Spring bulls at Perth signpost F&M recovery
Spring bulls at Perth signpost F&M recovery
By Jeremy Hunt
North-west correspondent
IT WILL be business as usual around the ring at Perth next week when the spring bull sale becomes a landmark event in the recovery from the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Although the event has had to be split over a fortnight with sales on Feb 4, 5, 18, 19 and 20, the first crack of the gavel on the rostrum soon after 2pm next Monday afternoon will be a significant moment for all beef producers.
United Auctions auctioneer David Leggat says: "The opportunity to compare bulls with their contemporaries from different herds on one day is something beef producers have been deprived of during the past year.
"The resumption of the Perth sale is an important building block in the recovery."
Next weeks sale, which will be visited on Monday by Prince Charles, who runs an Aberdeen-Angus herd at Highgrove in Glos, sees 132 Aberdeen-Angus bulls on parade.
Breeders are hoping the recent announcement of a £150,000 grant to promote Angus beef will inspire confidence among producers and boost the demand for bulls.
Aberdeenshire Aberdeen-Angus breeder Hamish Sclater, who has two bulls entered from his Deveron herd, says bull buyers should feel confident about Angus beef.
"Prices are still well ahead of other breeds. Angus-sired prime cattle are averaging £2.15-£2.20/kg deadweight for R and U classified stock. Marks & Spencer and Waitrose are committed to Angus beef and estimate a 10-15% increase in demand.
"That means an extra 5000 calves a year and it will require 200 more Angus bulls to produce them," says Mr Sclater.
Some of the biggest post-war prices paid for bulls at Perth were by South American cattle breeders. Now the tables have turned.
Next week sees pure Argentinean Aberdeen-Angus bloodlines on offer following the importation of embryos from the Tres Marias herd owned by Horacio Guitterez. The cattle are being entered by Perth-based John McGregor of The Binn, Glenfarg.
Native breed supporters will also be able to select from a good entry of Beef Shorthorns being sold on Monday.
The breed continues to make rapid improvements in terms of conformation and is gaining popularity among beef producers demanding hardy suckler cows. There are 20 Beef Shorthorn bulls and 13 females on offer.
Also on Monday 200 Limousin bulls will battle it out for the championship under judge Jim Quail from Northern Ireland. Limousins will be sold on Tuesday, along with 22 Blonde dAquitaine bulls, 12 Belgian Blue bulls, and four Tyrone Black bulls. The latter, a hybrid created by Omagh-based breeder Walter Shortt, are appearing at Perth for the first time.
Although strict biosecurity will be enforced at the sale, buyers will be able to move among bulls and handle them in the normal way. *
Feb 4
Aberdeen-Angus bulls (132)
Shorthorn bulls (30)
Luing bull (1)
Shorthorn females (13)
Aberdeen-Angus females (34)
Dispersals and reductions of Angus females.
Feb 5
Limousin bulls (199)
Blonde dAquitaine bulls (22)
Belgian Blue bulls (12)
Tyrone Black bulls (4)
Tyrone Black females (4)
Limousin females (6)
Draft of Limousin females (16)
Feb 18
Simmental bulls (166)
Simmental females (29)
Reduction Simmental females.
Feb 19
Various drafts, reductions and dispersals of Charolais females.
Feb 20
Charolais bulls (399).
Feb 1 Reduction sale of 18 heifers, 12 bulls and four cows with calves at foot from the Tyberan Charolais herd at Kilrea livestock mart, Northern Ireland. Contact * A McIlrath (028-29540588)
Feb 2 Special sale of 152 Bluefaced Leicester in-lamb females at Castle Douglas. Sale includes a reduction of 21 females from Cassington flock and dispersal of 75 females from the Wintonhill flock. Contact Wallets Marts Castle Douglas (01556-502381)
Feb 4 Fortnightly sale of 300 store cattle at Castle Douglas. Contact Wallets Marts Castle Douglas (01556-502381)
Feb 6 Joint machinery dispersal sale to include combine, tractors, teleporter and motor vehicles at Fulford Farm, Culworth, near Banbury, Oxon. Contact Howkins & Harrison (01788-565233)
Feb 6 Store and breeding cattle sale at Dingwall Auction Mart. Contact Dingwall & UA Partnership (01349-863252)
Feb 6 February sale of store cattle and all classes of grit ewes and store and feeding sheep at Stirling market. Contact United Auctions (01786-450393)
Feb 8 By instructions of Thompson Elmham Farms a dispersal sale of tractors, machinery, potato and irrigation equipment will be held at Foxburrow Farm, North Elmham, Norfolk. Contact Robert Landsell (01553-631100)
Feb 9 Dispersal of renowned Hobsland Bluefaced Leicester flock, including 55 in-lamb ewes and 20 in-lamb gimmers at Lanark Auction Market. Contact Lawrie & Symington (01555-662281)