Charolais bidders react to demands of market
Charolais bidders react to demands of market
By Jeremy Hunt
KILO for kilo Charolais bulls looked good value at the breeds societys Carlisle show and sale where 53 changed hands for an average of £2063 and prices topped at 7200gns.
Buyers quickly dismissed sires that failed to please, but powerful bulls with width, fleshing and the weight to produce those all important extra kilos in their progeny met a livelier reception.
Judge Kevin Thomas, who runs 45 pedigree Charolais in his Moelfre herd in Dyfed, said the entry proved that breeders were responding to the demands of the market.
His champion, Piatroon Octavius, came from the partnership of brothers Edward and Howard Forster from Hexham, Northumberland. They keep only seven pedigree Charolais cows in a herd which was started 10 years ago with a 6000gns purchase of Thrunton Bianca.
This cow was maternal grand-dam to their champion which has an interesting twist to its breeding. The May 1998-bred Octavius, which weighed 945kg on the day, is by Beauchamp Foreman who is bred out of the show cow Lakeland Sagesse. The bulls dam is by Fleets Vibrant. In their hey-day, Sagesse and Vibrant were Royal Show Burke Trophy winners.
The Forsters, whose previous best price for a bull was 2800gns, saw their champion top the sale at 7200gns to C and J Kearton, Barnard Castle, Co Durham.
But the partnerships success did not end there. Their only other bull in the yard, Piatroon Oliver, drew the days second highest bid of 5000gns from G Sordy and Sons of Alnwick. He is by Loganbar Herdsman (by Beauchamp Edward) and out of a Brampton Fourstar dam.
More often seen leading his own BlondedAquitaine winners in this ring, James Weightman was in charge of his grandfathers Charolais bull Oscar of Ravensworth that took the reserve championship. Oscar, owned by north-east cattle breeder Will Oates, is by Lochnagar Imperator, a 13,000gns Perth purchase by Brampton Chopper. He realised 4400gns to Isle of Man breeder J Taggart.
Mike and Margaret Atkinsons Mowbraypark Ovaltine is by Killadeas Jack and out of a Brampton Tenpin cow. He had a Beef Value of 27 and stays in Yorks with Driffield buyers Maltas Farms who parted with 4000gns. (Harrison and Hetherington)
• BIDS topped 3000gns at the British Charolais Cattle Societys Christmas Cracker female show for Cambs breeders M and C Parkers show winning heifer Bassingbourn Orchid.
She is by Bassingbourn Lancelot and out of Thrunton Ginette, had a Beef Value of 20, and sold to Isle of Man breeder J Taggart. He also took two other lots for 2600gns. *