While commercial cattle exhibitors are hopeful of some livestock shows this year, a smaller than usual offering of calves were present at Ruthins sale of show potential cattle with prices understandably back on previous year

LIMOUSIN bulls sold to 42,000gns at the breed society sale at Carlisle, with an average of 8,118.48, which is an increase of 1,470.02 on the year with a clearance rate of 79 per cent.

ON the first day of the February bull sales at Stirling, Aberdeen-Angus peaked at 15,000gns, with the 66 bulls averaging 6,499, up 67 on the year with an 86 per cent clearance rate.

A Beef Shorthorn bulls sold to 27,000gns, a breed record, and also had a record average of 6,127, up 1,347 on the year, with a 79 per cent clearance rate. Females topped at 7,500gns, a record price for the February sale.

BOTH the championship and reserve at the show and sale of store cattle at Middleton in Teesdale went to British Blue-sired heifers from J.C. and J. White, Lunedale.

A new record top price of 5,500gns and a record average of 3,477 was set at the premier sale of Herefords at Dungannon.

Leading the trade at the first sale of ewes and lambs at Skipton was a run of pure-bred Charollais ewes with Charollais and Beltex lambs from Neville Smith, Lothersdale.

Antimicrobial benchmarking can bring more benefits to a farm business than just reducing usage, was the message from Dr Tim Potter, VetPartners, speaking at a Dairy-Tech seminar.

The Luing Cattle Society held their annual premier sale using Wallets Marts online sale platform due to the Covid-19 restrictions, topping at 15,960 twice for bulls.

When it comes to fertility within a herd, the main focus tends to be on the fertility and health status of the cow, but it is important not to ignore the bull.