old son of Primore Thorold 1st out of the Tulip family was purchased by legendary breeder Ken Farmer for his Bywood Herd at 6200 gns.

The Champson Herd farmed at Molland on Exmoor where the Herd Book started in 1851 sold three other Thorold sons including the 23-month old “Mighty Man” at 4700 gns joining the Orswell Herd of the Society’s Chairman Mike Wright and averaging £4003.

Judge David Barker told a packed ringside that the champion bull was “everything a Devon bull should be balancing breed character, tremendous natural fleshing, good locomotion and the characteristic rich Red Ruby colour”.

Reserve champion bull went to John Stanbury’s Knowstone Knowhow, a May 2005 son of the multi-prize winning Thorndale Fitzroy 4th who sold to Richard Youngman (Dira herd) at 5800gns.

No fewer than 20 bulls sold, the highest number at a Society Show and Sale for some time including Mrs Louden’s Pusey Nimrod 2nd at 4,000 gns to Mr and Mrs Brian Coward (Leawood), Heywood and Hurd’s Whitefield Eckofabull at 3,800 gns to Sir David Wills (Rickford) and Mrs Comer’s Ashott Barton Merlin at 3,000 gns to Drake Bros (Essington).

The 140 female lots attracted equal demand with Messrs R E and S M Chuszcz’s Peacock Petrina 10th a 2002 cow with a three month old heifer calf at foot claiming the day’s top prize of 1,650 gns and sold to Mike Wright.

Close on her heels was the maiden heifer class winner Stonegrove Snowdrop 7th, a polled 18 month old daughter of Forde Abbey Aesop selling to Mr Spiers (Dudley) at 1,600 gns.

Once gain many new herds started as the trend for keeping native cattle continues.

Averages:

Bulls £3,343
Cows and Calves £984
In-calf Heifers £935
Maiden Heifers £902