South Devons sell to 7800gns at Exeter
The South Devon Herd Book Society enjoyed a record-breaking show and sale in Exeter last week, where a polled bull smashed the previous top price by 1500gns.
Henry Laity’s three year-old bull Z Polkinghorne Nimrod set the ring alight, with the hammer eventually falling at 7800gns. Sired by Z Countisbury Cracker 2 and out of Z Polkinghorne Nobly Blitz 44, he has fully polled bloodlines on both sides.
The triumphant buyer was Richard Wright of Oxey Farm, Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire, chairman of the society’s polled group. He plans to use the bull to improve the polled genetics of his own herd. The champion male, judged by Robert Shinner of Stretchford Farm, Buckfastleigh, was Peter Rowe’s Trewint Jaffa 10. With a quality beef index of +17 he pleased both the eye and the figures. Sired by Trewint Jaffa 2 and out of Trewint Dewdrop 91, he made the sale’s second highest price of 5500gns, selling to FH Williams of Lower Woodlands, Truro, Cornwall.
Jaffa 10’s half brother Trewint Jaffa 11 almost matched that price for Peter Rowe, of Liskeard, Cornwall, selling for 5400gns to Colin Davis from Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Reserve champion Chavid Warlock made 3000gns, while Woodhayes Illya 10, winner of the performance and inspection cup, fetched 4000gns. In all, the hammer fell on 37 bulls at a record average of £3187, an increase of £236.
In the female classes, it was Carlydnack Newham Caroline that scooped the championship for Rex Sadler from Falmouth, Cornwall. Sired by Kestle Horatio 11 and out of Wishworthy Newham Caroline 39, this heifer is seven months in calf to an Aberdeen Angus bull. She made the day’s top female price of 1300gns, and travels to the Mells Park Trust, Frome, Somerset.
Reserve champion Foxhole Bridget 2, from Margaret Plain’s Foxhole Farm, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, took the second highest price at 1200gns. Sired by Trevassack Trooper 12 and out of Foxhole Bridget, this heifer sold to JD Musgrave from Yealmpton, Devon.
In total, 17 heifers sold for an average of £1014.
Pics to follow shortly……