Suckled calves top £2,800 at Borderway Mart

The annual autumn suckled calf show and sale at Borderway Mart reported a marvellous trade despite initial concerns about trading conditions on the back of a torrid summer and concerns of a predicted spike in winter feed costs.

A packed ringside of buyers, attending from all corners of the British Isles, witnessed a superb show of the best of yearling suckler bred calves; trade being so fierce that a number would leave empty handed.

Numerous pens of well grown yearling steers exceeded the £1,200 mark, levelling at an average of £1,095.60 up £91 on the year. Heifers met a similarly sharp enquiry with any amount of pens of quality heifers selling over £1,000 to level at an average of £962.33 a rise of £54 on 2011. The overall sale average was a staggering £1,036.30.

The pre-sale show, judged by Robyn Roberts of Fordol Farm, Angelsey, saw the Limousin heifer class winner, consigned by Mark Phillips, tapped out as overall champion. Sired by Brontemoor Andover, out of a Limousin cross dam, she was sold for £2,000 as breeding stock to Mr W J Bird of Oldgate Farm, Tadcaster.

Capturing the reserve championship honours was the 1st place Limousin bullock entry from regular supporters Messrs Graham of Millerhill. The 10-month old, sired by Liscon Braveheart, went on to sell for the day’s joint top price of £2,800 to show calf exhibitors Messrs Keel of Griffin Farm, Thirsk.

Also selling at £2,800 was a 13-month old Limousin steer consigned by Messrs Scott of Thirlwall Castle. This entry was sired by their homebred stock bull who is a son of Carnekirk Hilton, and was knocked down to T W H Farming of Leeds.

Following at £2,700 was a showy Limousin heifer from Messrs Harrison of Grange Hall which sold to J M Rowlands, Dolwen Farm, Llandidnoes.

At the same money was another offering from Messrs Graham, Millerhill. The stylish 13-month heifer, sired by Haltcliffe Union, heads to the noted show calf exhibiting team of Sedgewick and Slack, Ricknall Hall, Aycliffe.