Livestock

Careful management of suckler cows at this time of year can pay dividends for the future. Veterinary surgeon, Joe Henry, of Black Sheep Farm Health, Rothbury, offers some advice.

SIMMENTALS met a top call of 18,000gns with the 57 bulls averaging 5,961, up 372 on the year for five more sold and with a clearance rate of 58 per cent.

Images were widely shared on social media of Australian beef which had been mislabelled as Welsh PGI

Farmers had been concerned about the impact of birds on livestock in the area

Lowther females led the bidding in the Beef Shorthorn female section for Charles Lowther, Askham, Cumbria, with 11,000gns and 10,000gns bids for two maiden heifers.

Blelack genetics took the high bids in the Aberdeen-Angus section at this year’s October Stirling event for Neil and Graeme Massie, Aboyne, peaking at 24,000gns for overall male champion, Blelack Prince Cartier W035.

An entry of six Beef Shorthorn bulls sold to a 7,200gns high, to average 4,830 (up 420 on the year for one less sold) with a clearance rate of 43 per cent.

Trade at the complete dispersal of the Blelack Aberdeen-Angus herd soared when a heifer calf and its dam sold for a combined 62,000gns.

A call of 28,000gns led the Charolais bidding on the final day at the October Stirling event, with averages up for the 59 bulls sold (+1,700 for 16 more sold).

The Welsh Government has been urged to review the cap on compensation for animals slaughtered under the bovine TB eradication programme.