I’ll be a panellist on Farmers Guardian’s live web discussion, answering all your questions about the Schmallenberg virus. Join the discussion on Friday, February 10 from 1pm.British Blue bulls peak at 9,200gns at Beeston
THE British Blue Cattle Society’s national show and sale at Beeston, Cheshire, saw prices peak at 9,200gns.
Top money was paid for a 20-month-old bull, Boothlow Batman, from Keith and Janet Belfield and their sons, Thomas and Jack, of Buxton, Derbyshire. Batman, an ET son of Affute Du Ry Ossogen, and out of a Hazelwood Freshman daughter – Boothlow Rachel – took the male championship at the pre-sale show.
This black and white bull is no stranger to the showring, taking the male championship at Leek Show last year.
The Belfields, who have 20 breeding cows and 60 head in total, have been breeding British Blues for 12 years and described Batman as the best bull they had bred.
The hammer fell to Messrs Davies and Millichap, Tonyrefail, Mid Glamorgan.
At 5,600gns was Llanymynach Bonanza, a Gitan son, consigned by Tim and Kitty Bodily, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. The buyer was Jonathan Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire.
Bringley Banjo, last year’s junior and overall male champion at the Royal Welsh, from Graham Jones, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, made 5,400gns. This Immense son, sold to D. Stephen and Son, Turriff, Aberdeen.
At 5,200gns was Astrics Blizzard, consigned by Richard Aston, Cleobury Mortimer, Kidderminster. This January 2006-born bull, a son of Philipper De Remichampagne, was knocked down to Messrs Anderson, Elgin, Morayshire, who are moving into Blue breeding, following the dispersal of their dairy herd.
The overall show champion was Paulern Amsterdam, a Raciste son, from Ernie Hemmings, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. He sold for 4,200gns to T. M. Williams, Llanidloes, Powys.
In the female section Balzer Black Magic from I.V. Phillips, Llandysul, Ceredigion, sold for 8,500gns. This black heifer, again sired by Gitan, is out of a Baron sired cow, Penfro Tantalize. She was snapped up by Ros Withers, Truro, Cornwall. The same buyer also bought another heifer from Messrs. Phillips, Balzer Black Beauty, in-calf to Franchi De La Bonne Raie, for 3,150gns.
At 5,200gns was another Raciste-sired heifer, Gregmaur Benita, from D. Gregory, Lutterworth, Leicestershire and selling to Messrs. Phillips, Reading, Berkshire.
Nigel Pritchard, Norton Canon, Herefordshire, saw his January 2007-born heifer, Norton Cariad, by Dafydd D’Ochain out of a Philipper daughter make 4,800gns to crossbred vendor John Cope, Wiveliscombe, Somerset.
The female championship was won by Christine Williams, Shifnal, Shropshire, with her January 2001-born show cow, Wilodge Tofleur, by As De Trefle and out of the 5,000gns Wilodge Ofleur. A full sister to the great show bull, Wilodge Ulex, she was herself a junior champion at the Royal in 2002 and, sold open, she made 3,200gns to Jim Innes, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
Her daughter, Wilodge Afleur, by Visconti, stood reserve female champion and, again sold open, at 4,000gns to Andrew Ewing, Lockerbie.
Junior heifers were in demand, with a yearling heifer, Boomer Chanel, from Boomer Birch, Weston, Stafford, making 2,900gns. Chanel, a February 2007-born daughter of Blak Du Baty, sold to John Quick, Crediton, Devon.
Boomer Birch also scored a success in the crossbred section taking the top price with a British Blue cross Limousin steer, which sold for £2,450 to Judith Fountaine, Milton Keynes. This February 2007-born steer was sired by Norbreck Superman.
The championship went to an 11-month-old heifer from Frank Page, Elkington, Northampton. By Tamhorn Ringmaster this heifer realised £2,050 going to Emily Jones, Lampeter.
Nigel Pritchard produced the day’s top priced heifer from his Norton herd. His heifer, 12-month-old, sold Messrs Bodily, Abergavenny, for £2150.
A total of 13 crossbreds reached the £1,000 mark, and four realised over £2,000.
Averages: 63 pedigree bulls, £3,132; 36 pedigree females, £2,597; 72 cross-bred steers, £786; 67 cross-bred heifers, £795; 20 pedigree embryos, £262.
Auctioneers: Marshalls
Source:
Livestock Sales
