Little Whisker Jinks 11
Blue Texels lead Monochrome Mania
The Monochrome Mania online sale to dispersal the Little Whisker flocks of Blue Texels, Dutch Spotted and Badger Face Texels on behalf of Janet and Andy Carson, Co Tyrone, topped at £2,500 for Little Whisker Jinks 11, a Blue Texel gimmer by Fyfin Blues Friar Tuck out of Little Whisker Bava, carrying twins to Diamond Jaffa Cake. The buyer was Messrs Copeland, Co Down, who also paid £2,200 for another gimmer, Little Whisker Juniper by Matts Gladiator, also scanned with twins to Jaffa Cake.
Badger Face Texels topped at £2,000 for Little Whisker Fiasco, a gimmer by Ardstewart Escobar carrying twins to Knockmult Got It All which went to Messrs Keys, Co Tyrone.
Dutch Spotted sold to 1,400gns three times for gimmers in-lamb to Greenfield Herdsman, Little Whisker Hall, Johnston Hannah and Little Whisker Hera, which sold to Messrs McGettigan, Co Donegal, Messrs McKay, Co Antrim, and Messrs Hunter, Co Carlow, respectively.
Averages – Badger Face Texel – 24 head, £920.83; Blue Texel – 13 head, £1,110; Dutch Spotted – 13 head, £1,146.15.
Auctioneers – Harrison and Hetherington.
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Suffolks sell with a Big Bang
FOUR in-lamb gimmers broke the five-figure barrier at the Big Bang export sale of Suffolks at Ballymena.
Hitting the top price of 12,000gns was the first entry from Alastair Gault's Forkins flock, Newtownabbey, County Antrim. The Annakisha Bright Eye daughter is out of a Forkins ewe by Birness Bacardi. It sold to Mark Priestley, Seaforde, County Down, scanned with a pair to Oakbridge Opportunity.
Selling for 11,000gns to Messrs Doyle, Cookstown, was a Rossbrook gimmer from Keith Johnston, Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. Scanned with a pair to the €13,000 Malinhead Del Boy, this Ballynacannon Bobby Dazzler daughter is out of a Crewelands ewe by Birness Playboy.
Also making 11,000gns was a Forkins gimmer by Rempstone Rassie, bred from a Birness Freedom daughter. Carrying a pair to Ballynacannon Coldplay, it sold to Messrs Mangan, Tuam, County Galway.
Messrs Wilkinson, Cookstown, County Tyrone, paid 10,000gns for another Annakisha Bright Eye gimmer from Forkins, this time out of a Mullaghboy Goliath daughter. It also changed hands carrying twins to Ballynacannon Coldplay.
A Limestone McLaren daughter from R. McLaughlin's Ballyboe flock, Inishowen, County Donegal, realised 9,000gns when sold to Messrs Grant, Newry, County Down. It is out of a Blackbrae Black Label daughter and scanned a single to Cairness Eye Catcher.
Mr Gault headed up the ewe lamb trade with an Annikisha Bright Eyes daughter at 7,000gns to Messrs Gurney, Aghadowey, Coleraine. Its dam is by Birness Freedom.
Averages: 106 overall, £2,348.14.
Auctioneers: Ballymena Livestock Market and Harrison and Hetherington.
Working sheep dogs top at £14,500 online
WITH 16 lots selling at or above the £6,000 mark, the November online sale of 206 working sheep dogs and pups hosted by Farmers Marts (R.G. Jones) met a 75% clearance and overall sale average of £2,970.
Hitting the top price of £14,500 was Aran Jess, a fully trained bitch consigned by Dewi Jenkins, Talybont, which sold to a buyer in Aberdeenshire.
Kevin Evans, Brecon, welcomed a £12,900 call for Kemi Lass, a trial and farm work bitch that sold to a new home in Cumbria.
Tod from Ian Brownlie, East Lothian, sold back to the region for £10,700.
Claire Slater, Libanus, sold Belway Frank for £9,000.
A Huntaway named Jem set a new breed record in the UK when the entry from Ellis Rees, Upper Bwlch, sold to a new home in Norwich for £8,900.
Highest price in the partly trained section was Cefneithin Roxy from Sion Jones, Cefn Eithin. This 12-month-old sold to an Irish buyer for £8,100.
David Streeter, Ty Dewi, sold Dewi Cindy for £8,000, while Kevin Evans welcomed £6,900 for Jazz.
In the pup section it was Lottie from David Evans, Penclyn, that led the way. The 12-month-old sold to a new come in Lancaster for £3,400.
Smithymoor Lass from Parks Farm, Newsholme, sold to Germany for £3,150, with that matched by a Swedish buyer who bought Jill from Neil Ward, Donegal Town.
Averages: Fully trained, £4,919; partly trained, £2,519; pups, £1,255.
Auctioneers: Farmers Marts (R.G. Jones).
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British Blue leads Skipton production sales
A TRIO of pedigree cattle production sales at Skipton attracted strong demand and a top price of 6,200gns.
Making that price was a British Blue heifer named Pendle U Black Beauty from the Hartley family, Roughlee. The 2024-born daughter of Hallfield Panther is out of Pendle Northern Star and sold to Mark and Fee Ewbank, Middlesmuir.
Pendle Ursa, another Panther daughter out of Pendle Opal sold to L. Driver and Son, Birkenshaw.
Alan and Graham Coates, Stainforth, saw their Greystone Kansas also sell to the Ewbanks, this time for 5,800gns. Its breeding features Maradona Du Champ Du Moulin on to Greystone Ka sas.
The inaugural sale for James and Sarah Cooper's Tomschoice Limousins, Dacre, hit 4,500gns for Tomschoice Voodoo, a Grahams Rooney daughter bred from Tomschoice Oceania. It sold to G. and H. Produce, Doncaster, who also paid 3,700gns for the Fieldson Ramos-sired Tomschoice Violet.
A small offering of Aberdeen-Angus from J.F. Batty's Hollyhowe herd, Coniston, peaked at £2,300 for a cow and calf.
Auctioneers: Craven Cattle Mart.
Zwartbles sell to 1,400gns
NO fewer than nine females sold for 1,000gns or above at the Zwartbles Sheep Association sale at Borderway where the second prize gimmer topped the entry at 1,400gns.
That was Prestige Hazel Memorable from Ben Stayt, Cheltenham. This Danygraig Lieutenant daughter is out of Pen Llyn Envious, itself by Pen Llyn Copper. It sold to Messrs Gill, Fortrose, served by Statesman Negotiator.
Messrs Millar, Lockerbie, paid 1,200gns for the second prize ewe lamb, Olbre Nettle from A. and R. Breeze, Darlington. The January-born Hayberries K-class daughter is out of the Wallacetown Eclipse-sired Olbre Kazoo.
Matching that 1,200gns was the third prize ewe lamb, Smiddy Hill Nancy, a Broomfield Trickster daughter out of Smiddy Hill Harmony, from C. Duffy, Stranraer, which sold to Messrs Lloyd, Llanrwst, who also paid 1,200gns for Conic Natalia which this time is by Conic Mufasa ad out of the Conic Keanu-sired Conic Lemon from B.H. and D. Gibson, Gartocharn.
Thomas and Charlotte Critchley saw their dearest, Clarewood Mighty Fine, sell to Messrs Stayt, Cheltenham, for 1,100gns. Carrying twins to Chapel Field Lebron, it is by Selside Kooldude.
Four made 1,000gns apiece including Stainmore Mamma Mia, a Hayberries Jaeger daughter from Mark Weir, Prestwick. It sold to Messrs McCornick and Co, Newton Stewart, served by Pistyll Maverick.
The champion, Messrs Gibson's Viking Molly by Conic Kitty made 1,000gns when selling to Messrs McGrandles, Glasgow, scanned with a single to Conic Mufasa. I
The same home bought the reserve champion for 1,000gns. That was Messrs Stayt's Top Notch King Kong-sired Statesman Nutmeg.
Messrs Stayt bought J. Brown's Wallacetown Magnum-sired Caerlaverock Nellie from Dumfries, for 1,000gns.
Averages: 6 flock ewes, £477.75; 38 shearling gimmers, £578.88; 50 ewe lambs, £467.25.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
High of 8,000gns for Beef Shorthorns
A HEIFER from Charles, Sally and Harry Horrell's Podehole herd headed up the Beef Shorthorn Society's offering at Skipton when it stood female and overall champion before selling for the top price of 8,000gns.
Their February 2023-born Podehole Madeline Tilly from the herd at Thorney, Peterborough, was by Muiresk Peroni out of Podehole Madelina Rene. It was one of three that sold to the team at Cannon Hall, Cawthorne, and was in-calf to the 12,600gns Stonehills Revelation.
Tom and Bradley Farmer, Dumfries, welcomed the second highest price of 7,200gns for their Meonside Erin Versace, a Crooked Post Compass daughter bred from Caramba Lovely. It sold to A. Bennett, New Mills.
Hitting 6,800gns was Blackbrook Augusta Viv, a 20-month-old daughter of Perseus of Upsall from Andrew Thornber and daughters, Barkisland. Selling to Andrew Holdate, Rathmell, it was out of the VG88 Blackbrook Augusta Roxy.
Mr Holdgate paid a further 6,000gns for Blackbrook Madeline Val, a Highlee Pheonix daughter bred from the Millerston Madeline Nell.
First time vendors, David Slone and Jane Hayton, Cumbria, saw their Pielview Wildeyes Vogue sell to Andy and Steph Ryder, Carlisle, for 6,200gns. It was by Coxhill Noble and out of Pielview Wildeyes Prize.
The Podehole team also saw their Podehole Madeline Vogue, again by Muiresk Peroni, sell for 5,600gns to Steven Swales, Bradhill herd, Cliviger.
Cow and calf outfits sold to 5,000gns for five-year-old Gilven Sapphire Maroness from R.S. and G. Johnson, Huby, York. It was by Chapelton Wildfire, while its heifer calf at foot was by Belmore Patriarch and also sold to Mr Swales.
Averages: Maiden heifers, £4,865; in-calf heifers, £4,795; cows with calves, £4,235.
Auctioneers: Craven Cattle Marts.
Strong demand for grass-fed Angus
BUYERS travelled from Scotland to the West County and many counties in between to Worcester for the premier production sale of Rob Harvard's Phepson Aberdeen-Angus herd, which are 100% grass-fed managed in a Pasture for Life system.
Mr Harvard won the Grassland Farmer of the Year honour at the British Farming Awards and welcomed a top price of 5,500gns for Phepson Red Proud Moana, a calved heifer by Oxencraig Kaiser with its heifer calf at foot. It sold to Nikki Yoxall, Angus, along with other cow and calf outfits at 4,800gns, 4,200gns three times and 4,000gns twice.
Phepson Enora V085 and its heifer calf made 4,800gns to B. Hollins, Market Drayton, with the same home paying 1,900gns and 1,800gns for two in-calf heifers by Phepson Alex.
Volume buyers and establishing a new herd were Messrs Taylor, Banbury, who bought a total of 23 cattle including Phepson Eulema Sarah Z285, a calved heifer with heifer calf at foot for 4,200gns.
Averages: 38 cows with calves £3,216.31; 4 cows in-calf, £1,824.37; 7 heifers in-calf, £1,800.
Auctioneers: McCartneys.
Witherslack leads at J36
TWO females from Strickland Hill Farming, Witherslack, sold for £3,500 to set a new centre record at the Christmas show and sale of dairy cattle at Junction 36.
The pre-sale champion Witherslack Chase Jo sold to J.A. and D.E. Batty and Sons, Burneside, while the reserve champion, Witherslack Supershot Joanne, sold to J.S. and K.M. Wilson and Son, Heslington.
In-calf heifers sold to £2,250 for the first prize heifer from J.G. and B.J. Escolme, Killington, due at the end of December to an Aberdeen-Angus. It sold to D.W. and K. Shuttleworth, Gargrave, with others to £2,220 and £2,000.
Averages: Newly calved cows, £2,506; newly calved heifers, £2,282; in-calf heifers, £1,865.
Auctioneers: North West Auctions.
READ NOW: For more shows and sales go to our dedicated Shows and Sales Hub
First on-farm sale is a success
HEIFERS by far exceeded expectations at the inaugural in-farm sale of in-calf heifers hosted by the Carroll family at Aucharroch, near Kirriemuir.
An offering of 102 heifers hand picked from sales the length and breadth of the UK were put under the hammer by Graham Burke and his team from Pentland Livestock.
With the previous selection selling through the auction mart to average in the region of £2,700 in 2024, this year's entry welcomed the upturn in industry prices to average £4,532 and no fewer than 20 animals sold for £5,000 or above.
Selling for the top price of £8,600 was lot 30, a Limousin cross bred by S. and F. Young, North Drumallochie, which was knocked down to Brodie Keir, Newton of Carnaveron, Alford.
Two followed at £6,800 including a Limousin cross bred by Gary Bell, Hass-Side, which was one of five on the wagon heading to Guise of Tough, Alford, with the Guise Farm Partnership. That included another bred at Hass-Side for £6,200.
The other at £6,800 was a British Blue cross bred by F. and M.P. Allinson, West Briscoe, Barnard Castle, which was snapped up by Gordon Cameron, Acharacle.
Close behind on £6,700 when sold north to Gordon Begg, Bannells, John O' Groats, was a Blue cross bred by D. and J. Hunnam and Son, Rise Slowly, Bishop Auckland.
Hugh and Stewart Dunlop, Holehouse, Ochiltree, paid £6,200 for another Limmy cross from Haas-Side.
A Limousin cross bred by Craig and Teen Malone, Pitcairn, hit £5,800 when sold to C.S. Fleming and Son, Strone, Memus.
Auctioneers: Pentland Livestock.
Blues are best at Ruswarp
BRITISH Blue heifers were the pick of the judge at Ruswarp when they claimed the champion and reserve tickets as well as top prices.
Top pick was an eight-month-old from Graham Pickering, Goathland, which went on to set a new centre record of £4,400 when sold to judge, Jimmy Fawcett, buying on behalf of Anthony Kitson, Five Houses.
Reserve was a similarly aged Blue heifer from Dean Allen, Thornton Dale, which sold to D. and C. Newhouse, Skipton, for £2,900. Mr Allen sold another heifer for £3,000 to P. Blacker, Goole.
The first prize steer, a 10-month-old Limousin from P.M. and F.M. Hill, Ugthrope, led the section at £2,450 while bulls sold to £2,410 from Andy Barker, Scarborough.
Auctioneers: Richardson and Smith.
Strong averages at Borderway mart dairy sale
FEMALES sold to 3,600gns twice but it was the sole bull to sell that topped the November Border and Lakeland Holstein Club show and sale at Borderway when it sold for 5,000gns.
That was Annandale Incredible, a March, 2024-born Peartree Bryster son from W. and J. Armour, Moffat. Selling to Messrs Whitwell, Clitheroe, Incredible has a pedigree packed with longevity and goes back to Oakalby females that yielded more than 12,000kg.
The pre-sale champion, as picked out by Stuart Mitchell, Ayrshire, was one of two at 3,600gns. Wormanby Matchless Ruby from Messrs Hodgson, Carlisle, is by Clanook Matchless and out of a VG88 Discjockey dam that gave more than 13,000kg in its third lactation. With six generations of Ex and VG dams, it sold to Argus Roaming Farms, Ayrshire.
Matching that was Holehouse Luster Magic from Holehouse Farms, Ayrshire, which sold to Ling Dairies, Carlisle. This Cherry-Lily Zip Luster P daughter is out of a Jordy dam that gave more than 11,000kg in its second lactation and goes back to a 14,000kg Ex90 cow.
Holehouse Capone Alvean from the same home sold for 3,500gns to Messrs Clark, Newton Stewart, and Ling Dairies paid a further 3,400gns for Holehouse Heart Margot.
Cows peaked at 3,300gns when Messrs Hunter and Co, Maybole, paid that for Clifton Almamater Clara 3 from John Holliday, Penrith. It sold fresh in its second giving 44kg.
Averages: 9 Holstein cows in-milk, £3,120.83; 41 Holstein heifers in-milk, £3,097.50; 1 Holstein bull, £5,250; 6 in-calf heifers, £1,820; 5 heifer calves, £777.
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.
