Three Belgian Blue bulls hit 5800gns at Carlisle
Three Belgian Blue bulls hit 5800gns at Carlisle
By Jeremy Hunt
A FEVERISH demand for Belgian Blue bulls at the two-day Carlisle show and sale confirmed the continuing resilience of UK beef producers.
They dug deep into their pockets in response to a high quality, record-breaking entry to take home 89 bulls at an average price of £2755.
Bidding reached the top price of 5800gns three times. The average was £154 up on the year with 14 bulls making over 4000gns.
By the end of the day there were no bulls left in the market. Even those rejected by the societys inspectors had been snapped-up in private deals.
Graham Morgans Almeley herd from Herefordshire revelled in a storming trade for bulls resulting from his infusion of Danish breeding. Two achieved the 5800gns jackpot.
Almeley Napoleon ET Danish is an impressive black-and-white bull with plenty of stretch and sound action. He is out of the Danish-bred Astbury Emily and sired by Almeley Linford, a bull which sold for 5000gns at Chelford in 1996. Napoleon heads for suckler work with W A Hall and Son, Galashiels.
The blue-and-white first prize winner Almeley Nelson ET Danish, is by Liquorice, Linfords full brother, which also made 5000gns at the Chelford 1996 sale. Nelson goes to leading North-umberland suckler producer Fred Murray.
Also at the 5800gns peak was Sion Jenkins Penfro Nelson, making it a day to remember for this exhibitor on his first trip to Carlisle from Pembrokeshire.
The black-and-white Nelson is by stock bull Park Invader, a past Royal Welsh breed champion, and from the familys 35-cow herd. Nelson stood reserve junior champion under Belgian judge Mr Edgard Massagor. Buyer was A Parsonson, Wragby, Lincoln.
There were more rich pickings for Mr Morgan when his Almeley Noddy ET Danish, a well-limbed full-brother to Nelson, made 4500gns to Stewart Farms, Lennoxtown, Glasgow.
Of the 14 bulls to make 4000gns and over, only four had been unplaced in the show classes. Peter Bodiley handled Bedfordshire breeder Michelle Gardners dark blue roan bull Ridge Dean Negree to a fourth class placing. This son of Hobby Du Sartay made 5200gns to C G Simpson and Sons, Co Durham.
Retiring Cheshire beef farmer Thomas Galligan had mixed emotions. While he was thrilled to take the supreme championship with his bull Oxcroft Lionheart he was sad to see him go.
"Hes been a dream of a bull but Im retiring from full-time farming," said Mr Galligan who has been using the bull on suckler cows since paying 4100gns for him after he stood champion at Chelfords autumn 1996 sale. A seven-month-old, cross-bred show steer by Lionheart had sold for £1700. The bull heads for the Isle of Islay at 4800gns with D McCormick.
Also at 4800gns was Battlesden Nickson, a blue-and-white son of Furbo Van Het Middenhof from Robin Ivorys Codicote herd at Hitchin, Herts. He stays locally with M S Taylor, Penrith.
And at 4200gns was Leicester-shire breeders Mr and Mrs D Gregorys Gregmaur Noah, by Hazelwood Freshman. Buyers were J and E Coates, Settle, North Yorks.
AVERAGES: 89 bulls £2755 and 18 females £1443. (Harrison and Hetherington).
Oxcroft Lionheart stood champion and made 4800gns.