South Devon bulls to 13,000gns
A new breed record of 13,000gns was achieved at the South Devon Herd Book Society’s show and sale at Exeter where bulls met an outstanding trade to level 33 at £4276.
Buyers from across the UK converged on Exeter market and competed feverishly for bulls with the breed’s long-standing reputation for in-depth performance recording and an ever increasing popularity among pedigree and commercial supporters. The sale saw the bull average rise by £250.
“We’ve seen a good number of new buyers consolidating their foundation herds in response to the increasing demand for South Devons. The breed’s high performance, low cost returns, docility and excellent native beef breed characteristics are driving demand,” commented breed society secretary Caroline Poultney.
High health status was certainly a focus for bull buyers who were prepared to make solid financial investments in sires meeting this criteria. Veterinary inspections at the sale were rigorous.
Despite hitting the headlines with a new breed record price, the buyer who gave 13,000gns for the powerful reserve male champion from Cornish breeders P S and A P Rowe’s Trewint herd wished to remain anonymous.
Bred in the Rowe’s herd at Menheniot near Liskeard Trewint Magnetto 10th is by Trewint Magnetto – a son of Trewint Magnet – and comes from Trewint genetics tracing way back to Edmeston bloodlines. Magnetto 10th is out of Trewint Jill 451st – a show wining cow – who is by Wenfork Trusty 3rd. He had enjoyed success in the show ring and has the F94L easy-calving gene.
David Thomas from Treguddick, Launceston sorted through the show classes and awarded the male championship to A and C Farms from Rutland with their Langham’s Apollo. This February 2011-bred bull accounted for some notable show wins last summer including the reserve male titles at the Royal Norfolk and Royal Welsh Shows and Best British Native Bull at Newark and Notts. By Ewefields Jeffrey and out of Ewefields Lady 34th – a daughter of Welland Valley Hanbury 4th – he was claimed by T Earl, Lerryn, Cornwall at 5,000gns.
Grove Claudius 100th, an AI son of Woodbastwick Joe Louis 4th from leading Gloucestershire breeder W H D Scott, made 10,000gns. A January 201-bred bull with exceptional performance figures ranking him in the breed’s top 1%, he goes back to Woodbastwick and Trevowah bloodlines. Mr Scott believed this bull to be the highest achieving bull on performance figures ever bred in the Grove herd. Claudius 100th has the renowned breed sire AI Grove Bellerophon 3rd as maternal grand-sire. He heads back to Gloucestershire with E R Hemmings, Nailsworth.
Another bull to benefit from the brisk demand for sires was R K Rundle’s Kestle Leo 15th from his herd at Newquay, Cornwall. This Lumbylaw Leo 2nd son is out of a Grove Hannibal 16th dam and made 6,800gns to James Eustice Farms, Wadebridge, Cornwall. The grand-dam of this bull reared Leo 15th’s dam aged 19-years-old.
Godworthy Starbuster 9th from R C Burrough and Sons, Axminster, Devon – a son of Brafferton Starbuster 17th – made 6,200gns to D J Camp, Harberton, Devon. He traces back to strong lines from the Powderham herd. Another from the Trewint herd’s string – Trewint Cavalier 2nd – sold to C E Caunter and Sons, Ipplepen, Devon for 6,300gns. He is by Sexton Cavalier 10th.
A much admired heifer from the Grove herd collected the female championship. The Z Highgate Hanover daughter Grove Willowherb 73rd from W H D Scott combines Highgate and Cilgwrrwg in her back breeding. She heads for Norfolk with I Kendle, Fakenham at 2,100 gns.
The top female price of 2,350gns was paid for Messrs Rowe’s Trewint Buttercup 248th. By Sexton Cavalier 10th, she was bought by Mr and Mrs N Lee, Crediton, Devon
A consignment of heifers from D and J Hedgeman Farming, Wareham, Dorset readily found buyers from across the UK.
Averages: 33 bulls £4,276 and two-year heifers £2,069.
(Kivells and Husseys)