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Champion tops Dorset May Fair at 4,500gns

It was the pre-sale show champion, Richhill Hakka H2128, a ram lamb from Ben Lamb, Co Armagh, which led the trade at 4,500gns at the Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset Sheep Society's May Fair at Exeter.

The September-born lamb by Oliver Tree George G738 out of a home-bred dam, sold to T. V. Hughes and Co, Llangadog.

Next at 3,600gns and topping the shearling rams was the reserve male champion, Burhos Giant G3274, from Matthew and Adam Care, Widegates, Cornwall. By Islaharnan Fernando F468 and out a home-bred ewe, it was knocked down to J. B. Dufosee, Warminster.

At 3,000gns, Andrew and Caroline Kennedy, Ballymena, sold their September-born ram lamb, Maineview Huntsman H2609 by Sherbourne Falcon F7986 to Messrs Care.

At the same money was the horned champion, Poorton Gabriel G564 by Poorton Double Diamond D552, a shearling ram from Fooks Bros, Bridport, which went home with K.H. May and Partners, Netherexe, Devon.

Julian Rice, North Tawton, realised 2,200gns for his third prize ram lamb, Essington Hercules H19 by Essington Formidable F1 which was the pick of Laura Weir, Ballymena.

Females

Individual females topped at 1,500gns for the first prize ewe lamb and reserve overall female, Sherbourne Hawthorn H9155, from Richard and Rob Hole, Sherborne. By Sandy Lane Capercaille C6334, it sold to S. Tayler, Shepton Mallet.

The female champion, Huish G25827, from R. and D. Rossiter, Kingsbridge, sold for 1,000gns to G. and E. Jones, Ystrad Meurig, Ceredigion.

Next at 850gns was the second prize winning ewe lamb, Braiseworth Harlequin H1104 from R. Harvey, Suffolk, which went to L. Carpenter, Widegates, Cornwall.

Commercial pens of females topped at 380gns for W. L. French, Launceston, with further pens from this run at 340gns, 330gns and 310gns.

Fookes Bros realised 320gns twice for pens of horned hoggets. The champion pen from J. and A. James, Shaftesbury, made 300gns/head, with the reserve champion pen of ewe lambs from Messrs Hole at the same money.  

Averages: 117 males, £905.85; 359 MV females, £303.62; 869 non-MV females, £243.58.

Auctioneers: Kivells.

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Welsh Black bulls sell to 7,500gns

The Welsh Black Cattle Society sale at Dolgellau topped at 7,500gns for the reserve champion bull, August 2023-born Machreth Sion 18 by Ynysfor Emlyn 5 from Lewis R. Williams, Llanfachreth, which was bought by J.G. Davies, Talsarnau.

The champion bull, May 2023-born Machreth Sam 12, also from Messrs Williams and by the same sire, made 4,400gns to Alwyn Jones, Betws yn Rhos, while May 2023-born Machreth Bedwyr 12, also by Emlyn sold for 6,000gns to Radnor Hills, Knighton.

Dyfnant Adda 25, a June 2023-born Nantrhs Adda son, from D.G. and B. Thomas, Llanddeusant, sold for 4,400gns to G. P. Lynch, Llangwm.

The champion maiden heifer, Tryfil Camelia 40 by Llechwedd Twn 35 from I. G. Roberts, Tryfil Isaf, sold for 2,750gns to D. Morgan, Talybont, with the reserve champion maiden heifer, Tryfil Camelia 37, again from Messrs Roberts, selling for 2,100gns to R.G. and K.F Griffith, Glan Byl.

Cwellyn Celynen 3, a May 2024-born heifer from Iolo Davies, Stad Bodhyfryd, sold for 1,550gns to Jones, Tregaron who also bought Cwellyn Mabli for 1,500gns.

Auctioneers: ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Marts (R.G. Jones).

Limousins peak at 15,000gns at Brecon

The British Limousin Cattle Society sale at Brecon topped at 15,000gns for Orlham Uzi PP, a two-year-old homozygous polled and double F94L bull bred by G.H., J.M. and M.J. Samuel, Leadington, Herefordshire. By Paddock out of Orlham Poppy, it sold to J. Quant, North Whilborough, Devon.

Ashledge Victorious, an 15 month-old bull by Ashledge Ontario from A.G. Kirton and Sons, Bewdley, sold for 10,000gns to M. Evans, Pembrokeshire.

Paul Tippetts, Shifnal, paid 9,800gns for 16-month-old Poole Viking, a homozygous F94L bull by Ampertaine Elgin out of Bankdale Elizabeth from T.F. Hilsdon, South Molton.

Cowin Upbeat, the senior champion, realised 9,000gns selling to T.E. Thomas and Co,  Welshpool. By Ampertaine Opportunity and out of Cowin Irtha, this July 2023-born bull was bred by W. D. Dyfan and Carol James, Bryn Iwan, Carmarthenshire.

Leading the female section at 5,200gns was Cowin Rhydwen from the same home. The four-year-old daughter of Plumtree Fantastic sold in-calf to Haltcliffe Umpire and with a September 2024-born bull calf by Burnbank Officer at foot to R. John, Llandybie, Carmarthenshire.

Averages: 11 senior bulls, £7,798.64; 7 junior bulls, £7,125; overall, 18 bulls, £7,536.67 (+ £1,642 up on 2024); 2 cows and calves, £5,092.50; 9 heifers, £3,196.67.

Auctioneers: McCartneys.

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Drakelow dispersal tops at 3,400gns

The dispersal sale of the pedigree Drakelow herd of Holstein Friesians for Colin Wildman on-farm near Middlewich, Cheshire, saw 25 cattle sell for more than 3,000gns and to a top of 3,400gns.

The top price cow was a second calver by Topcroft Pesky Trix which had recorded 10,247kgs as a heifer and was due to calve in late October to an Aberdeen-Angus.

A Moet Melody sired second calver again calving in late October to the Angus sold for 3,200gns

An autumn calving heifer by Koepon Raptor daughter carrying a Denovo Charter for early October also sold for 3,200gns.

A Cornish buyer took home 52 milkers including a 3,200gns Denovo Clove sired third calver due in November to the Angus which had given 10,810 kgs with her second calf and giving 45kgs when sold.

In-calf heifers carrying Angus calves sold to 2,600gns for a late June calving Denovo Kenmore daughter out of a 13,788kgs dam by Applejax. A similarly bred in-calf heifer sold for 2,500gns.

Heifer calves topped at 900gns for a four-month-old calf by Monk.

Averages: 345 milkers including faults, £2,066; 41 in-calf heifers £2,120; 41 heifer calves, £619; 427 head, £1,932.

Auctioneers: Gwilym Richards with Market Drayton Market.

Breeding cattle in demand at Kirkby Stephen

A Limousin heifer with a Limousin heifer calf at foot from Messrs Hird, Low Row, topped the sale of breeding cattle at £4,400 at Kirkby Stephen, selling to Messrs Richardson, Richmond.

Next at £4,200 was a Limousin heifer with calf at foot from Lauren Swift, Kendal, which went to Messrs Watson, Barnard Castle.

A Limousin cross heifer with Limousin heifer calf at foot from Messrs Ousby, Newbiggin on Lune, made £4,100 to Messrs Sawyer, York.

Messrs Beck, Tebay sold a home-bred Limousin cross Friesian heifer with Limousin bull calf for £4,000 to Messrs Beckwith, Barras.

At the same money was a Limousin cross Friesian heifer with a heifer calf from Messrs Capstick, Ravenstonedale, which was knocked down to Messrs Moore, Haltwhistle.
Overall, the sale averaged £3,525, up £500.73 on the year.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

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Averages up for hoggs with lambs

There were not as many buyers as usual at the sale of hoggs with lambs at foot at Bentham, given concerns about lack of grass, but trade was still good, according to the auctioneers.

Mules averaged £321, up £49 on the year, Texels averaged £337, up £22 with Suffolks at £310, up £58. Mules were judged by Richard Gate, Northwich, and James Robinson, Carnforth who awarded first prize to Winter Bros, Appleby, whose pen sold for £500/outfit.

A consignment from R. and E. Butterfield, Bentham, selling to £400/outfit while A.R. Edmondson, Ulverston, sold to £360. The strongest pens were £330-£380 with the commercial end £300-£20.

K.G. Stapleton, Skipton, sold the first prize pen of Texel hoggs with Beltex lambs at £415 with other pens to £428, £420 and £405.

T.C. Whiteford, Brampton, sold to £390 twice, with Beltex from Josh Wilson, Wray, to £380.

Seymour Farms, Wigton, topped the Suffolks at £400 with Winter Bros close behind at £385 and Messrs Butterfield sold Cheviot Mules to to £332, £330, £325 twice.

Auctioneers: Richard Turner and Son.  

Store cattle at Pateley Bridge

At the show and sale of store cattle at Pateley Bridge steers sold £2,400 for a British Blue from J.S. Walton and Co, Glasshouse. Heifers sold to £2,520 for the second prize winner from M.A. and J.R. Sharpe, Gisburn.

Feeding bulls sold to £2,420 for K. and G.J. Huck, Austwick, who also sold the first prize winner for £2,200 and the second prize winner for £2,400.

The judge, Nick Dalby, Darley, awarded the championship to a British Blue heifer from D. Broadbent, Luddenfoot, which went on to sell for £2,200. The winning steer, a British Blue from the same home sold for £1,950.

Auctioneers: Barnard Castle and Teesdale ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Auction Mart Co. 

Stores in demand at Cockermouth

The Jonny Skelton show and sale of 949 store cattle at Cockermouth topped at £3,150 for a Limousin heifer from M.J. Wilson, Parsonage Farm, who also sold heifers to £2,980.

The championship went to a British Blue heifer consigned by N. Cooper and Sons, Broughton in Furness, which went on to sell for £2,500 to the judge, John Pearson, High Plaskett Lands.

Feeding bulls sold to £3,000 for a pure-bred Limousin from D. and M.A. Wilson, Lamplugh, closely followed at £2,800 by Crozier and Langcake, High Moss.

Bullocks sold to £2,900 for M.W. Hewitson, Cockermouth.

Averages: Steers, £1,954.12; heifers, £1,950.95; bulls, £1,980.96.

Auctioneers: Mitchells.

Strong trade at KLR Farms dispersal

The dispersal for LKR Farms (Richard Smith), Dorset, of their spring calving, once a day milked, out wintered, Jersey cross-bred dairy herd at Sedgemoor saw 108 sell for more than £2,000 to a top of £2,520 six times for three second lactation and three third lactation March calved cows. With fifth lactation cows topping at £2,467.50 and fourth lactation cows £2,415.

The Jersey cross calved heifers which had calved at two years old sold to £2,257.50, £2,100 and £2,047.50 seven times.

For a smaller type of cow they produced a record-breaking average of £1,996 excluding the three-quartered and J5 cows and £1,813 overall.

Auctioneers: Greenslade Taylor Hunt.

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